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Miami Dolphins’ Ryan Tannehill leads Wembley rout of Oakland Raiders Miami Dolphins’ Ryan Tannehill leads Wembley rout of Oakland Raiders
(35 minutes later)
The NFL prides itself on the time-worn notion that one team, no matter how unskilled or outmuscled, can beat another on any given Sunday. Not this Oakland Raiders team. Not this Sunday. The NFL prides itself on the time-worn notion that one team, no matter how unskilled or outmuscled, can beat another on any given Sunday. Not this Oakland Raiders team. Not this Sunday. In front of a 83,436 crowd at Wembley, they suffered a grisly, hand-over-eyes 14-38 pummelling by the Miami Dolphins.
In front of an 83,436 crowd at Wembley, the Raiders suffered a grisly, hand-over-eyes 38-14 pummelling against the Miami Dolphins. The Raiders have now lost their opening four matches this season, and only one team in NFL history – the San Diego Chargers in 1992 – has ever recovered from 0-4 to make the play-offs since the AFL and NFL merger in 1970. After this, the odds of Oakland matching them will surely be astronomical. A raging mismatch was hardly what the NFL desired for the first of its three International Series visits to London this season but for Miami’s quarterback Ryan Tannehill, under pressure after a fitful start to the season and a passive-aggressive dispute with his coach Joe Philbin over whether he would start this game, the trip proved a perfect tonic as he threw for two touchdowns and 278 yards.
A raging mismatch was hardly what the NFL would have wanted on the first of its three International Series visits to London this season. But for Miami’s quarterback Ryan Tannehill, under pressure after a fitful start to the season and a passive-aggressive dispute with his coach Joe Philbin over whether he would start this game, the trip proved a perfect tonic as he threw for two touchdowns and 278 yards. Tannehill, who had described the week as one of the toughest in his career, called the victory “huge – not just for me for the team”. He said: “That was fun. The ambition we had going on this trip was getting the offense moving in the right direction and we did that. It shows the character we have in the team to come out and win but we have to build on it.”
As a contest it was over shortly after half-time, but in the earliest moments a proper game threatened to break out. The Raiders, who arrived at Wembley with the lowest average points and yards per game in the NFL, swiftly moved the chains on their opening possession and a crisp 74-yard drive, which included a spectacular one-hand diving catch by James Jones, ended when Brian Leonhardt’s touchdown catch put the Raiders 7-0 ahead with 5:22 gone. Philbin also paid tribute to his quarterback after the Dolphins moved to a 2-2 record. “Ryan played very well,” he said. “He had good rhythm, good tempo, and was very decisive. He made good decisions throughout.” He added: “I’ve never been to London but the players loved the atmosphere here. It was a positive experience.”
But from then on, pretty much everything that could go wrong for the Raiders did. The offense accumulated just 58 yards for the rest of the first half and did not score another point until midway through the fourth quarter. The defense was repeatedly threaded and shredded; and conceded 38 unanswered points. The Raiders have lost their opening four matches this season, and only one team in NFL history – the San Diego Chargers in 1992 – have recovered from 0-4 to make the play-offs since the AFL and NFL merger in 1970.
By air or by ground, offense or defense, it did not matter. Miami were dominant everywhere. In the second quarter Tannehill made 14 consecutive passes and found Mike Wallace and Dion Sims for touchdowns. In between, the running back Lamar Miller added another touchdown as the Dolphins rushed into a 28-7 lead at half-time. Oakland started brightly, and Brian Leonhardt’s touchdown catch capped a 74-yard drive and put the Raiders 7-0 ahead with 5:22 gone. But from then on, pretty much everything that could go wrong did. The offense did not score again until midway through the fourth quarter and the defense was repeatedly threaded and shredded, and conceded 38 unanswered points.
Whoever was operating the stadium’s Tannoy system did their best to inspire the Raiders, but no amount of thumping dance music or positive extortions when they got a rare first down could change the one-sided direction of the game. Early in the second half, with the Dolphins on the two-yard line, the Raiders had the merest sniff of changing the game’s momentum when Miller fumbled inches before crossing the line. But three plays later the Raiders quarterback Derek Carr was intercepted by Brent Grimes, allowing Miller to run in his second touchdown to make it 35-7. By air or by ground, offense or defense, it did not matter. Miami were dominant everywhere. In the second quarter Tannehill made 14 consecutive passes and found Mike Wallace and Dion Sims for touchdowns. In between, the running back Lamar Miller also scored as the Dolphins led 28-7 at half-time.
Shortly afterwards the Raiders replaced the limping Carr with Matt McGloin, but it did little to stem the bleeding. First he fumbled a wobbly snap, allowing Cortland Finnegan to run it back 50 yards for a touchdown. Then, on his third play, McGloin threw a tipped interception into the arms of Jimmy Wilson. Early in the second half, with the Dolphins on the two-yard line, Oakland had the merest sniff of changing the momentum when Miller fumbled inches before crossing the line but almost immediately the Raiders quarterback Derek Carr was intercepted by Brent Grimes, allowing Miller to run in his second touchdown to make it 35-7.
One of the bigger cheers of the night came when McGloin found Andre Holmes to make it 38-14 with 8:40 remaining. To call it a consolation would be overselling it, but the crowd seemed happy enough. Shortly afterwards, however, they headed off – and the last few minutes of the game were played out to the sound of seats popping upright. The Raiders replaced the limping Carr with Matt McGloin but it did little to stem the bleeding. First he fumbled a wobbly snap, allowing Cortland Finnegan to run it back 50 yards for a touchdown. Then, on his third play, McGloin threw a tipped interception into the arms of Jimmy Wilson.
One of the bigger cheers of the night came when McGloin was able to find Andre Holmes to make it 38-14 with 8:40 remaining. To call it a consolation would be overselling it but the crowd seemed content enough.
Shortly afterwards they headed to the tube and train stations, leaving the last few minutes to be played out to the sound of seats popping upright.