20 things we learned: Jacksonville Jaguars 23, Miami Dolphins 20
Branden Albert suffered a left hamstring injury against the Jaguars and missed the second half. His absence watered down an already troublesome offensive line. -- OK
(Evan Vucci / AP)South Florida Sun-Sentinel
The Dolphins looked very much like the mediocre team that opened the season in Washington. But this time, their sloppy play cost them dearly.
Dolphins rookie K Andrew Franks (5-of-6 FGs, 83.3 percent, 18th in NFL) has missed two extra points this season, which is a bit troubling. But rookie P Matt Darr is sixth in the NFL (48.3 yards per punt). He’s been money. PR Jarvis Landry is third in the NFL at 13.4 yards per return. New England K Stephen Gostowski (15-for-15 on FGs, 24-for-24 on XPs) is perhaps the best in the league. P Ray Allen is 16th in the league (46.6 yards per punt). PR Danny Amendola (11.0 yards per return) is 11th in the NFL. Gostkowski and Landry are the ones to watch here as either could change or win the game. But Gostkowski is the more likely candidate. EDGE: PATRIOTS
(Mike Ehrmann / Getty Images)
Parker got a taste of the NFL for more than one play. Parker, the Dolphins’ first-round pick, caught one pass for three yards against the Jaguars. Parker, who had been sidelined for two months because of a foot injury, played twice the amount of snaps (two) as he got last week against Washington. -- OK
(Phelan M. Ebenhack / AP)
Brice McCain, who was one of the heroes of Week 1 following his fourth quarter interception, got picked on all game against the Jaguars. Jacksonville receiver Allen Robinson had a career game Sunday, and McCain got victimized plenty by the former Penn State standout. -- OK
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Walt Aikens’ role as the free safety is to not let anyone get behind him. The first-year starter clearly hasn’t mastered his role. Not only did Allen Robinson get behind him for a 46-yard touchdown catch, but a hands to the face penalty against Aikens late in the fourth quarter negated a sack by Olivier Vernon. -- OK
(Phelan M. Ebenhack / AP)
Awful officiating to give the spot at the 40 to set up the half-ending field goal. The pass interference was clearly at the 42. Joe Philbin needs to drop the librarian veneer occasionally, and THAT was one of those instances. Jason Myers’ 58-yard field goal (instead of 60) hit the support stantion of the goalposts a foot behind the crossbar. -- Steve Svekis
(Phelan M. Ebenhack / AP)
The journeyman left tackle, one of 17 St. Thomas Aquinas grads on current NFL rosters, was pressed into duty with an injury to starter Luke Joeckel, and the Jaguars had a great first-half performance. Blake Bortles wasn’t sacked and was rarely bothered. The Jaguars also had St. Thomas alumni Brandon Linder at center and wide receiver Rashad Greene playing major time on Sunday. -- SS
(Phelan M. Ebenhack / AP)
The Dolphins had 11 penalties against Washington and then another 13 flags against Jacksonville, with a foul setting up the Jaguars’ field goals to end the half and then to win the game. -- SS
(Stephen B. Morton / AP)Omar Kelly is an NFL columnist and Dolphins beat writer for the Sun Sentinel. A Florida A&M University graduate and South Florida native, he has covered the Florida State Seminoles, Miami Hurricanes, Miami Heat and Miami Dolphins during his career as a sports reporter, which began in 1997.
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Steve Svekis has been at the Sun Sentinel since 1989. He has been the sports Sunday editor and page designer, assistant sports editor over high schools, business columnist and now web producer. He wrote and voiced a web-animated parody of the Miami Dolphins in 2004 and 2005 that earned an EPpy, beating out the New York Times and Toronto Star. He was a Dolphins beat writer in 2010.