After narrowly escaping a matchup with the Jacksonville Jaguars with a victory, there is one bright spot for the Miami Dolphins after a thrilling opening week. As a whole, the stars shined in the win. All-Pro receiver Tyreek Hill overcame shocking pre-game tension en route to burning Jacksonville’s secondary for seven catches and 130 yards. A dazzling 80-yard touchdown was the highlight of an impressive outing.
Receiving co-star Jaylen Waddle also played well, posting 100+ yards. Of course, the duo’s quarterback, Tua Tagovailoa performed well enough for his receivers to thrive.
One surprising player shined bright in the Miami Dolphins’ week one victory.
While many players contributed to the team’s opening week victory, one surprise role player ultimately took the spotlight for himself. Interestingly enough, this same star also can have a considerable impact as the rest of the 2024 NFL season progresses.
Dolphins’ kicker Jason Sanders had a shaky outing before the game’s final seconds. He was 1-for-2 on field goal attempts, with the game on the line from 50+ yards. Of course, fans are well aware that the veteran kicker nailed a 52-yard game-winner as the clock expired.
The Career Snapshot
Sanders’ Week 1 success will be important as the longtime Dolphin seeks to be a standout performer for his franchise. The former New Mexico star has had a roller-coaster career during his seven seasons on Miami’s special teams.
His best season came in 2020 when Sanders went 36-of-39 on field goal attempts (92.3%) and a perfect 36-for-36 on extra points. His excellent marksmanship earned him First-Team All-Pro honors.
Unfortunately, this campaign has proven to be something of a statistical outlier, as the kicker has recorded career marks of 83.1% of field goals and 97.1% on extra points. His career mark of 62.8% from beyond 50 yards is also a point of concern.
While he has not been the steadiest of options throughout his career, CBS Sports argues that he has been a borderline top-12 kicker in each of the past two seasons. The Dolphins’ season could be transformed if he were able to reenter the top-5 conversation in 2024.
The Momentum Potential
While there was reason for concern as Sanders lined up for the game-winner, his success in the most critical moment could be a building block for the veteran. Miami boasts one of the premier offenses in the NFL. As such, his franchise will place Sanders in a position to be among the league leaders in scoring.
If he plays well, particularly from longer distances, the Fish’s kicker has an easy path toward greatness in 2024. First and foremost, he can directly influence the success of his team. He also has a legitimate opportunity to earn Pro-Bowl and All-Pro honors.
It’s a long season. But Sanders has all the momentum in the world working in his favor. With any luck, the one bright spot for the Miami Dolphins will be at an all-time high in confidence and proficiency as a critical week two matchup with the AFC East rival Buffalo Bills looms over the franchise.
Main Image: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images
The post Monday Morning GM: One Bright Spot for the Miami Dolphins in the Week 1 Win appeared first on Last Word on Pro Football.