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20 things we learned: Miami Dolphins 20, Philadelphia Eagles 19

Williams, who has a cast on his right hand because of a thumb injury, bobbled a snap for the second straight week. This time the second-year tailback tried to bring the ball out of the end zone before getting tripped up at the 1-yard line. The Dolphins gave up a safety on the very next snap. The Dolphins had Jarvis Landry handle kickoff returns the rest of the game because Williams injured an ankle on the play. -- OK

Williams, who has a cast on his right hand because of a thumb injury, bobbled a snap for the second straight week. This time the second-year tailback tried to bring the ball out of the end zone before getting tripped up at the 1-yard line. The Dolphins gave up a safety on the very next snap. The Dolphins had Jarvis Landry handle kickoff returns the rest of the game because Williams injured an ankle on the play. -- OK

  (Michael Perez / AP)

By Steve Svekis
 and Omar Kelly
South Florida Sun-Sentinel
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The Dolphins’ first win in Philadelphia in 22 years (Don Shula’s record-breaking 325th win) got them to 4-5 and squarely back into the underwhelming AFC wild-card playoff chase.

The Dolphins' present and former kicker had a kicking duel

Former Dolphins kicker Caleb Sturgis, who was unseated by Andrew Franks during the exhibition season, got a chance to redeem himself against his former team. Sturgis, who missed his first field goal attempt, kicked a 37-yard field goal early in the fourth quarter to close the deficit to one point. Franks, an undrafted rookie from RPI, kicked a 22 and 42-yard field goal against the Eagles. -- OK

  (Matt Rourke / AP)

In a redux of the Titans game, some big penalties are better than others

Sam Bradford, who was under siege nonstop starting in the second quarter, threw an interception at the Philly 30 with 10 seconds left. However, it was negated by a C.J. Mosley personal foul for tattooing the Eagles quarterback in the sternum with the top of his helmet. Yes, it was a costly penalty, but also continued the mugging of Bradford, whose effectiveness seriously waned under the siege, before he left the game injured. Bad 15-yard flags? Jarvis Landry’s for taunting that moved Miami from the Philly 48 to the Miami 37, and Neville Hewitt’s passive facemask on DeMarco Murray that offset an Eagles holding call. -- SS

  (Matt Rourke / AP)

Good news, bad news on the rookies

The good news came in the aforementioned play of Jay Ajayi (11 carries for 89 yards in his two games), and the massive blocked punt by Zach Vigil. The bad news? Ajayi was selected 149th in the 2015 draft, and Vigil wasn’t selected at all. High draft picks need to make an impact. -- SS

  (Michael Perez / AP)

The Dolphis absolutely must stop the first-drive touchdowns

Josh Huff’s contorting 2-yard touchdown grab represented the fifth time in nine games where Miami has allowed a first-drive touchdown by the opponent, worst in the NFL. -- SS

  (Rich Schultz / Getty Images)

Sports
Steve Svekis

Steve Svekis has been at the Sun Sentinel since 1989. He has been the sports Sunday editor and page designer, assistant sports editor over high schools, business columnist and now web producer. He wrote and voiced a web-animated parody of the Miami Dolphins in 2004 and 2005 that earned an EPpy, beating out the New York Times and Toronto Star. He was a Dolphins beat writer in 2010.

Omar Kelly

Omar Kelly is an NFL columnist and Dolphins beat writer for the Sun Sentinel. A Florida A&M University graduate and South Florida native, he has covered the Florida State Seminoles, Miami Hurricanes, Miami Heat and Miami Dolphins during his career as a sports reporter, which began in 1997.

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