The Miami Dolphins tallied 377 total yards and recorded a season-high in points scored but fell to the Arizona Cardinals, 28-27, on Sunday afternoon. Despite the loss, there were positives the team can build on moving forward this season.
We go Inside the Numbers, presented by BDO, to take a look at the most notable team stats, individual metrics, milestones and more from Miami's Week 8 matchup.
Tagovailoa Delivers in Return
In his first game back to the Dolphins' lineup after a four-game absence, quarterback Tua Tagovailoa put together an efficient performance, completing 28 of his 38 passing attempts (73.7%) for 234 yards and a touchdown. This marked the ninth time in Tagovailoa's career that he has completed at least 70.0 percent of his passes for 225 or more yards, a touchdown and no interceptions.
Tagovailoa led the Dolphins to 22 first downs, which was the second most in a game by the team this season. Miami also converted 11-of-15 third-down attempts, the most conversions and highest third down conversion percentage for the Dolphins this season.
Tagovailoa's longest pass of the day was a 30-yard connection to wide receiver Tyreek Hill, who finished with a team-high six receptions for 72 yards. In the past two seasons, only Minnesota's Justin Jefferson has more receptions of 25 or more yards (through Sunday's slate of games).
Running back De'Von Achane also tallied a team-high six receptions for 50 yards and a touchdown. Wide receiver Jaylen Waddle caught four passes for 45 yards, tight end Jonnu Smith notched four receptions for 20 yards and fullback Alec Ingold added three receptions – tied for his season high – for 19 yards.
Achane Leads Another Strong Rushing Performance
Miami rushed for 150 yards on 25 carries (6.0 avg.) against Arizona, marking the third consecutive game with at least 150 yards on the ground and the fifth time the team has ran for more than 100 yards in a game this season.
Achane spearheaded the rushing attack with his 10 carries for 97 yards (9.7 avg.) in addition to his 50 receiving yards. This marked the third game of the season that Achane has totaled at least 100 yards from scrimmage. Through Sunday's slate of games, his 29 receptions rank fourth and 244 receiving yards rank third among NFL running backs this season.
Achane became the first Dolphins player to have at least 1,000 rushing yards and 400 receiving yards in their first 18 games. His 1,598 career scrimmage yards are also the most by a Dolphin in their first 18 games. Amongst players from the 2023 Draft Class in their first 18 games, he ranks first in touchdowns scored and second in yards from scrimmage – trailing Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Puka Nakua by 19 yards.
Running back Raheem Mostert tallied nine carries for 19 yards (2.1 avg.), adding his first two touchdowns of the season. He punched in a one-yard score in the first quarter and found the end zone again in the fourth quarter for a six-yard touchdown.
It was the seventh time in Mostert's Dolphins career and the ninth time of his NFL career that he had a game with multiple touchdowns. Mostert is one of only three players to have seven games with at least two rushing touchdowns since he joined the Dolphins in 2022 – only quarterback Jalen Hurts and running back Derrick Henry have more. His 23 touchdowns in the past two seasons are tied for second with Henry, trailing only Los Angeles running back Kyren Williams with 25 scores.
Rookie running back Jaylen Wright added 18 yards on two carries (9.0 avg.). He leads all rookie backs in rushing yards per carry average with 5.3 yards per attempt (min. 35 carries). The only rookies with a higher yards per carry than Wright are Washington quarterback Jayden Daniels (5.7 avg.) and Denver quarterback Bo Nix (5.4 avg.).
Ramsey Reaches Several Milestones
Cornerback Jalen Ramsey played in his 125th career game and recorded his 100th career pass breakup, becoming the sixth active player in the NFL to reach that milestone. He's third among active players in pass breakups since entering the league in 2016, trailing only cornerbacks Darius Slay (118) and James Bradberry (112).
Ramsey also tallied four tackles against Arizona, pushing his career total to 502. He became the only active player and just the ninth player in league history to record 500 tackles and 100 pass breakups in their first 125 career games. Ramsey is also the only active player to have 500 tackles, 100 pass breakups and 20 interceptions since he entered the league in 2016. Ramsey and cornerback Kendall Fuller are the only cornerback tandem in the NFL to each record at least 500 career tackles.
Individual/Team Stats and Milestones
Kicker Jason Sanders made field goals of 53 and 25 yards on Sunday. He's made at least one field goal in every game this season and has connected on a 50-plus yard field goal in four of Miami's seven games. This season, he is 4-of-6 (66.7%) on field goals of 50 or more yards. Punter Jake Bailey made his 300th career punt in the second quarter.
Linebackers David Long Jr. and Jordyn Brooks led Miami's defense with a team-high nine tackles, while safety Jordan Poyer notched eight tackles, bringing his career total to 801. He became just one of 15 active players to reach the 800-tackle mark and just the fourth defensive back.
Defensive tackle Calais Campbell continued to make an impact as he recorded five tackles, one pass defensed and forced quarterback Kyler Murray to fumble. Rookie linebacker Chop Robinson came away with the second tackle for loss of his career, while second-year cornerback Cam Smith recorded a career-high four tackles in his first game back this season.
Multiple Dolphins achieved games played and started milestones. Brooks appeared in his 70th career game, offensive lineman Liam Eichenberg appeared in his 50th career game and defensive tackle Neil Farrell made his Dolphins debut.
