Xavien Howard, Jakeem Grant miss Dolphins’ game against Redskins

John McCall/South Florida Sun Sentinel

It seems that Kenyan Drake's days with the Dolphins are numbered based on his use and role with the team, so with the trade deadline approacing it would be beneficial for Miami to ship him to a tailback-needy team for a third-day pick. Drake, the Dolphins 2016 third-round pick, will be a free agent this coming offseason, and considering Miami plans to be aggressive with the $120 million in cap space it will have it would benefit the franchise long-term to move him now to a team like the Los Angeles Rams or the Pittsburgh Steelers instead of banking on getting a compensatory pick in the draft. -- OK

Joe Cavaretta / South Florida Sun Sentinel

First, there was the 6-foot-5 receiver injecting life into a moribund punt return game. After four games, Jakeem Grant and the Dolphins had limped to a 1.2-yard-per-return average, second-worst in the league (incredibly, the Green Bay Packers enter Monday night's game with the Lions with a 0.3-yard average, coming on 1 yard on four runbacks). Anyway, Williams fired off a 21-yard return to head up a four-runback, 42-yard day. He also logged the team's first three fair catches of the season. Williams' runback yardage quadrupled Miami's season per-return average, as it stands at 4.9 yards per entering next week. Williams also made a couple receptions for 31 yards. Late in the game, he did make a fresh-out-of-college error, catching the ball on a first-down play with less than a half-minute remaining as the Dolphins trailed 17-10. Instead of getting easily out of bounds with about 21 seconds left and leaving a second-down play with the clock frozen, he turned in and fought for a first down (in college, the clock stops on a first down). Fitzpatrick had to spike the ball with 10 seconds left, and face a second down anyway. Luckily, the faux pas had no impact in the final result. -- SS

Wilfredo Lee/AP

The key stat that is easiest to digest in showing a punter's efficacy is net yards. In that realm, Matt Haack's 42.3 net on seven punts against the Redskins trimmed his season number down to 43.9 – probably a top 10 number when this weekend is over. However, it was his three punts that ended up inside the 20 (usually punts in tight confines that trim net yardage even on the best punts, and kills it with touchbacks) pinned the Redskins at their 7, 12 and 1, with the latter two numbers coming in the midst of the fourth-quarter rally. Big-time day. -- SS

John McCall/South Florida Sun Sentinel

Mark Walton, the former University of Miami standout, started his first NFL game Sunday against the Redskins, and used his increased workload to show he belongs on the field. Walton contributed 53 combined yards on nine touches in the first half, and finished the game with 32 yards on six rushing attempts, and 43 yards on five receptions. -- OK

Joe Cavaretta / South Florida Sun Sentinel

Miami Dolphins fans show how they feel about losing during the game against the Washington Redskins, Sunday, Oct. 13, 2019, at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens.

Joe Cavaretta / South Florida Sun Sentinel

The Dolphins lost a game they couldn't afford to win, suffering a 17-16 defeat when a two-point conversation failed after Kenyan Drake dropped a pass from Ryan Fitzpatrick. The loss keeps South Florida's NFL franchise in the running for the No. 1 pick in next year's draft. The coast isn't clear yet considering the New York Jets and Cincinnati Bengals are still winless, but Brian Flores' team will be in position to control their own fate since the Dolphins play both opponents later this season. – Omar Kelly

John McCall/South Florida Sun Sentinel

The Dolphins entered Sunday's contest knowing the Redskins were going to emphasize the run game under interim coach Bill Callahan, and Miami still failed to stop it, allowing 145 rushing yards. That's a testimony to how bad the Dolphins run defense, which came into the game ranked last in the NFL, has been this season because of issues players have setting the edge, and Miami's inability to keep its linebackers clean so they are able to make plays. Adrian Peterson finished the game with 118 rushing yards on 23 carries. -- OK

Joe Cavaretta / South Florida Sun Sentinel

Miami Dolphins Eric Rowe signs autographs prior ot eh game aganst the Washington Redskins, Sunday, Oct. 13, 2019, at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens.

