Waddle Shines, Dolphins Beat Saints 20-3 To Win 7th Straight

2 years ago 249

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Rookie sensation Jaylen Waddle returned from the COVID-19 database to drawback 10 passes for 92 yards and touchdown, and the Miami Dolphins bushed the short-handed New Orleans Saints 20-3 connected Monday night, becoming the archetypal NFL squad to triumph 7 consecutive games aft losing 7 successful a row.

Nik Needham intercepted Saints rookie backmost Ian Book and returned it 28 yards for a touchdown to assistance to assistance Miami go 1 of 4 8-7 teams — on with Baltimore, the Los Angeles Chargers and Las Vegas — successful contention for 1 of the last playoff spots successful the AFC.

Book started for the Saints (7-8) due to the fact that of a COVID-19 outbreak that took 16 players disconnected the progressive roster, including starting QB Taysom Hill and seasoned backup Trevor Siemian.

With the Saints’ violative enactment missing 3 starters, including some tackles, Book completed 12 of 20 passes for 135 yards, was sacked 8 times and was intercepted twice.

The Saints’ defence helped support the crippled wrong scope until Waddle scored connected a 1-yard shovel walk from Tua Tagovailoa to marque it 17-3 with 5:10 near successful the 3rd quarter.

Tagovailoa, who entered the crippled with an NFL champion 69.9% completion rate, connected connected 19 of 26 passes (73.1%) for 198 yards and the abbreviated TD. He besides was intercepted by Marshon Lattimore.

THE WADDLE EFFECT

Waddle returned to the lineup aft missing Miami’s erstwhile crippled due to the fact that of a affirmative COVID-19 test. He has 96 catches this season, eclipsing New Orleans’ Michael Thomas for the second-most receptions by a rookie, and leaving him 5 abbreviated of Anquan Boldin’s rookie grounds of 101 catches successful 2003.

BOOK’S OPENING

Book got a roar of encouragement from the assemblage erstwhile helium archetypal took the tract and and Saints fans were cheering again 2 plays aboriginal erstwhile helium completed his archetypal vocation pass. Then they fto retired a corporate gasp connected his 2nd walk — Needham’s pick-6.

Book’s adjacent 2 bid besides lasted 3 plays each and ended connected sacks. New Orleans didn’t get a archetypal down until the 2nd quarter, and that thrust lasted 5 plays.

The Saints yet moved the shot connected their 5th series, needing conscionable 4 plays to prime up 3 archetypal downs. A roughing-the-passer punishment connected a 12-yard completion to Alvin Kamara moved New Orleans to the Miami 23, mounting up Brett Maher’s tract extremity to marque it 10-3.

Cam Jordan’s 2nd sack of the crippled successful the last infinitesimal of the 2nd 4th forced Miami to effort a 59-yard tract goal, which Jason Sanders missed, keeping the Saints’ shortage astatine 1 touchdown astatine halftime.

INJURIES/COVID-19

Dolphins: Miami went into the crippled missing 7 players due to the fact that of COVID-19.

Saints: In summation to having 16 players removed from the progressive roster by affirmative COVID-19 tests, New Orleans scratched starting near tackle Terron Armstead, who was not yet acceptable to instrumentality from a genu wounded that besides kept him retired the erstwhile week. Reserve close tackle Caleb Benenoch was treated connected the tract for an wounded successful the 4th quarter. Receiver Tre’Quan Smith near the crippled with a thorax injury.

UP NEXT

Dolphins: Visit Tennessee connected Sunday earlier closing retired the regular play astatine location against AFC East rival New England.

Saints: Host NFC South foe Carolina connected Sunday earlier traveling to Atlanta to extremity the regular season.

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