Penalties hurt Dolphins as they fall to Jaguars

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. Jason Myers kicked a 28-yard field goal with 40 seconds remaining, and the Jaguars stunned the Dolphins 23-20 in a mistake-riddled affair Sunday.

The key sequence: after a Jacksonville run during their game-winning drive, Olivier Vernon was called for a late hit, putting the Jaguars in the red zone.

The penalty was Miami’s 13th, for a total of 112 yards.

With the loss, both teams are 1-1 after two weeks.

Ryan Tannehill was excellent in the loss. The offensive line was offensive.

Tannehill completed 30 of 43 passes for 359 yards and two scores. The line, however, surrendered two sacks and many more holding calls, struggling after Branden Albert left with a hamstring injury.

The first-half woes continued for the Dolphins defense. Miami allowed Jacksonville to march 82 yards on 10 plays on the Jaguars’ opening possession, capped by a 3-yard touchdown pass from Blake Bortles to Allen Robinson.

On Jacksonville’s next drive, Bortles and Robinson hooked up again, this time for 52 yards over Brice McCain. The Jaguars turned the big play into a field goal, and went ahead 10-3. Jacksonville had 148 yards of offense in the game’s first 12 minutes.

Andrew Franks was basically the only Dolphin who showed up in the first half. His field goals 48 and 42 yards kept Miami in the game.

But it was only a matter of time until Bortles and Robinson exploited Miami’s secondary again. Robinson roasted Walt Aikens on a slant-and-go, got wide open and corralled a 46-yard touchdown pass.

Tannehill answered, directing a 7-play, 82-yard drive that he punctuated with a 10-yard scoring pass to Damien Williams. The pass to Jordan Cameron plus Jacksonville personal foul put Miami in the Jaguars red zone.

After Franks missed a 42-yarder his first missed attempt of his career the Jaguars got the ball back with just seconds left on the clock. Instead of kneeling on the ball, the Jaguars attacked Miami’s secondary.

Smart move. McCain was flagged for pass interference at the Miami 40, allowing Jason Myers to connect on a 58-yard field goal on the last play of the half.

The Dolphins got the ball first in the second half, and Tannehill went right to work leading Miami down the field. He drew his team even when he found Jake Stoneburner who was on the practice squad a week ago on a 5-yard touchdown pass.

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