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Miami Dolphins 'Roller-Coaster' Embarrasses Washington Commanders 45-15; Live Updates

Miami Dolphins 'Roller-Coaster' Embarrasses Washington Commanders 45-15; Live Updates

Nathaniel Marrero

In this story:

Would the Washington Commanders get back in the win column ahead of their bye week? Not even close, as the Commanders' losing streak has reached four games after a 45-15 loss to the Miami Dolphins on a rainy Sunday afternoon at FedEx Field. 

How did the crummy day unfold? Follow along, as Tyreek Hill and the high-flying Dolphins took the Commanders on a nasty roller-coaster ride ...

dolphins-celebration

The Commanders face a tall task in doing so when they look to snap their three-game skid against the Miami Dolphins on Sunday at FedEx Stadium at 1 p.m. ET. 

It'll be a matchup of polar opposites when the struggling Commanders (4-8) defense that has allowed the most points per game (29.2) faces the high-powered Dolphins offense that has scored the second-most points per game (30.8). Miami has scored over 30 points in five games this season, while Washington has allowed over 30 points in seven games. 

The Commanders' struggles on defense led to the firing of former defensive coordinator Jack Del Rio on Nov. 24 after the 45-10 loss to the Dallas Cowboys (9-3). Head coach Ron Rivera will assume playcalling duties, and he'll face a tall task in his first game in that role for Washington.

Sam Howell sliding against the Philadelphia Eagles.  / Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports

The Dolphins offense has been anchored by receiver Tyreek Hill, who has entered MVP conversations for his play this season. Hill has 88 catches for 1,324 yards and 10 touchdowns. Hill has had over 100 receiving yards and a touchdown in seven games.

"Stay deep," Rivera said of how to slow Hill down. "I mean, you have to make sure there's somebody over the top of him. I think it also tells you that you’ve also got to make sure that you are playing to your leverage. You have to understand where your safety help is, where the linebacker help is, or where the corner’s helping."

Bieniemy Won't 'Put Fear' in Team Ahead of Matchup vs. Dolphins

WHAT: Miami Dolphins (8-3, 3-3 Road) at Washington Commanders (4-8, 1-4 Home)

WHERE: FedEx Field, Landover, MD (67,617)

WHEN: Sunday, Dec. 3, 2023, 1 p.m. ET

TELEVISION: FOX / FuboTV (try it free)

RADIO: WMAL 105.9

TICKETS: SI Tickets

BETTING: SI SportsBook

SPREAD: Commanders +9.5

TOTAL: 49.5

MONEYLINE: Dolphins -500, Commanders +350

1ST QUARTER:

Washington gets the ball to start the game at its 25-yard line after Jason Sanders' touchback. 

Brian Robinson runs for two yards on first down and then Sam Howell's pass is short of Jahan Dotson on second down. Howell and Dotson connect this time on third down for 11 yards along the sideline to extend the drive. Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel is challenging if Dotson made the catch. After review, the call stands and Washington will have first down at its 39-yard line. 

Howell's pass to Curtis Samuel gains five. Antonio Gibson runs for eight yards to the Dolphins' 48-yard line.

Gibson is stopped for no gain. Howell's pass to Samuel only gains two yards. On third and eight, Howell's pass is incomplete.

Braxton Berrios calls for a fair catch at the Dolphins' 14-yard line.

End of possession

Tua Tagovailoa's pass to Jaylen Waddle gains five and then Raheem Mostert runs for three yards. Tagovailoa goes deep and he finds a wide-open Tyreek Hill for a 78-yard touchdown. 

Sanders' extra point is good with 9:28 left in the first quarter.

Dolphins 7, Commanders 0

End of possession

Sanders' kickoff goes through the end zone for a touchback. 

Howell is under pressure and scrambles for three yards before going out of bounds. After an incomplete pass on second down, Howell is sacked by Andrew Van Ginkel for a seven-yard loss. 

Berrios is tackled at Miami's 30-yard line.

