MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — The Dolphins took another step to becoming the team many envisioned they could be at the start of the 2021 season.
Led by a defense that limited the Carolina Panthers under 200 of offense and an offense that produced its largest scoring output of the season, the Dolphins beat the Panthers, 33-10, at Hard Rock Stadium on Sunday.
It’s the fourth consecutive victory for the Dolphins (5-7), who continue to set themselves up nicely to get back to .500 and potentially back into the AFC playoff picture. The team will host the New York Giants and Jets in its next two games, with a bye week sandwiched between the matchups.
After weeks of not playing complementary football, the Dolphins put offense, defense and special teams together for the team’s most well-rounded performance of the season. The blowout victory began on special teams, where linebacker Duke Riley blocked a punt that was recovered by cornerback Justin Coleman for a 2-yard touchdown, giving the Dolphins a 7-0 lead in the first quarter.
The Panthers (5-7) responded with a 1-yard run by quarterback Cam Newton, tying the score at 7, but Carolina only reached the red zone one more time, in the closing minutes of the lopsided game. Newton, making his second straight start of the season, completed just 5-of-21 passes for 92 yards and two interceptions, and was benched in the fourth quarter for P.J. Walker.
Newton’s second pick, intercepted by Howard, set up the Dolphins’ second score of the game, a 9-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Tua Tagovailoa to wide receiver Jaylen Waddle, and gave the team a 14-7 lead in the second quarter.
Tagovailoa, continuing his stretch of good play since returning from early season injuries, completed 27-of-31 passes for 231 yards and one touchdown. Waddle recorded his first 100-yard game of the season, catching nine passes for 137 yards, including a season-high 57-yard catch-and-run.
Running back Myles Gaskin added a pair of 3-yard touchdown runs and new running back Phillip Lindsay made his team debut, rushing 12 times for 42 yards.
