First, the big news: As far as I know, Miami quarterback Tua Tagovailoa made it through his return to action on Oct. 16 without being injured.
Oh, he didn’t do it without testing the sport. Late in the first quarter, with the score 7-0 in the Dolphins’ favor, Tua took the ball himself and ran headfirst into a Pittsburgh defender. He acted as if the head-butting was just part of the game. He didn’t gain much yardage, but one play later, Jason Sanders kicked one through the uprights and Miami took a 10-0 lead of the game it would eventually win 16-10.
Several weeks ago, Tua suffered concussions in consecutive games. Of course, there was a bit of controversy about the first one. Not so much the second game as he wobbled off the field.
First, veteran quarterback Teddy Bridgewater replaced him. Then, when Bridgewater went down, in came Skylar Thompson, a first-year player from Kansas State. Thompson was also hurt, so Bridgewater came back in.
Tagovailoa and Miami had been excellent at the beginning of the season when the Dolphins won their first three games, but not so good when they lost their next three, mainly with the substitute quarterbacks in. Tagovailoa missed all of two games.
Sunday’s was a game the defense actually won, with Miami interceptions and near-interceptions dropped by Pittsburgh defenders.
Pittsburgh added a field goal and and a touchdown to come within 13-10, while Miami added a field goal for a 16-10 halftime score. Neither team would add to that tally in the second half, although Pittsburgh would threaten several times.
Tagovailoa’s family sat in a suite and I would have to say that whenever a camera pointed their way, they looked plenty scared.
I was scared, too. I have to say, I love having Tagovailoa back at quarterback. I love watching him targeting receivers Jaylen Waddle and Tyreek “The Cheetah” Hill going long, but I’m plenty nervous when Tagovailoa’s on the field. Maybe when he returns this Sunday I’ll be calm as a cucumber.
Tagovailoa didn’t do much upon his initial return except return from the series of concussions that made his recovery the main headline in these parts of the National Football League. Otherwise, the story (or stories) would have been:
● The return of Brian Flores, now a Pittsburgh assistant coach, who was fired last season as Miami head coach.
● The Miami defense, including a pass interception by Noah Igbinoghene in the final minutes that allowed the offense to run out the clock. It had appeared as if Pittsburgh might score a winning touchdown after Miami passed up a field goal attempt that might have given the Dolphins a winning margin.
● The return and celebration of the heralded 1972 unbeaten team that included stars Larry Csonka, Bob Grfiese, Larry Little and Paul Warfieid and the late coach Don Shula.
● And, if not for the Miami-Pittsburgh game, then the upsets of Tampa Bay by Carolina, San Francisco by Kansas City, Cleveland by Baltimore and Green Bay by Washington.
It also marked, perhaps, the demise of two quarterbacks of recent vintage, namely Tom Brady and Aaron Rodgers of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Green Bay Packers, respectively.
That, if it is realized, will be the news for another day.
