The Sports Xchange
Oct 18, 2015
NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Apparently, a coaching change pushed the reset button for the Miami Dolphins, at least for one Sunday.
Interim coach Dan Campbell won his first game as Miami physically dominated the Tennessee Titans at the scrimmage line to carve out a 38-10 win at Nissan Stadium.
Running back Lamar Miller, who entered the day with 131 yards in the team's first four games, had 99 by halftime and finished with 113 on 19 carries and a touchdown. Quarterback Ryan Tannehill completed 22 of 29 passes for 266 yards, hitting tight ends Dion Sims and Jordan Cameron for fourth-quarter scores.
The Dolphins' defense, which entered the game rated 29th in the NFL in total defense and last against the run, finally looked like the unit the team envisioned in the offseason. Defensive end Cameron Wake notched two of the team's six sacks, five more than they managed in the first four games.
Miami (2-3) gave up only 59 yards on the ground after yielding an average of 160.5 yards per game through four games. That allowed it to tee off on Tennessee rookie quarterback Marcus Mariota, who endured his roughest game.
Mariota connected on 21 of 33 passes for 219 yards, including a 3-yard touchdown pass to running back Dexter McCluster on the third quarter's last play. But Mariota also lost two fumbles and threw two interceptions under constant pressure.
Mariota's first interception was returned 30 yards for a touchdown by safety Reshad Jones, making it 24-3 Dolphins with 5:40 left in the third quarter. Cornerback Brent Grimes picked off an underthrown pass for tight end Anthony Fasano at the Miami 3 in the fourth quarter's first two minutes as the Titans tried to cut their deficit to one touchdown.
Wide receiver Jarvis Landry initiated scoring with a 22-yard scoring run off a reverse to cap an 80-yard drive on the Dolphins' first possession. The teams then exchanged field goals, Ryan Succop booting a 37-yarder with 5:28 left in the first quarter and Andrew Franks hitting a 30-yarder with six seconds remaining in the quarter.
Miller's 7-yard touchdown run at the 5:07 mark of the second quarter sent Miami into halftime with a 17-3 lead.
Tennessee (1-4) lost its fourth straight game since a Week 1 rout at Tampa Bay and hasn't won a home game since Oct. 12, 2014.
NOTES: Tennessee C Brian Schwenke (leg) left the game late in the first half and didn't return. ... Miami started a stretch of four road games in five weeks. The one home game is next week against Houston. ... Titans FS Michael Griffin jumped past John Grimsley for sixth place on the franchise's career tackles list with his 837th in the first half.