End of possession

After an incomplete pass intended for Hill, De'Von Achane runs for six yards. Commanders safety Percy Butler was hurt on the play. On third and four, Tua finds Waddle for 16 yards to the Commanders' 48-yard line.

Mostert runs for 12 yards to move the chains again.

Mostert is stopped for a three-yard loss. Tua's pass to Alex Ingold loses four yards. On third and 17, Tua's pass to Waddle gains 13 yards. 

Sanders' 49-yard field goal is good with 3:39 left in the first quarter.

Dolphins 10, Commanders 0

End of possession

Washington begins the drive at its 25-yard line after the touchback. 

Robinson runs for four yards and three more on second down. On third and three, Howell's pass is incomplete.

Berrios calls for a fair catch at the Dolphins' 19-yard line with 2:18 left in the first quarter. 

End of possession

Waddle drops a pass and then Achane is stopped for a seven-yard loss by KJ Henry. Tua's pass to Hill loses yards and Miami is flagged for an ineligible man downfield and offensive pass interference, both of which are declined. 

Jamison Crowder calls for a fair catch at the Commanders' 46-yard line, but holding on Dyami Brown moves them back 10 yards. 

End of possession

Howell's pass is intercepted by Van Ginkel and he runs it back 32 yards for a Dolphins touchdown. 

Sanders' extra point is good with 58 seconds left in the first quarter.

Dolphins 17, Commanders 0

End of possession

The Commanders begin the drive at their 25-yard line after a touchback. 

Robinson runs for eight yards and then gains seven more on second down to move the chains on the final play of the first quarter. 

End of the quarter

2ND QUARTER:

Sam Howell is sacked by Emmanuel Ogbah for a six-yard loss. Robinson breaks through multiple tackles and runs for 28 yards to the Dolphins' 37-yard line. 

Gibson runs for three yards before going out of bounds. Howell goes deep for Terry McLaurin but it's broken up in the end zone. Howell goes deep again and finds Samuel for 33 yards down to Miami's one-yard line. 

Dolphins linebacker Jerome Baker is injured on the field.

Robinson is stopped for no gain. Howell's pass to Dyami Brown on a screen gets into the end zone for a touchdown. The play is under review. After review, Brown is ruled down short of a touchdown, making it third and goal. Howell tries to sneak it in and he's in for a touchdown. 

Joey Slye's extra point is good with 11:18 left in the first half

Commanders 17, Dolphins 7

End of possession

Slye's kickoff goes through the end zone for a touchback. 

Mostert runs for six yards. Hill gets a carry and runs for six yards as well. 

Tua goes deep for Waddle and the pass is incomplete. Tua's pass to Achane gains three yards. On third and seven, Tua goes deep and he finds Hill again, this time for a 60-yard touchdown.

Sanders' extra point is good with 9:14 left in the second quarter. 

Dolphins 24, Commanders 7

End of possession

Washington starts its drive at its 25-yard line.

Howell scrambles for four yards. Chris Rodriguez Jr. runs for three. Before third and three, Washington calls its first timeout. Howell rolls to his left and he finds Samuel for a 23-yard gain. to the Dolphins' 43-yard line. 

After an incomplete pass, Howell is sacked by Zach Sieler for a seven-yard loss. A screen to Gibson is blown up and falls incomplete. 

Tress Way's punt goes out of bounds at the Dolphins' 24-yard line with 5:55 left in the first half.

End of possession

Mostert runs for nine yards. Mostert runs for six more yards to move the chains. 

Mostert is stopped for a one-yard loss, and then Achane runs for five yards. Tua finds Hill for 20 yards on third down to the Commanders' 37-yard line.

Achane runs for three yards on the final play before the two-minute warning. Defensive pass interference on Benjamin St-Juste gives Miami a first down at the Commanders' 18-yard line.

Hill is stopped for a 10-yard loss and Washington calls its second timeout with 1:42 left in the half. Tua's pass to Mostert gains eight yards and the Commanders call their final timeout with 1:33 left. On third and 12, Tua's pass to Waddle gains 16 yards to the Commanders' four-yard line. 

