Eagles halt Tua Tagovailoa and the Dolphins’ high-powered offense
Facing an explosive offense, the Eagles defense came through and wrecked the Dolphins with sacks and a stout rush defense.
Philadelphia Eagles defensive end Josh Sweat pressures Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa during the first quarter at Lincoln Financial Field on Sunday, Oct. 22, 2023, in Philadelphia , PA. Dolphins punt the ball.Read moreMonica Herndon / Staff Photographer
All week long, the Eagles defensive line heard the chatter.
The Dolphins arrived Sunday night at Lincoln Financial Field boasting the NFL’s most prolific offense with a whopping average of 498.7 yards and 37.2 points per game, while quarterback Tua Tagovailoa led the league in fastest time-to-throw at 2.28 seconds. Through six games, the Dolphins also were only the second team in NFL history with at least 15 passing and 15 rushing touchdowns.
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Would the banged-up Eagles defense be able to limit the high-octane machine from South Florida?
“We take everything personal,” team captain Fletcher Cox said. “We knew they had a really explosive offense, but our biggest thing was slowing them down.”
The Eagles halted the Dolphins’ otherworldly offensive production with a decisive 31-17 victory in prime time. Miami managed just 244 total yards, 12 first downs, and one offensive touchdown. Tagovailoa threw for a season-low 216 passing yards and he was sacked a season-high four times by Josh Sweat (twice), Nolan Smith, and Cox and Josh Sweat (1/2 split).
“We knew it would come down to us,” said Sweat, who is now tied with Haason Reddick for most sacks with 5 1/2. “I don’t think they’ve played anybody like us...the way we attack.”
The pass rush was relentless against a Dolphins offensive line that was missing two starters at kickoff. Under coordinator Sean Desai, who continues to impress as the season progresses, the unit won often, even when rushing just four defenders. The pressure on Tagovailoa came at all angles, from the interior to the edges.
“It’s tough when you come on the road against a really good team and you’re not able to execute the way you expected to execute,” Tagovailoa said. “But you have to give props to [the Eagles] and their coaching staff. They did a real good job in preparing for us.”
Eagles fans hold up a “We Play Mean in That Kelly Green” sign after a win over the Miami Dolphins at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia on Sunday, Oct. 22, 2023.Read moreHeather Khalifa / Staff Photographer
Philadelphia Eagles offensive coordinator talks Brian Johnson with quarterback Jalen Hurts during the fourth quarter of the Philadelphia Eagles game against the Miami Dolphins.Read moreMonica Herndon / Staff Photographer
Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts celebrates after a touchdown from running back Kenneth Gainwell during the fourth quarter of the Philadelphia Eagles game against the Miami Dolphins.Read moreMonica Herndon / Staff Photographer
Philadelphia Eagles running back D'Andre Swift gains twenty-two yards, good for a first down in the fourth quarter, against the Miami Dolphins.Read moreMonica Herndon / Staff Photographer
Philadelphia Eagles defensive end Josh Sweat and Philadelphia Eagles linebacker Haason Reddick Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa during the fourth quarter.Read moreHeather Khalifa / Staff Photographer
Philadelphia Eagles running back Kenneth Gainwell tumbles into the end zone in the fourth quarter against the Miami Dolphins.Read moreHeather Khalifa / Staff Photographer
Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver A.J. Brown hits the ground with Miami Dolphins safety DeShon Elliott on top of him at Lincoln Financial Field on Sunday, Oct. 22, 2023, in Philadelphia, PA.Read moreMonica Herndon / Staff Photographer
Philadelphia Eagles running back Kenneth Gainwell carries in the fourth quarter against the Miami Dolphins.Read moreMonica Herndon / Staff Photographer
Philadelphia Eagles fans and players wear Kelly Green during the game against the Miami Dolphins at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, PA.Read moreHeather Khalifa / Staff Photographer
Philadelphia Eagles cornerback Darius Slay celebrates his interception during the fourth quarter.Read moreHeather Khalifa / Staff Photographer
Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts gains two yards after the Philadelphia Eagles went for it on fourth and one in the fourth quarter against the Miami Dolphins.Read moreMonica Herndon / Staff Photographer
Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver A.J. Brown evades a tackle to make a touchdown against the Miami Dolphins at Lincoln Financial Field on Sunday, Oct. 22, 2023, in Philadelphia , PA.Read moreHeather Khalifa / Staff Photographer
Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver A.J. Brown leaps into the air after a touchdown in the third quarter against the Miami Dolphins.Read moreHeather Khalifa / Staff Photographer
Philadelphia Eagles running back Kenneth Gainwell celebrates Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver A.J. Brown's third-quarter touchdown against the Miami Dolphins.Read moreMonica Herndon / Staff Photographer
Miami Dolphins linebacker Jerome Baker intercepts Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts pass in the third quarter to tie the game.Read moreMonica Herndon / Staff Photographer
Philadelphia Eagles Head Coach Nick Sirianni reacts after Hurts pass was intercepted by the Miami Dolphins at Lincoln Financial Field on Sunday, Oct. 22, 2023, in Philadelphia , PA. The interception ties the score 17-17.Read moreMonica Herndon / Staff Photographer
Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts pass is deflected by Miami Dolphins cornerback Kader Kohou and returned for a touchdown in the third quarter.Read moreHeather Khalifa / Staff Photographer
Philadelphia Eagles linebacker Haason Reddick stops Miami Dolphins running back Salvon Ahmed in the third quarter.Read moreMonica Herndon / Staff Photographer
Miami Dolphins linebacker David Long Jr. puts pressure on Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts in the third quarter.Read moreMonica Herndon / Staff Photographer
Philadelphia Eagles linebacker Zach Cunningham attempts to bring down Miami Dolphins running back Raheem Mostert in the third quarter.Read moreHeather Khalifa / Staff Photographer
Philadelphia Eagles linebacker Haason Reddick stops Miami Dolphins running back Salvon Ahmed in the third quarter.Read moreMonica Herndon / Staff Photographer
Miami Dolphins linebacker Jaelan Phillips celebrates a sack on Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts at the end of the second quarter at Lincoln Financial Field on Sunday, Oct. 22, 2023, in Philadelphia , PA.Read moreHeather Khalifa / Staff Photographer
Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts is sacked at the end of the second quarter against the Miami Dolphins at Lincoln Financial Field on Sunday, Oct. 22, 2023, in Philadelphia , PA.Read moreMonica Herndon / Staff Photographer
Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver DeVonta Smith catches a pass against Miami Dolphins linebacker Jerome Baker in the second quarter at Lincoln Financial Field.Read moreMonica Herndon / Staff Photographer
Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver DeVonta Smith holds onto a pass from Hurts in the second quarter against the Miami Dolphins at Lincoln Financial Field.Read moreMonica Herndon / Staff Photographer
Philadelphia Eagles safety Terrell Edmunds brings down Miami Dolphins wide receiver Tyreek Hill in the second quarter.Read moreHeather Khalifa / Staff Photographer
Philadelphia Eagles offensive tackle Lane Johnson signals a touchdown after Hurts' one-yard touchdown against the Miami Dolphins in the second quarter.Read moreHeather Khalifa / Staff Photographer
Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa throws to Miami Dolphins wide receiver Cedrick Wilson Jr. for a trick play.Read moreHeather Khalifa / Staff Photographer
Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts is brought down by Miami Dolphins linebacker Andrew Van Ginkel in the second quarter.Read moreMonica Herndon / Staff Photographer
Personal foul called on Miami Dolphins defensive tackle Christian Wilkins against Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts during the second quarter.Read moreMonica Herndon / Staff Photographer
Philadelphia Eagles place kicker Jake Elliott makes a field goal in the first quarter against the Miami Dolphins. Eagles 3 - Dolphins 0Read moreMonica Herndon / Staff Photographer
Philadelphia Eagles place kicker Jake Elliott kicks for the extra point after the Goedert touchdown in the second quarter.Read moreMonica Herndon / Staff Photographer
Miami Dolphins linebacker Bradley Chubb can not keep Philadelphia Eagles tight end Dallas Goedert from scoring a touchdown in the second quarter.Read moreHeather Khalifa / Staff Photographer