John McCall/South Florida Sun Sentinel

One of Miami's struggles this season center around quarterbacks having all day to throw the football. That issue was prevalent against Washington, which came into Sunday's game with an offensive line decimated by injuries. The Dolphins didn't record a single sack, and there were very few instances where a defender put Case Keenum on the ground. Miami can't survive this season without producing any pressure. -- OK

John McCall/South Florida Sun Sentinel

Miami ended a streak of 139 minutes and 4 seconds of being shut out in the second half in 2019 when Kalen Ballage burrowed over in to the end zone with 10:56 left against Washington. When accounting for the Dolphins being scoreless for the final 16:28 of 2018 season, the club's second-half woes had spanned 155:32 (or, more than two and a half games of playing time). Then, the Dolphins splurged by scoring six more points on DeVante Parker's late scoring reception from Ryan Fitzpatrick. -- SS

Joe Cavaretta / South Florida Sun Sentinel

Miami Dolphins brought in quarterback Ryan Fitzpartick in the fourth quarter of the loss to the Washington Redskins, Sunday, Oct. 13, 2019, at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens.

Brynn Anderson/AP

As it was, the bubble screen-y pass to the left was to a Kenyan Drake moving toward the mass of humanity in the tackle-box area. Further, Washington linebacker Ryan Anderson, who had been extremely active and effective most of the game, was making a beeline for Drake. I wouldn't be shocked if the garnet No. 25 flashed into the Miami back's periphery at the moment of the drop. – SS

John McCall/South Florida Sun Sentinel

Mike Gesicki, the Dolphins' 2018 second-round pick, is working his way out of his early struggles, producing what could be viewed as a breakout performance against the Redskins. Gesicki, who has struggled with various aspects of being an NFL tight end, caught a 30-yard pass late in the fourth quarter to get the Dolphins at midfield. If Gesicki can continue to develop, he might become one of the building blocks this franchise can rely on going forward. -- OK

John McCall/South Florida Sun Sentinel

Raekwon McMillan began the 2019 coming off the bench, and was filling various roles on the Dolphins defense. But his emerging play has allowed him to regain the starting inside linebacker job, and has helped him become one of the few reliable defenders on Miami's defense. McMillan, the Dolphins 2017 second-round pick, led the Dolphins with nine tackles against the Redskins. -- OK

Joe Cavaretta / South Florida Sun Sentinel

Miami Dolphins owner Stephen Ross and Washington Redskins owner Daniel Snyder speak with each other prior to the game Sunday, Oct. 13, 2019, at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens.

John McCall/South Florida Sun Sentinel

The UTEP alum forced a second-quarter three-and-out when he kept up with Redskins wideout Paul Richardson and slapped away a Case Keenum pass on third-and-3. Also, in the waning seconds of the first half, Needham was again in good position on Richardson on a deep ball in Dolphins territory. From where he was just a few days ago, it was pretty cool. – SS

John McCall/South Florida Sun Sentinel

Despite losing by only one point, the Dolphins continue to lap the field in NFL history regarding their point differential. After five games, Miami has allowed 138 more points than it has scored. Previously, the worst post-merger negative differential after five games had been the 1971 Eagles' -123. The NFL's worst point differential through the first six games of a season came via the 2002 Cincinnati Bengals, who were outscored by 130 points in losing their first half-dozen. -- SS

John McCall/South Florida Sun Sentinel

The Dolphins used their fourth starting offensive line combination of the season Sunday against the Redskins, having J'Marcus Webb and Jesse Davis swap tackle spots. But the changes didn't deliver the desired results. The Dolphins allowed four sacks in the first half, and five for the entire game. And the run game remained inconsistent against Washington. Rookie left guard Michael Deiter allowed two sacks, and at some point the Dolphins will be forced to address his struggles. -- OK

Joe Cavaretta / South Florida Sun Sentinel

Sitting Xavien Howard because of a knee injury that surfaced on Wednesday was the right approach for the Dolphins considering the Miami's Pro Bowl cornerback has missed games the previous three seasons because of knee issues. Why should Miami play Howard in this meaningless game, and have the team's best player to suffer a setback, or something worse? The Dolphins should focus on Howard being healthy in 2020, and nothing else when it comes to the team's top talent. -- OK

Joe Cavaretta / South Florida Sun Sentinel

Miami Dolphins Vince Beigel got a fourth quartwr sack of Washington Redskins Case Keenum, Sunday, Oct. 13, 2019, at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens.

