Three takeaways: Dolphins outlast Patriots 15-10

If a win cures all, then Sunday’s result was exactly what the doctor ordered for Miami. The Dolphins got going early and complemented their outstanding defensive performance with a power run game. And while the Dolphins were the only team in the division to add a tick in the win column in Week 5, the 13-day break until the next game provides even more opportunity to get healthy.

First, the three takeaways from the 15:10 win over New England.

Sunday was something of a coming out party for a Dolphins game that had been coming for weeks. The interior running game, led by the return of senior defensive lineman Raheem Mostert, leaned on New England’s defense, recording 41 rushing attempts for 193 yards.

The Dolphins showed their will in the game’s crucial moments, capping a 15-play, 80-yard drive with seven consecutive runs. Before kickoff, the Dolphins had not had a 15-yard rush this season. Miami had five such runs on Sunday and three of them came on that game-winning drive. Eight of Miami’s runs went for 10 yards.

Three of the 10-yard runs came from rookie running back Jaylen Wright, who rushed for a career-high 86 yards on 13 carries. He and Mostert combined for 166 rushing yards and did most of their damage behind fullback Alec Ingold. Miami completed 31 run plays with Ingold on the field, averaging 5.2 yards per carry for 160 yards.

Ingold capped his monster performance with his second rushing touchdown as a Dolphin, giving Miami a 15-10 lead with 4:24 minutes to play.

Complementing a strong running game with a swarming defense is one of the first blueprints to victory the sport has. The Patriots gained 44 yards on three plays at the end of the game, increasing their total on the day to 299 yards. In its last 10 possessions, New England’s offense managed 255 yards on 52 snaps, an average of just 4.9 yards per play.

The Dolphins slowed down the Patriots from within. Zach Sieler and Calais Campbell ranked top 10 in both pressures (16 and 14, according to Pro Football Focus) and defensive stops (11 and 9) among defensive tackles in the league in Week 5.

Sieler caught a sack, three quarterback hits and two calls that led directly to New England punts. Campbell led the team with six quarterback pressures and two QB hits of his own.

The Dolphins entered the game with the best third-down defense in the NFL and only allowed a conversion rate of 23.8 percent. New England went 4 of 13, keeping the Dolphins atop the league in that category. Additionally, heading into Monday night’s game, Miami ranks sixth in total defense, allowing 285.4 yards per game.

3. The bye week comes right on time

On Sunday, wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. debuted as a Miami Dolphin. Running back Raheem Mostert, tackle Terron Armstead, cornerback Kendall Fuller and linebacker David Long Jr. all returned to the lineup after missing the Week 4 game.

The time off will help further heal a relatively struggling Dolphins team, but it’s the extra time quarterback Tyler Huntley needs to get back in the lab that could prove extremely beneficial for a Dolphins offense that found their rhythm in the fourth quarter.

“For (Huntley) to play with conviction, I think it will be huge for him to help things calm down because you don’t really have time for much when you just get into an NFL work week,” head coach Mike McDaniel said . “You have to orchestrate a lot of moving parts, and I think he handled it all well. He’s done a really phenomenal job since he’s been here, but today was certainly a step forward.”

The Dolphins return to the field on Sunday, October 20th^Th in Indianapolis to face the Colts.