Dolphins in the red zone: Week 10

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For the third consecutive week, the Dolphins executed very well from inside the red zone - converting four trips into two touchdowns and two field goals. But that's only 50% - how is that good?

The two trips in which the Dolphins settled for field goals occurred at the end of each half - the first was Dan Carpenter's 30 yard field goal kicked with 10 seconds remaining. The other was Dan Carpenter's 25 yard field goal kicked with 14 seconds remaining. In both cases, the Dolphins didn't run any offensive play inside Tampa's 20 - they only kicked the field goal.

On their other two trips, the Dolphins were as efficient as they've been for most of the season. On their first possession of the game, the Dolphins drove right down the field on the Bucs. From inside the 20, it took only four plays to punch it in. But the Dolphins did need a third down conversion. On a 3rd & 4 from TB's 10, Henne took the snap from the shotgun, rolled right, and threw a bullet to Greg Camarillo to get down to the one yard line. Ronnie Brown pounded it in on the next play. For Henne, that third down pass was a beauty. He really looks sharp when throwing on the run to his right, doesn't he?

The Dolphins second red zone trip of the day came on the heels of Jason Taylor's "interception" late in the first half. Miami began that drive at Tampa's 8 yard line. Two plays later, Henne had time in the pocket and threw a well placed pass to rookie tight end Kory Sperry for the touchdown. Sperry was the story on that play - as he blocked first and then released into a route, getting open and making a nice snag.

For the season, the Dolphins are converting 63% of their red zone trips into touchdowns. Of course, if you were to discount the two possessions on Sunday where the Dolphins never ran an offensive play inside the red zone - instead settling for field goals as the clock was running down - the Dolphins would actually have a 68% red zone efficiency this season. Not bad for a team with a young quarterback and little weapons outside of the running backs.