Tyreek Hill, Jaylen Waddle help Dolphins' passing game get back on track
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MIAMI GARDENS — Tyreek Hill, in open space, piling up 109 receiving yards.
Jaylen Waddle, hauling in a pass from Tua Tagovailoa for a touchdown.
None of that was enough for the Miami Dolphins to avoid a 33-27 loss to the New England Patriots in their home opener. But it wasn’t as demoralizing as the dismal 33-8 loss to Indianapolis a week earlier.
And with a trip to Buffalo to face the Bills on “Thursday Night Football” fast approaching, it’s the silver lining Hill needed after falling to 0-2.
“It was a good feel,” Hill said of the offense. “Felt like old times. So hopefully we can continue that momentum and go into the next week, against Buffalo, and just keep doing that same thing.”
Leading into this game, Hill insisted he had no trouble separating his off-field life from what happens on the field. Hill’s challenge was to forget, for three hours, that the NFL acknowledged it is investigating claims by his estranged wife of domestic violence.
Hill was targeted seven times and caught six passes, including a 47-yarder that set up a field goal. Hill actually had the separation to score on the play, but Tagovailoa’s pass was underthrown.
“We definitely can use this as momentum,” Hill said. “Tua looked real good back there throwing the ball today. Not only to myself, but to Waddle and also (De’Von) Achane out of the backfield.”
Tua Tagovailoa, Tyreek Hill clicking following strategy session
Tagovailoa said he and Hill were clicking after a strategy session.
“Just don’t think I’m going to throw it 80 yards,” Tagovailoa said he told Hill.
Tagovailoa implored Hill to track the ball instead.
“That’s what ended up happening on that play for ‘Reek,” Tagovailoa said.
This is not to suggest everything went swimmingly. If they had, this team wouldn’t be 0-2. With one final chance to pull out a victory, the Dolphins were called for a false start followed by a delay-of-game penalty amid confusion in the huddle. A first-and-10 situation suddenly became first-and-20. The Dolphins never recovered.
“I feel like at the end of the game, those are the kind of situations that you want as an offense,” Hill said of the opportunity to rally. “It just comes down to operation and just knowing the situation. We got caught with too many guys in the huddle. And as one of the leaders of this team, like, Tua, myself, Brew (center Aaron Brewer), we’ve got to be able to correct that amongst ourselves.”
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Dolphins come up short to Patriots, but Tyreek Hill helps passing game wake up