John McCall/South Florida Sun Sentinel

Miami Dolphins running back Kalen Ballage scores a touchdown against the Washington Redskins during the second half at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Sunday, Oct. 13, 2019.

Joe Cavaretta / South Florida Sun Sentinel

John McCall / South Florida Sun Sentinel

Dolphins cornerback Xavien Howard looks up at the score in the second half as his team takes on the Patriots on Sept. 15.

Joe Cavaretta / South Florida Sun Sentinel

A Washington Redskins fan looks on prior to the game against the Miami Dolphins Sunday, Oct. 13, 2019, at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens.

John McCall/South Florida Sun Sentinel

With a 2-for-2 performance on fourth-down conversions against Washington, the Dolphins improved to 5 for 10 in those situations. It puts the team on pace for 16 conversions in 32 attempts. The Dolphins media guide only goes back to the 1982 season regarding fourth-down conversions, but from that strike season onward, the most fourth-down tries by Miami has been the 25 in 1994. However, 16 makes would NOT be a record as the Dolphins made 17 of their tries 25 years ago. The highest make percentage in a season is 76.9% (a rate reached in 1990, '91 and '95, Don Shula's final season). The club's fewest attempts and makes came in the 2016 first season of Adam Gase, when Miami went 0 for 4. There were only four 16-game seasons before the 1982 season (the NFL played 14-game seasons in the Dolphins' first dozen years of existence). -- SS

John McCall/South Florida Sun Sentinel

Josh Rosen has struggled in all five games he's played this season, and his issues against Washington led to Ryan Fitzpatrick relieving him in the third quarter after he completed just 15-of-25 passes for 85 yards and threw two interceptions against the Redskins. Rosen's struggles reading defenses has become evident, and if the Dolphins are actually trying to win games this season, coach Brian Flores needs to consider sticking with Fitzpatrick as the starter. -- OK

Joe Cavaretta / South Florida Sun Sentinel

Miami Dolphins Nick O'Leary fumbles and recovers after catching a pass for a first down agains the Washington Redskins, during the first half, Sunday, Oct. 13, 2019, at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens.

Joe Cavaretta / South Florida Sun Sentinel

The Dolphins, in their 54th season in the NFL, had never lost to the Redskins in South Florida. Quirks in the scheduling formula kept the Redskins from visiting the Orange Bowl until 1981, when the David Woodley-quarterbacked team edged Washington 13-10. The Dolphins – then in Miami Gardens -- also won in 1987 (the only loss after Thanksgiving for that Super Bowl champion team), 1993, 2003 and 2011. This comes on the heels of an almost 38-year-long home win streak against the Chargers being snapped two weeks ago. – Steve Svekis

Joe Cavaretta / South Florida Sun Sentinel

Miami Dolphins tight end Mike Gesicki makes a catch over the Washington Redskins Jon Bostic, during the fourth quarter, Sunday, Oct. 13, 2019, at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens.

Joe Cavaretta / South Florida Sun Sentinel

Washington Redskins owner Daniel Snyder is seen prior to the game against the Miami Dolphins Sunday, Oct. 13, 2019, at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens.

Joe Cavaretta / South Florida Sun Sentinel

Miami Dolphins Mike Gesicki can't hold onto a pass against the Washington Redskins, during the first half, Sunday, Oct. 13, 2019, at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens.

Mark Zaleski/AP

The Bills have won the game following their week off in each of the past four seasons … This is the third time in the past 20 seasons that the Bills have started 4-1, but in the other two, they finished with losing records (6-10 in 2011 and 7-9 in 2008). -- SS

Gail Burton/AP

The Dolphins' pick is currently second overall as the Bengals are the NFL's lone 0-6 team. The Steelers pick the Dolphins own (from the Minkah Fitzpatrick trade) is fifth after the 1 p.m. games, but will move to fourth if Pittsburgh loses to the Chargers on Sunday night, based on an inferior opponents win percentage (as calculated on tankathon.com) to the current fourth team, the Redskins. If Pittsburgh beats Los Angeles, that pick likely drops to between seven and 10. The Houston Texans first-rounder that Miami holds like it may never be better than in the fourth quarter of the first day of the 2020 selection meeting as Houston stunned Kansas City in Missouri on Sunday to improve to 4-2. Tankathon has Houston at No. 25. -- SS