Week 9 Game Recap: Miami Dolphins 31, Chicago Bears 13

What you need to know

Miami Dolphins

Miami pulled a tremendous upset, and much will be made of the fact that a Miami team once again vanquished a previously unbeaten Chicago team to preserve the Dolphins’ perfect season of 1972. This was, however, more a case of the Bears losing than the Dolphins winning, as Miami scored 28 points directly off Chicago turnovers with TD drives of six, 12, and 24 yards.

Ronnie Brown was the offensive star of the game, rushing for a career high 157 yards on 29 carries. His ability to pick up first downs and hang onto the ball when Chicago was trying desperately to get back into the game proved to be the difference, but he consistently found holes in the Bears’ defense and ripped off some nice gains all day long.

Joey Harrington, making his fourth start of the season, won his first game in a Miami uniform but only completed half of his passes. He proved to be just elusive enough as the Bears’ ferocious pass rush was unable to register a single sack. After Chicago fumbled a punt at their own six yard line, Harrington danced around oncoming linemen long enough to find former Bear Marty Booker in a seam in the back of the end zone for the first Miami score.

After the ensuing kickoff, Jason Taylor dropped into pass coverage, snared a pass intended for Desmond Clark and returned it 20 yards for the second Miami touchdown. As it turned out, 14 points would be all that the Dolphins needed.

In the third quarter Justin Gage, filling in for injured Bernard Berrian, caught a pass but was stripped by Yeremiah Bell, who was starting at safety in place of the slumping Travares Tillman. The fumble was returned to the Chicago 12 yard line, and from there Harrington threw to Wes Welker for the third touchdown. Miami did not play exactly error free football. With the Bears in punt formation and only down by one score, the Dolphins jumped offside giving Chicago in a first down and keeping the drive alive. Later in the same drive, the Bears were going for it on fourth and four, but another Miami offside penalty produced another first down.

The Bears gained a total of six first downs off Dolphins’ penalties, but in the end, the running of Ronnie Brown and the Miami pass rush was enough to nail down the victory.

Chicago Bears

Despite starting this season 7 – 0, the Bears showed the same weakness that almost cost them the game against the Arizona Cardinals: costly turnovers. Chicago fumbled four times and Rex Grossman threw three interceptions.

Devin Hester, the rookie kick return sensation, fumbled a punt he was attempting to fair catch at the Chicago six yard line, which set up the first Miami touchdown. He fumbled another punt in the fourth quarter, but the play was overturned on a Dolphin illegal punt formation penalty. He let the ensuing punt sail over his head and Miami promptly downed it at the one yard line.

Rex Grossman went 18 for 42 for 210 yards and one touchdown. He was sacked three times and faced tremendous pressure all day, which affected his accuracy. Balls kept sailing on him or skipping to receivers.

Bernard Berrian, Chicago’s deep threat, was injured on the first series of the game. Mushin Muhammad caught just two passes for 42 yards, but he scored the only Chicago TD with a great effort against tight coverage down the sideline.

Thomas Jones was only able to gain 69 yards on 20 carries, as the Miami run defense again proved to be formidable. He was able to block well enough against a variety of Dolphins’ blitzes, which is one reason why he is still the starting running back in Chicago.

What you ought to know

QB Joey Harrington, Pass: 16 - 32 - 137 - 3 TD / 2 INT, Rush: 4 - 2 - 0

He put up respectable numbers, completing 16 of 32 for 157 yards and three touchdowns against the Bears’ second ranked pass defense. He is more agile in the pocket and releases the ball more quickly than Daunte Culpepper. He twice ran quarterback sneaks for first downs, and also attempted a quarterback draw from the Chicago five yard line. With Harrington in the Miami lineup, the number of quarterback sacks is down but the number of interceptions is up.

QB Daunte Culpepper

Culpepper’s surgically repaired knee has reportedly not responded well to the new rehab program. The Dolphins may yet place him on IR, which would end his season.

RB Ronnie Brown, Rush: 29 - 157 - 0, Rec: 2 - 33 - 0 (2 targets)

Brown posted his career best rushing performance against the NFL’s best defense, running for 157 yards on 29 carries. His ability to pick up first downs when Chicago was ball hawking in the second half helped to preserve the victory, but he consistently found holes in the Bears line and ripped off nice gains all day long. Brown added 33 yards on two pass receptions.

RB Sammy Morris, Rush: 1 - 3 - 0, Rec: 1 - -2 - 0 (4 targets)

Morris provides Ronnie Brown with an occasional breather and Joey Harrington with a reliable receiver out of the backfield.

WR Chris Chambers, Rec: 5 - 58 - 1 (14 targets)

Chambers was Harrington’s favorite target and he scored a late touchdown. He saw a whopping 14 targets thrown his way. He has the ability to make simply remarkable catches, and only needs a consistent quarterback to reach elite status.

WR Marty Booker, Rush: 1 - -1 - 0, Rec: 3 - 14 - 1 (4 targets)

The former Chicago Bears wide receiver scored Miami’s first touchdown on a five yard pass. With the Dolphins ahead for most of the game, the offense relied more on Ronnie Brown than Joey Harrington.

