Marcus Benjamin @_benjaminmoney
Miami Gardens, FL – History was made today at Hard Rock Stadium as the longest game in NFL history occurred when the Miami Dolphins hosted the Tennessee Titans. Four hours of lightning delays extended the game that started at 1:00 PM eastern end at 8:00 PM eastern.
“There was a lot of time to burn,” said Head Coach Adam Gase. “I thought the guys did a good job of transitioning from when we came in. They knew we had some time, guys just being able to take their shoulder pads off, just trying to get up every once in a while, move around.”
Despite the historic happening, this still was opening day of the NFL season. Opening day always gives football fans a sense of hope. It’s the one day that fans across America feel like their team has a legitimate chance to go to the Super Bowl. The only thing better than opening day for fans is an opening day win. The Miami Dolphins delivered with a win on the first official Sunday of the NFL season with a 27-20 victory over the Tennessee Titans. Ryan Tannehill was efficient for the most part going 20 for 28 for 230 yards and two touchdowns to Kenny Stills. One of which was a deep 75-yard bomb to Stills on a skinny post. Tannehill did however have two interceptions that were were bad decisions and was sacked once.
“I thought he was good, Gase said of Tannehill. “We had it rolling there for a little bit. We’ll clean up some of the turnovers and maybe some of the mistakes. He didn’t make too many. It was good to see him back out there. He got knocked around a little bit, but did a good job of bouncing right back up.”
There were questions going into the season on replacing Jarvis Landry. The Dolphins let Landry walk and sign with the Browns for a 75 million dollar contract with 47 million in guaranteed money. His replacements, former New England Patriot receiver Danny Amendola and former Kansas City Chief receiver Albert Wilson who spent his high school days at Port St. Lucie High School here in South Florida.
Stills was definitely the bright spot of the receiving corps as he scored the two touchdowns on five targets catching four for 106 yards.
“That’s why he’s a Pro Bowler. He seems to make the timely play, and he made a couple of them tonight. He made some big hits, and they had their run game going a little bit, and he made a really good play where he jumped in the hole there and had a really good tackle. You know, it’s good to see our better players really stepping up in those key moments.”
The other notable local product Frank Gore, was productive in his debut with the Dolphins. He is currently 5th on the all time rushing list and moved closer to 4th (Curtis Martin) with 61 yards on 9 carries (6.8 average).
The Dolphins were 29th in takeaways last season, but start the 2018 season with three interceptions in game one. One by Kiko Alonso on a screen pass right after the second lighting delay and two by pro bowl safety Reshad Jones. It was his first two interception game of his career.
“It was very exciting. It helped the team win a football game,” said Jones. “But it wasn’t just me, it was a total team effort. The front seven played well. Those guys got after the quarterback, and I was just back there doing my job to make the play.”
Titans scored a field goal early and looked to extend their lead in the first quarter. The Titans were stopped however on 4th and Goal by the Miami defense preventing a score.
In the second half, Marcus Mariota suffered an injury that put backup Blaine Gabbert into the game for the Titans. During the runback of one of Jones’s interceptions linebacker Deion Branch delivered a crushing block to tackle Taylor Lewan that erupted pushing and shoving on the field by both teams. Three players would receive unsportsmanlike penalties and the pro bowl tackle Lewan left the game with concussion. Jordan Phillips and Bobby McCain would receive unsportsmanlike conduct penalties as well as Tennessee’s Dion Lewis.
Dolphins would drive to the goal line but just like in Super Bowl 49, Malcolm Butler makes interception and returns the ball 33 yards.
The first play after the second lightning day started with an interception of a screen pass by Kiko Alonso. The turnover lead to 27-yard field goal attempt that sailed through the uprights for three points. Mariota was in for first interception against Alonso and suffered an elbow injury and Gabbert re-entered the game at quarterback. Gabbert would lead the first touchdown drive for the Titans with a that ended with a touchdown run by Dion Lewis.
On the ensuing possession, Jakeem Grant received the kickoff two yards deep in the end zone and dashed for a 102 yard touchdown. Grant’s kickoff return for a touchdown was the first of his career and the second longest in team history behind Kenyan Drake against the Jets a couple years back.
On the Dolphins next possession, Ryan Tannehill, on a rare occasion hit on a deep ball to Kenny Stills for a 75-yard touchdown. The Titans countered with an outstanding kick return of their own as Darius Jennings scored a touchdown on a 94-yard run to make the score 24-17 with 10:11 left to go in the game. A Jason Sanders field goal extended the Dolphins lead to ten and Miami withstand a late rally in the fourth quarter.
“It was a long game, but guys stayed resilient. We did what it took to go out and win this football game,” said Jones.
The Dolphins will look to go 2-0 for the first time since 2013 as the play at the New York Jets next week. The Titans may have to with Gabbert in week two against Houston as Mariota suffered an elbow injury during the game.
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