The Miami Dolphins football team defeated the New Orleans Saints 21-17 at Hard Rock Stadium, extending its winning streak to three games and improving its season record to 5-7. The victory was Miami’s fourth in its last five games. De’Von Achane led the rushing attack with 134 yards on 22 carries and surpassed 1,000 rushing yards for the first time in his career.
The three-game winning streak is the Miami Dolphins’ longest since three consecutive victories in Weeks 10-12 of the 2024 season. It is also the sixth time under head coach Mike McDaniel that Miami has won three consecutive games.
De’Von Achane reaches 1,000 rushing yards
Achane became the fourth player in Miami Dolphins history to reach 1,000 rushing yards in the first 12 games of a season. He joined Larry Csonka, who reached the mark in 1972; Delvin Williams, who did so in 1978; and Ricky Williams, who reached it in 2002 and 2003.
The Miami Dolphins have averaged 176.7 rushing yards per game since the winning streak began in Week 10, the best mark in the NFL during that span. The team has also rushed for at least 160 yards in each of its three consecutive victories. That is the first time Miami has reached at least 160 rushing yards in three straight games since Weeks 12-14 of the 2002 season.
Miami has rushed for 1,405 yards through the first 12 games of the season. It is the fourth time since 2010 that the Dolphins have reached at least 1,400 rushing yards through 12 games, joining the 2011, 2014 and 2023 seasons.
Miami Dolphins defense makes key plays
Since the start of the winning streak in Week 10, the Miami Dolphins defense has allowed 14.3 points per game, the best mark in the NFL during that span. The defense has also forced seven turnovers during that stretch, tied for the third-most in the league.
Miami recorded four sacks against the New Orleans Saints, its most since a December 2024 game in Houston. Minkah Fitzpatrick recorded 1.0 sack, while Chop Robinson recorded 1.5 sacks and split one with rookie defensive tackle Zeek Biggers. The sack was the first of Biggers’ career.
Bradley Chubb added a fourth-quarter sack of New Orleans Saints quarterback Tyler Shough. Fitzpatrick also strip-sacked Shough in the second quarter, leading to a fumble recovery by defensive tackle Zach Sieler and giving Miami possession in New Orleans territory.
Minkah Fitzpatrick seals the victory
With 1:23 remaining, Fitzpatrick intercepted Shough’s potentially game-tying two-point attempt and returned it the length of the field for a defensive two-point conversion. The play was the Miami Dolphins’ first defensive two-point conversion since Walt Aikens returned a blocked extra point for a two-point score against Arizona on Dec. 11, 2016.
Fitzpatrick’s second-quarter sack was the first of his career. He finished with seven stops, including four solo tackles, along with 1.0 sack, a tackle for loss, a forced fumble and the defensive two-point conversion.
FSB Take
The Miami Dolphins’ third consecutive victory featured the two areas highlighted by the team’s recent stretch: a productive rushing attack and a defense that has limited scoring while creating turnovers. Achane’s 1,000-yard milestone added a significant individual achievement to the 21-17 win over the New Orleans Saints.
Miami is 5-7 after winning four of its last five games. The Dolphins have averaged 176.7 rushing yards per game and allowed 14.3 points per game since the winning streak began in Week 10, with both figures ranking first in the NFL during that span.
Source: Original report