Defense was optional in the first half between the Miami Dolphins and Chicago Bears with the visiting Dolphins taking a 21-17 lead into halftime. The Bears allowed the Dolphins to score touchdowns on each of their first two possessions just a week after allowing the Dallas Cowboys to find the end zone on each of their first four drives.
Miami quarterback Tua Tagovailoa completed each of his first nine passes and finishedeed 11 for 13 for 162 yards while also throwing a three-yard score to the NFL’s receiving yards leader Tyreek Hill. Hill also set up the Dolphins’ first touchdown drawing a defensive pass interference call in the end zone. Running back Raheem Mostert capitalized, scoring on a plunge right up the middle on the very next play.
Not to be outdone, Justin Fields also showed a little issue with the opposing defense, totaling 94 passing yards, two passing touchdowns (each over 15 yards) and a game-high 53 rushing yards. The Bears did a great job designing plays to get Fields moving outside of the pocket to set up comfortable plays for the second-year passer.
The difference in the first half came when the Dolphins defense became the first to force the opposing offense to punt. Instead of the Bears’ punt slicing through the windy Chicago air, Miami linebacker Jaelan Phillips blew through the line to block it, and linebacker Andrew Van Ginkel scooped up the football for a 25-yard touchdown. It was the Dolphins’ first punt they blocked and took back to the house for a score since Week 12 last season against the Carolina Panthers. The Dolphins also had a special teams miscue of their own. Kicker Jason Sanders missed a 29-yard field goal to end the half, the shortest miss of his five-year career after the wind seemed to take hold of the kick and push it wide left.
This Week 9 showdown between Tua Tagovailoa and Justin Fields seems to be turning into a fireworks show, so stay tuned to the live blog below for all the real-time updates and analysis in the second half!