It is the last Monday of 2021.
On Monday night, the Miami Dolphins played against a New Orleans Saints team without 22 players because of Covid-19 not including four coaches.
Dolphins went into the game, missing seven players because of COVID-19.
The Dolphins make me cry, Miami Dolphins win fifth straight game, Dolphins defense is on fire
It was only the 13th meeting between the Dolphins and Saints; the Dolphins, last win in the series, was in 2005. That was not at the Ceasers Stadium instead of Tiger Stadium; the previous true win in New Orleans was December 7, 1986. Dolphins won 31-27 in week 14 over the Saints.
Nick Needam intercepted Ian Book for a pick-six with 10:25 to play in the 1st quarter to give the Dolphins a 7-0 lead history would change in favor of the Dolphins from there.
Jaylen Waddle caught ten passes for 92 yards and touchdown in his return from the COVID-19 list, and the Dolphins beat the short-handed Saints 20-3, becoming the first NFL team to win seven straight after losing seven in a row.
Waddle tied Jerry Rice with the most catches by a rookie in the history of Monday Night Football. He becomes the seventh rookie in NFL history to have more than 90 catches in a season; he is five behind the all-time record set by Anquan Boldin in 2003.
Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, who entered the game with an NFL-best 69.9% completion rate, connected on 19 of 26 passes (73.1%) for 198 yards and a touchdown.
The Dolphins defense is worth the price of admission during the win streak. They sacked Book eight times, a team record for a game. In the Super Bowl era, they became the first team to have that many sacks, score a defensive TD, and hold an opponent under 200 total yards while allowing no TDs or third-down conversions.
The Saints went 0 for 12 on third down. They finished the first quarter with -2 yards of offense, the lowest in the Sean Payton era.
After losing seven straight in the middle of the season, it was November and December to remember for Dolphins. Now with seven consecutive wins, a top-five defense, and an accurate quarterback. Miami is looking to put a bow on a headline season with a playoff birth.
Dolphins’ tight end Mike Gesicki has not had a touchdown since week seven. Dolphins scored 20 points in the win, with the defense contributing seven points. It is evident again the defense is the captain of the ship during this win streak.
Dolphins are finding ways to put points on the board with George Godsey and Eric Studesville co-offensive coordinators. It has been a masterful way of having Waddle produce without throwing the ball deep down the field consistently.
It is the Dolphins’ first seven-game win streak since 1985.
If the Dolphins win out and get into the playoffs, Brian Flores deserves to be the coach of the year.
The next two games will be the hardest of the season for the Dolphins; they have to find a way to get the ball deep down the field. They can split the two and get in the playoffs.
The beat goes on.
Dolphins will visit Tennessee on Sunday before closing out the regular season at home against AFC East rival New England.
Saints will host NFC South foe Carolina on Sunday before traveling to Atlanta to end the regular season.
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