Dolphins start season with ugly 17-10 win over Redskins

LANDOVER, Md. Jarvis Landry returned a punt 69 yards for a touchdown in the fourth quarter to lift the Miami Dolphins to an ugly 17-10 win over the Washington Redskins on Sunday.

Miami’s defense, which was exposed early, held late, making two stops deep in the Dolphins’ end to hold survive with a victory.

Ryan Tannehill wasn’t sharp, but he wasn’t bad either. He finished the game 22 of 34 for 224 yards and a touchdown.

The first quarter was a disaster for the Dolphins, and the second wasn’t too hot either.

Washington outgained Miami 99-16 and had the ball for 12 minutes and 43 seconds in the first quarter. The only reason the Dolphins were still in the game: the Redskins managed just three points.

But when Brent Grimes intercepted Kirk Cousins deep in Washington territory, Miami had its first spark. It fizzled out immediately. On first and 10 from the 21, Tannehill overthrew a wide-open Dion Sims in the end zone.

Making matters worse, Sims suffered a scary head injury while diving for the pass. He laid face-down and motionless immediately after the fall. Eventually, he was able to get to his feet, but left the field via a cart. The Dolphins evaluated Sims for a concussion; he did not return.

When play resumed, the Dolphins’ offense stalled. Joe Philbin elected to go for in on fourth-and-1 from the 12; Damien Williams couldn’t get back to the line of scrimmage.

That defensive stand set the stage for 17-play, 88-yard Redskins’ drive that was as impressive as the raw stats suggested. Cousins capped the possession with a 3-yard pass to Jordan Reed.

When the Dolphins absolutely needed successful a two-minute drive, Tannehill delivered. He directed a 9-play, 65-yard drive capped by a 3-yard touchdown pass to Rishard Matthews.

Amazingly, they went to the break down just 3, despite being out-gained 183-97, controlling the ball for just 6:21 and gaining just 2 yards on the ground.

The Dolphins’ comedy of errors continued in the second half. Tannehill, trying to evade a rush, lost his grip on the ball and nobody else could get a hand on it until the Redskins recovered a third of a football field away.

Still, Washington had its own miscues, and couldn’t capitalize on the field position.

The Dolphins ultimately tied the game on a 22-yard field goal by Andrew Franks, but not until a ragged red zone try proved fruitless for Miami’s offense.

But after a three-and-out deep in Washington’s end, the Redskins made the mistake of kicking the ball to Landry.

After the Landry touchdown, the Dolphins flexed its muscles again. Brice McCain snuffed out Washington’s drive with an acrobatic interception.

The Redskins had one last chance, and went for it on fourth-and-7 from Miami’s 20. But Terrence Fede came at Cousins unblocked, and the quarterback’s pass had no chance.

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