The Miami Dolphins 2012 season ended this past Sunday, with the Dolphins losing to the New England Patriots. Before we completely move our focus on to the 2013 season and free agency, the draft, and next year's expectations, it's time to take a look back at the 2012 season by looking at some of the best pictures from the year.
We continue today with the second quarter of the Dolphins' season.
Related: Miami Dolphins 2012 Season Photo Gallery - Part 1
After going 1-3 to start the season, the Dolphins were looking to turn things around with the Week 5 game at the Cincinnati Bengals. Coming off of two disappointing overtime losses, the Dolphins let the Bengals get up on them with two first quarter field goals. However, the team would answer in the second quarter, scoring on a 1-yard Daniel Thomas run, and taking the 7-6 lead into the half. In the third quarter, Miami jumped on the Bengals, scoring from 13-yards out on a Reggie Bush touchdown run, as well as having Dan Carpenter connect from 46-yards out. The Dolphins would give up an early fourth quarter touchdown when Andy Dalton connected with A.J. Green from the two yard line, but the scoring ended there for the game, and Miami came away with a 17-13 victory.
Rookie quarterback Ryan Tannehill was 17-for-26 for 223 yards on the day, while Bush carried the ball 19 times for 48 yards and Thomas added 29 yards on 10 carries, with both running backs finding the end zone. Brian Hartline caught four passes for 59 yards, while Davone Bess caught two for 49 yards. On defense, the Dolphins saw Randy Starks and Reshad Jones each intercept a pass, while Kevin Burnett, Randy Starks, Paul Soliai, and Jared Odrick were all credited one a half sack, and Cameron Wake picked up two half sacks.
The Dolphins faced the St. Louis Rams in Week 6, welcoming the NFC West team into Sun Life Stadium. Miami would follow almost the exact same script as in Week 5, starting with allowing their opponents two first quarter fields. Continuing the storyline, the Dolphins would bounce back with a touchdown in the second quarter, and 29-yard pass from Tannehill to wide receiver Marlon Moore, then, to make sure we weren't watching the exact same game, the Dolphins would kick a field goal in the second quarter against the Rams, and take a 10-6 lead into halftime. In the third period, the Dolphins would score a touchdown on a 1-yard pass from Tannehill to tight end Anthony Fasano, bringing them to 17-points for the second straight week. Once again, the Dolphins gave up a fourth quarter touchdown, but, instead of a 17-13 win like in Week 5, the Dolphins would see the Rams score the two point conversion to make it a 17-14 victory for the Dolphins.
Tannehill went 21-for-29 on the day, for 185 yards and the two scores. This game marked the first multiple touchdown game in Tannehill's career, as well as the first time he recorded a triple digit passer rating, coming in with a 112.0. Bush carried the ball 12 times for just 17 yards on the day, while Tannehill added 16 yards on 4 carries. Marlon Moore led the team in receiving yards, tallying 46 on three receptions, while Bess led in receptions with six for 42 yards. On defense, Olivier Vernon recorded two sacks and Wake added another
The Dolphins went into their bye week with a 3-3 record.
After the bye week, Miami would visit the New York Jets for the second half of the AFC East rivals' home-and-home series. After losing to the Jets in Week 3, the Dolphins were not going to let that happen twice in the season. The Dolphins took it to the Jets early and often, scoring a touchdown and a field goal in both the first (Carpenter 33 yards, Vernon blocked punt recovery in end zone) and second quarters (Thomas 3 yard run, Carpenter 39 yards). The Jets would finally find the score board in the third quarter with a field goal, only to see the Dolphins respond with a 4-yard pass from backup quarterback Matt Moore to Fasano. The Jets would score a touchdown, failing on the two-point conversion try, before the Dolphins' would kick a third field goal (Carpenter, 42 yards), winning the game 30-9 in New Jersey.
Tannehill would go 2-for-5 for 18 yards before a knee injury forced him to give way to Matt Moore, who would go 11-for-19 for 131 yards with the touchdown pass. Bush would gain 59 yards on 14 carries, while Thomas would add 42 yards on 15 carries. Hartline would catch 4 passes for 41 yards, while Fasano's only catch on the day would be the touchdown. The defense would see Paul Soliai recover a Mark Sanchez fumble, safety Chris Clemons intercept a pass and Nolan Carroll, Kevin Burnett, Jimmy Wilson, and Wake each record a sack.
The final game in this quarter of the season would see the Dolphins put their three game winning streak on the line against the Indianapolis Colts. In a game matching up two first round rookie quarterbacks, Tannehill and first overall pick Andrew Luck, the Dolphins would strike first with a 37-yard field goal from Carpenter only to see Luck direct a touchdown drive just before the end of the quarter. The second period would see two Dolphins touchdowns (31-yard pass Tannehill to tight end Charles Clay, 18-yard Bush run) alternating with two Colts' field goals, giving Miami a 17-13 halftime lead. However, the Colts would score a touchdown late in the third quarter to take a 20-17 lead, before the teams traded field goals in the fourth period, and Indianapolis held on for the 23-20 victory.
Tannehill went 22-for-38 for 290 yards and a touchdown, while Luck set a rookie record with 433 passing yard in the game. Bush ran 10 times for 41 yards, while Thomas add 37 yards on six carries. Hartline topped the hundred yard mark with a 107 yards day on eight receptions, while Bess caught six passes for 67 yards. Clay's 31-yard touchdown reception was his only of the game. Cornerback Nolan Carroll led the team with 10 tackles, while Wake recorded another sack. Punter Brandon Fields punted four times for an average of 53.3 yards, with a long of 60 yards.
At the half way point of the season, the Dolphins were 4-4 on the season and looking to rebound from a loss to the Colts. The went 3-1 over the four game stretch.