Miami Dolphins linebacker Jaelan Phillips takes down Philadelphia Eagles running back D'Andre Swift in the first quarter.Read moreMonica Herndon / Staff Photographer
Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts pushes through on fourth and one against the Miami Dolphins. There's a flag on the play.Read moreHeather Khalifa / Staff Photographer
Philadelphia Eagles defensive end Josh Sweat pressures Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa during the first quarter.Read moreMonica Herndon / Staff Photographer
Philadelphia Eagles linebacker Haason Reddick brings down Miami Dolphins running back Raheem Mostert in the first quarter.Read moreMonica Herndon / Staff Photographer
Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts fumbles the ball and the Miami Dolphins recover in the first quarter.Read moreHeather Khalifa / Staff Photographer
Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts throws in the first quarter against the Miami Dolphins at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, PA.Read moreMonica Herndon / Staff Photographer
Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts hands off to Philadelphia Eagles running back D'Andre Swift during the first quarter.Read moreHeather Khalifa / Staff Photographer
Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts and Eagles backup quarterback Marcus Mariota enter before the start of the game against the Miami Dolphins at Lincoln Financial Field on Sunday, Oct. 22, 2023, in Philadelphia, PA.Read moreHeather Khalifa / Staff Photographer
On rookie defensive tackle Jalen Carter’s first snap, he executed a bull rush that left Isaiah Wynn injured, registered a pressure, and forced a wild third-down incompletion from Tagovailoa. Carter, who made his return from his one-game absence with an ankle injury, continues to look the part of a top draft pick and also as a key piece to the team’s future.
“We came into this game knowing they had aggressive O-lineman, so my plan was to come in, match their aggressiveness,” Carter said. “I tried to go throughout the game with that mindset, [using] pure strength.
“A lot of teams, they see I’m a rookie, and they might think I’m not going to make an impact like that. So that gives me a chance to get one-on-one on my early reps to get pressures and sacks...If [Tagovailoa] gets the ball out quick, we’ve got to rush quicker. We knew he wanted to get it out fast. We wanted to make an impact.”
Cox credited the secondary, which deployed a different starting unit for the seventh consecutive game due to a multitude of injuries, for staying sticky enough in coverage, which allowed the pass rush to get home in key spots. Additionally, the Eagles were stout once again versus the run. Dolphins tailback Raheem Mostert failed to break a big run in the first half, which in turn, made the Dolphins a bit one-dimensional. Mostert finished with just nine carries for 45 yards.
“That’s what it’s about,” Cox said. “We just beat a really good football team. They can score whenever they want. They still made a lot of big plays. We just made more big plays in the end. We wanted to beat them as a unit.”
Overall, the Eagles limited the Dolphins to season lows in points, total yards, passing yards (199), rushing yards (45), and time of possession (23:17). Entering Sunday, the Eagles ranked third in the NFL with 104 quarterback pressures. They lived up to that makeup against Tagovailoa, who made uncharacteristic mistakes, including his pass attempt on a wheel route to Mostert that was picked off by cornerback Darius Slay.
The turnover served as an exclamation point for a defense that has dealt with new faces across its secondary on a weekly basis. The lone constant for the Desai-led unit has been the unit’s ability to win up front. Even during the team’s lone defeat last week to the Jets, the defense sacked Zach Wilson five times, in addition to 10 quarterback hits.
On Sunday, against one of the league’s most elite offenses, the Eagles balled out in the trenches, and they put the spotlight back on themselves.
“I’s just a race to get there every time, so I think [shoot] I have to get there,” Sweat said. “Desai is putting us in the best situations possible. He’s letting us be free.
“He’s not scared. It doesn’t matter the [opposing] team. He’s not going to let them get to him.”
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