Reggie Bush had a couple of big plays and rookie quarterback Ryan Tannehill notched his first career touchdown pass as the Miami Dolphins rolled right over the Oakland Raiders on Sunday, winning 35-13. Both teams started slow, unable to get traction on offense, but in the end, it was Miami's halftime adjustments that made the difference by exploiting the lack of pressure from Oakland's front seven.
Raiders Vs. Dolphins Game Recap: Reggie Bush Leads Miami To 35-13 Win
Tannehill started to roll out more in the second half, and Miami really cranked up the sideline-to-sideline action, forcing Oakland’s defense to break down in the secondary, allowing Tannehill to find receivers on their way back from their routes. The Raiders found their defense gassed out by the start of the fourth, and Miami was walking all over them by that point.
As is the usual result, the gassed defense led to poor field position for Carson Palmer and the offense, and they weren't able to put much together at all until their final drive, when Miami got a bit lax with their defensive formations. Palmer did have a good game overall, but didn't get much help from running back Darren McFadden, which is usually a good indication that Oakland isn't going to win. Palmer threw the ball over 40 times, while McFadden only carried 11 times.
Fantasy Studs/Duds: If you took a flyer on Bush, then you’re probably a happy camper right now. After 26 carries for 172 yards and two touchdowns, Bush has showed he’s a viable option at this point. If you’re like many and have McFadden ... you probably aren’t as happy. He carried the ball just 11 times and only managed to come up with 22 yards. Be sure to check out SB Nation’s main fantasy hub for all of your news and advice for next week.
Reggie Bush Is A Fan Of ‘Griffining’: Observe.
Reggie Bush making his case for offensive player of the week! #Dolphins
— Kevin Nogle (@thephinsider) September 16, 2012
Did They Cover? Miami was favored to win this game by most sources, but never by more than 3 points. Some actually favored the Raiders by a single point, so if you bet on Miami and if you picked the over (ranging from 39 to 41), then you did well. Be sure to check out SB Nation’s NFL odds page to keep up to date on the latest lines.
Injury Report: Oakland receiver Denarius Moore was questionable coming into the game, but made the start and played most of the game. He left late in the third quarter with cramps and did not return until late in the fourth. Oakland cornerback Shawntae Spencer left the game in the fourth with a foot injury and did not return. Coye Francies, the returner for Oakland, took a brutal hit to the helmet on a kick return in the fourth and left the game. Miami remained relatively unscathed in the game.
Next Week: Oakland will return home and host to the very tough Pittsburgh Steelers, a team they've played well against recently. Miami will remain at home and play host to the New York Jets in Week 3.
For more on the Oakland Raiders, check out Silver and Black Pride, and for more on the Miami Dolphins, head on over to The Phinsider. Don’t forget to check out SB Nation’s main NFL hub for news and analysis from around the league.
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