Mostert runs for two yards. Miami calls its second timeout with 24 seconds left in the first half. On second and goal, Mostert runs it into the end zone for a touchdown. 

Sanders' extra point is good with 20 seconds to play in the first half. 

Dolphins 31, Commanders 7

End of possession

Sanders' kickoff goes through the end zone for a touchback.

Howell's pass is incomplete. Gibson runs for three yards on the final play of the first half. 

Halftime: Dolphins 31, Commanders 7

3RD QUARTER:

Slye's kick goes for a touchback. 

After a five and three-yard run by Mostert, Tua's pass to Tyreek gains five yards. 

Tua's pass to Achane gains 21 yards to the Commanders' 41-yard line.

Jeff Wilson runs for three yards and then Tua's pass to River Cracraft gains 13. 

Tua's pass to Waddle gains three yards. Tua finds Julian Hill for 18 yards to the Commanders' four-yard line. 

Achane punches it in for a four-yard touchdown. 

Sanders' extra point is good with 9:36 left in the quarter.

Dolphins 38, Commanders 7

End of possession

The Commanders begin the drive at their 25-yard line. 

Gibson runs for six yards. Howell rolls right and finds Gibson for a 32-yard gain to the Dolphins' 37-yard line. 

Gibson runs for two yards and Rodriguez gains four. On third and four, Howell's pass to Dotson gains 11 yards to Miami's 20-yard line. 

Howell is under pressure and he just heaves it up and the pass is knocked down. Gibson runs for two yards. On third and eight, Howell's pass to Gibson gains five yards. On fourth and three, Howell keeps it and eludes multiple defenders on his way to a 13-yard touchdown. 

Washington goes for two, and Howell finds Logan Thomas to convert with 4:31 left in the third quarter. 

Dolphins 38, Commanders 15

End of possession

Slye kicks it through the end zone for a touchback. 

Achane runs for seven yards. A holding call on Miami negates a first down. On 2nd and 12, Tua's pass is incomplete. Tua's pass intended for Tyreek is incomplete. 

Crowder returns the punt to the Commanders' 41-yard line. 

End of possession

After a pair of short gains by Gibson, Rodriguez runs for 15 yards to the Dolphins' 37-yard line. Howell's pass is incomplete and Gibson is stopped for a one-yard loss on the final play of the third quarter.

End of the quarter  

4TH QUARTER:

On third and 11, Howell's pass to Cole Turner gains three yards. 

Slye's 53-yard field goal is no good. 

End of possession

Miami marches into Washington territory after a five-yard pass to Julian Hill for a first down. 

It's third and five after a pair of runs by Achane. Tua's pass to Waddle is knocked down. 

The punt is downed at the Commanders' five-yard line with 11:23 left in the game. 

End of possession  

After an incomplete pass and a nine-yard run by Gibson, Rodriguez is stopped on third and one for a one-yard loss. 

Berrios is tackled at Miami's 40-yard line with 9:57 left in the game.

End of possession

Mike White is in the game at quarterback for Miami. A pair of Achane runs gives the Dolphins a first down. 

After two Achane runs make it third and one, he runs for 15 yards to the Commanders' 23-yard line. 

On third and four, Wilson is stopped a yard short of a first down. Miami goes for it on fourth down and Wilson runs for six yards to the Commanders' eight-yard line. 

Miami runs it three straight times and is stopped at Washington's two-yard line. The game has reached the two-minute warning.

On fourth and goal, Achane runs it in for a touchdown. 

Sanders' extra point is good with 1:57 left in the game.

Dolphins 45, Commanders 15

End of possession

Washington begins the drive at its 25-yard line. 

Jacoby Brissett is in the game for Washington. Washington runs it three times with Rodriguez and that's the ballgame.

FINAL: Dolphins 45, Commanders 15

Published
Nathaniel Marrero
NATHANIEL MARRERO

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