There’s a surprise twist to one of the key moments in the Dolphins’ 21-17 win over Saints that has one defender paying an unexpected cost
The Miami Dolphins‘ defense should rest easy tonight. The unit’s awful start to the season appears to be fully in the rear-view mirror, and Miami, riding a three-game win streak after today’s 21-17 victory over the New Orleans Saints, has held four of the last five opponents to 17 points or fewer. The Dolphins sacked […]
The Miami Dolphins‘ defense should rest easy tonight. The unit’s awful start to the season appears to be fully in the rear-view mirror, and Miami, riding a three-game win streak after today’s 21-17 victory over the New Orleans Saints, has held four of the last five opponents to 17 points or fewer. The Dolphins sacked Saints rookie quarterback Tyler Shough four times, held New Orleans to a paltry 3.0 yards per rush, and generated two turnovers courtesy of safety Minkah Fitzpatrick and cornerback Rasul Douglas.
Douglas’ interception came just before halftime, a critical swing of the pendulum that took New Orleans out of scoring territory and Miami in position to steal more points before halftime. But Douglas’ big play comes with a bitter aftertaste — as his teammates are hitting him where it counts for not paying off the turnover with a score of his own.
Rasul Douglas catches a fine from the most unexpected place for not scoring on his first-half interception against the Saints
“Oh, (Rasul) is definitely getting fined! It was a great play but he’s definitely getting fined for not scoring on that play…within the DB room, we have a fine system, you know what I’m saying? He’s definitely getting fined for that one.”
— Dolphins safety Minkah Fitzpatrick on Rasul Douglas’ first-half interception
Tough crowd! The Dolphins secondary has generally found interceptions hard to come by this season. Entering into Week 13, Miami had just three on the season. Fitzpatrick logged one in Week 5 against the Panthers, Ifeatu Melifonwu scored one in Week 10 against the Bills, and Jack Jones intercepted Marcus Mariota in overtime of Week 11. Douglas has been close on more than one occasion this season but finally came away with his first career Dolphins interception, but it’s one he’ll pay for.
Fitzpatrick joked with the media after the game that the total of Douglas’ fine is “up for discussion”. But Miami Herald reporter C. Isaiah Smalls had the scoop after the game.
It’s always fun to get peeks behind the curtain like this. Douglas’ contribution to the win turns out to be a costly one — and Minkah Fitzpatrick is the perfect person to serve as the jury for his peers, given that Fitzpatrick took his interception on the day back to the house.
This is all fun and games on the heels of a win. Had Miami lost and looked back longingly at those four points Miami could have had by way of a Douglas return for a score, it’d be a different story. Thankfully, that’s not the world we live in.
Instead, we can marvel at an instinctive drive on the ball from Douglas to help steal points and flip the script of the close of Miami’s first half effort against the Saints. Just don’t expect Douglas to have any kind words for Saints offensive guard Dillon Radunz the next time he sees him. He, apparently, cost Douglas two grand! You’d like to think it’s a price well worth a win nevertheless.
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