Mason Rudolph led seven after starter Will Levis left with a shoulder injury, and the Tennessee Titans beat the Miami Dolphins 31-12 on Monday night.
Rudolph threw for 85 yards and completed 9 of 17 passes in relief of Levis, who attempted only four passes before running and diving for a first down on Tennessee’s second drive and falling hard on his right shoulder .
He stood to the side with his helmet on but didn’t come back.
Nick Folks made field goals of 53, 52, 47, 51 and 29 yards for the Titans, who won their first game of the season. Running back Tyjae Spears took a direct throw and ran it in for a 7-yard touchdown. Tony Pollard had a 4-yard touchdown run with 88 yards in 22 carries.
Tyler Huntley, who signed with the Dolphins on September 17 from Baltimore’s practice squad, scored a touchdown and had 96 passing yards. But the Dolphins’ offense continued to struggle without Tua Tagovailoa, who remains on injured reserve with a concussion.
Huntley was named the starter Saturday as No. 2 quarterback Skylar Thompson nurses a rib injury.
Huntley brought the Dolphins (1-3) within 10 when he scored on a 1-yard run with 3:40 left. He was intercepted on the two-point conversion attempt, and the Titans recovered the ensuing onside kick.
Huntley was called for an intentional grounding in the end zone on Miami’s final comeback effort, adding two more points for the Titans.
Tyreek Hill was held under 50 receiving yards for the third straight game with 23 yards on four catches.
Titans receiver DeAndre Hopkins was also quiet with two catches for 31 yards.
Lévis threw for 25 yards with an interception before the injury.
Linebacker Emmanuel Ogbah intercepted Lévis and secured the ball between his knees to end a promising first drive for the Titans.
The Dolphins gave it back immediately when Huntley threw a backwards pass to Hill that came off the receiver’s fingertips. It was initially ruled to be an incomplete pass, but upon review it was reversed into a fumble that Tennessee recovered.
It was the first takeaway of the season for the Titans, who entered the game with a minus-7 turnover differential.
It was also the first of many mistakes for the Dolphins: two players on the move repeatedly, uncharacteristic drops by playmakers and an overall inability to sustain drives.
A confusing sequence occurred just before halftime. Miami got the ball back after forcing a punt with about a minute left in the second. Defensive tackle Calais Campbell took the lead on the ball as Ryan Stonehouse tried to push him away. Linebacker Duke Riley then attempted to grab the bouncing punt, but appeared to lose it in a scramble.
After a lengthy review, officials ruled that Tennessee touched the ball first, giving the Dolphins possession.
They didn’t do anything with it, but gave it back to the Titans after Huntley couldn’t take a bad hit.
Rudolph then moved the Tennessee offense into field goal territory and increased it with 1 second left. Folks scored his third basket of the evening.
It all led to loud boos from the crowd at Onerous Rock Stadium as the Dolphins headed into halftime trailing 9-3 and were held without a touchdown for the eighth straight quarter.
The Dolphins haven’t led a single game this season. Their only victory came in the first game thanks to a Jason Sanders basket. Sanders made kicks of 44 and 56 yards.
Reportage de l’Related Press.
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