Postgame Notes
Miami Dolphins at Philadelphia Eagles
Hard Rock Stadium
August 24, 2017 | 7 PM
POSTGAME NOTES
MIAMI SCORES MOST POINTS IN A PRESEASON GAME SINCE 1999
- The 31 points scored by the Dolphins tonight are the most by the team in a preseason game since 1999, when the team also scored 31 in a 31-10 win vs. Detroit on Aug. 28, 1999. It’s tied for the seventh-most points in a preseason game in team history. The 69 combined points tonight are the most in a preseason game in Dolphins history topping the 65 scored by Miami (45) and New Orleans (20) on Aug. 10, 1974.
CUTLER DIRECTS MIAMI OFFENSE TO 21 POINTS IN 18 PLAYS
- QB Jay Cutler directed the first-team offense for 18 plays tonight and helped the team score 21 points. In those 18 plays, the Dolphins gained 152 yards (8.4 yards per play) and had nine first downs. The first-team offense scored touchdowns in all of its three red zone trips. Cutler was 5-of-8 (62.5 pct.) for 105 yards and one touchdown, posting a 145.8 quarterback rating.
AJAYI SCORES TWICE
- RB Jay Ajayi rushed for two touchdowns in the first quarter. The last Dolphins running back who scored two rushing touchdowns in a preseason game was RB Mike Gillislee against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sept. 3, 2015. Ajayi had eight rushing touchdowns during his 1,272-yard campaign in 2016.
DVP FOR 72 YARDS
- WR DeVante Parker made his presence known early in the game, hauling in a 72-yard reception over an Eagles defender to bring the Dolphins down to the 2-yard line. RB Jay Ajayi put the Dolphins on the board with a touchdown run on the next play. Parker’s longest regular season gain of his career was a 56-yard touchdown at Buffalo on Dec. 24, 2016.
JORDAN PHILLIPS SETS UP SECOND DOLPHINS TD
- DT Jordan Phillips picked off a deflected pass from Eagles QB Carson Wentz and returned it 18 yards to the 3-yard line in the first quarter to set up Miami’s second touchdown. DE William Hayes got a hand on the Wentz pass. Phillips also intercepted a pass last year in the regular season and returned it close to the goal line when he picked off Jets QB Ryan Fitzpatrick on Dec. 17, 2016 and returned it 17 yards to the Jets 14-yard line, setting up a Dolphins field goal.
TIMMONS GRABS FIRST DOLPHINS PICK
- LB Lawrence Timmons intercepted Eagles QB Matt McGloin with an acrobatic grab in the second quarter inside the Eagles 10-yard line. It was his first preseason interception for the Dolphins after he joined the team as an unrestricted free agent from Pittsburgh on March 10, 2017. Timmons has 12 career regular season interceptions.
JULIUS THOMAS SCORES HIS FIRST DOLPHINS TD
- TE Julius Thomas caught a 1-yard touchdown pass in the second quarter, the first preseason score of his Dolphins career. Thomas ranks No. 2 among all NFL tight ends in touchdowns scored since 2013 with 33 of them. The Dolphins acquired him in a trade with Jacksonville on March 9, 2017.
JAKEEM GRANT TAKES IT TO THE HOUSE
- WR Jakeem Grant caught a pass, broke two tackles and was off to the races in the third quarter for a 69-yard touchdown. Grant entered tonight with three receptions for 20 yards (6.7 avg.) in the preseason. He did not catch a pass in his rookie season last year but did have five receptions for 73 yards (14.6 avg.) in the 2016 preseason.
UP NEXT: MINNESOTA
- The Dolphins head to Minnesota next week for their fourth and final preseason game. It will be the team’s first game in U.S. Bank Stadium, which will play host to Super Bowl LII on Feb. 4, 2018. The Dolphins are 8-12 all-time in preseason games against the Vikings but this will be the first preseason meeting between the two since 2001.
INJURIES REPORTED IN THE PRESS BOX
MIAMI DOLPHINS
- RB Senorise Perry, questionable, knee (third quarter) – did not return
- TE Thomas Duarte, out, concussion (fourth quarter)
PLAYERS WHO DID NOT DRESS TODAY
MIAMI DOLPHINS
- S Walt Aikens, LB Neville Hewitt, C/G Ted Larsen, CB Tony Lippett, CB Jordan Lucas, LB Rey Maualuga, LB Raekwon McMillan, TE Chris Pantale, WR Rashawn Scott, C/G Kraig Urbik, LB Brandon Watts
CAPTAINS
MIAMI DOLPHINS
- RB Jay Ajayi, DE Andre Branch, LB Mike Hull, C Mike Pouncey, RB Damien Williams
QUICK HITS
- There were 69,596 tickets distributed to tonight’s game.