WR Wes Welker, Rec: 2 - 14 - 1 (3 targets)

After a Chicago fumble on the first play of the second half, Welker scored Miami’s second offense touchdown on a six yard pass from Harrington. He also averaged 17.5 yards on 4 kickoff returns and 6.5 yards on two punt returns.

WR Derek Hagan, Rec: 1 - 7 - 0 (1 targets)

The Arizona State rookie caught one pass in the third quarter.

TE Justin Peelle, Rec: 1 - 2 - 0 (1 targets)

Peelle managed to catch a short two yard pass on his only target.

TE Randy McMichael, Rec: 1 - 11 - 0 (4 targets)

McMichael had to stay in to block for much of the game, but did catch one pass for 11 yards.

PK Olindo Mare 1 - 2 FG, 4 - 4 XP, 7 points

Mare made all four extra points, hit one field goal from 20 yards and had a 37 yard attempt blocked by Charles Tillman.

MIA Rush Defense

Thomas Jones and Cedric Benson combined for 103 yards on 28 carries and no touchdowns.

MIA Pass Defense

Jason Taylor led the Miami charge, returning an interception 20 yards for a touchdown and forcing a Rex Grossman fumble. The Dolphins were able to keep pressuring Grossman, sacking him three times and forcing many errant throws.

QB Rex Grossman, Pass: 18 - 42 - 210 - 1 TD / 3 INT

In the four previous home games, Grossman had thrown 11 touchdown passes and no interceptions. Against Miami, he threw three interceptions while only completing 18 of 42 for 210 yards and one touchdown. He was sacked three times and faced tremendous pressure all day, which affected his accuracy. He couldn’t always step into his throws, which caused some passes to sail over receiver’s heads or bounce up short.

RB Thomas Jones, Rush: 20 - 69 - 0, Rec: 4 - 24 - 0 (6 targets)

Jones has only been averaging 3.9 yards per carry this season, and Miami did nothing to improve his average. He is a tough runner who picks up the tough yards, and gained 69 yards on 20 carries. Jones caught four passes as the Bears tried to swing him out of the backfield and give Grossman more time to throw. He is also good at picking up blitzes and giving his quarterback more protection, but at times the Bears were simply overwhelmed by the Miami pass rush.

RB Cedric Benson, Rush: 8 - 34 - 0

As Thomas Jones’ backup, Benson has consistently garnered about one third on the Chicago rushing attempts. In this game he carried eight times for 34 yards.

RB Jason McKie, Rec: 1 - 5 - 0 (3 targets)

McKie is primarily the blocking back, but does provide an outlet receiver for Grossman.

WR Rashied Davis, Rec: 5 - 40 - 0 (12 targets)

Davis finished the game with five passes for 40 yards. It seemed the Bears tried to get the ball to both Davis and Justin Gage to make up for the absence of Berrian.

WR Justin Gage, Rec: 2 - 51 - 0 (7 targets)

The Bears were trailing 14–10 at halftime and began their first drive of the second half at their own 25. On the first play, Gage caught a 17 yard pass only to have the ball stripped by Yeremiah Bell. The fumble was returned to the Chicago 12 yard line. Three plays later, Harrington hit Welker for a touchdown and a 21–10 lead. For the game, Gage caught two passes for 52 yards.

WR Muhsin Muhammad, Rec: 2 - 42 - 1 (11 targets)

Mushin Muhammad caught just two passes for 42 yards, but he scored the Bears' only TD with a great effort against tight coverage. Muhammad was just one of the Chicago receivers Grossman had trouble locating.

WR Bernard Berrian, Rec: 1 - 10 - 0 (1 targets)

The main deep threat for the Bears was injured on their very first series after catching one pass. It appeared to be a rib injury of some kind, and he did not return to the game.

TE Desmond Clark, Rec: 3 - 38 - 0 (8 targets)

Clark is a vital element in the Chicago passing attack, and managed to catch three passes for 38 yards. He is a huge target, both literally and statistically.

PK Robbie Gould 2 - 2 FG, 1 - 1 XP, 7 points

Gould remained perfect on the season, hitting two field goals from 38 yards and knocking down his only PAT.

CHI Rush Defense

Allowing Ronnie Brown to gain a career best 157 yards isn’t great, but when your offense turns the ball over seven times you are going to be tested. Still, the Bears need to tighten up. When they needed to get a stop in the second half, they usually couldn’t do it. Brown kept picking up chunks of yards even though Chicago was geared up to stop him.

CHI Pass Defense

Joey Harrington only managed to complete half of his passes but three went for touchdowns. The Bears were unable to sack Harrington, who was able to avoid the initial rush throughout the game and buy more time. Alex Brown made an incredibly athletic interception from his defensive end position with Miami threatening in the second quarter. As Harrington released a bullet pass, Brown leaped and somehow managed to get his hands on the ball and actually catch it. If the Bears had come back to win the game, that play would have been the turning point. As it turned out, Brown merely prolonged the inevitable.