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The Miami Dolphins took the game to the Chicago Bears on Sunday, and they dominated in a way that the 13 point final difference felt like it should have been a 30 point difference. The Dolphins seemed to be able to do whatever they wanted at times during the game, even if it did not always work. The Dolphins were exciting, unpredictable, and effective. It was the first 60-minute game the team has played this year, and it worked out perfectly for Miami.
Stock Up: Ryan Tannehill, quarterback - Decisive. Accurate. Efficient. Ryan Tannehill had an incredible day on Sunday, and it reflected in the way the team moved the ball, for example, 24 first downs compared to Chicago's 14. He was sixth in the league with a 123.6 passer rating on the week, three for 277 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions. Throughout the game, you could watch Tannehill work through his progressions, including on his touchdown pass to Mike Wallace, who was the fourth read of the play. It was an absolutely impressive performance from Tannehill. Things were not always perfect, but it was impressive.
Stock Down: Damien Williams, running back - Williams did not do anything that made his stock drop, he just is not Daniel Thomas. Williams is listed second on the team's depth chart behind starter Lamar Miller, but he only played five snaps compared to Thomas' 24. Williams was the second running back to make an appearance, but Thomas is clearly the second running back for this team, gaining 25 yards on 7 carries compared to Williams' 1 carry for -1 yard. Williams is going to develop nicely, but he is clearly behind Thomas at this point.
Stock Up: Charles Clay, tight end - Welcome back Charles Clay! We have definitely missed you. Clay has been battling an injury all year, and this was the first week in which he appeared healthy, strong, and fast. The Dolphins got him involved in the game plan early, and he responded. Targeted five times this week, Clay had four receptions for 58 yards and a touchdown. He looked like Big Play Clay again, and it was exactly what the Miami offense needed.
Stock Down: Brandon Fields, punter - Something has to be wrong with Fields. The 2013 Pro Bowl punter is second to last in the league with a 43.3 yards per punt average. He is dead last in net yards per punt (31.8), second to last in punts inside the 20, and has allowed a league high 15.8 yards per punt return. Some of that is on the punt coverage, but it has seemed that Fields has shanked more punts this year than in the rest of his career combined. When you are used to seeing Fields as a weapon who can change the field position battle from anywhere on the field, blasting 60- and 70-yard kicks, this year is disturbing.
Stock Up: Second half offensive line - The Miami offensive line allowed four sacks in the first half, but none in the second half. The sacks may not have always been their fault, but four sacks in a half is not acceptable. They corrected it in the second half and started to look like the offensive line Miami needs. Mike Pouncey is still trying to settle into his role as a guard, and it showed at times, including the opening play of the game where he was blown back into the backfield and Tannehill was sacked, but he is getting there. The line as a whole was asked to move around a lot more in this game, with moving pockets and pulling schemes; the first half was rough but they were into it in the second half and Tannehill stayed clean in the second 30-minute period.
Stock Up: Cortland Finnegan and Brent Grimes, cornerbacks - Yes, this is a fourth stock up instead of a third stock down. After that game, it felt like recognizing what Grimes and Finnegan did on Sunday was much more worthy of appearing in this article than writing about a stock down moment. Together, the short cornerbacks, who answered questions about how they would match up against Chicago's giant receivers, held Brandon Marshall and Alshon Jeffery to 8 receptions for 57 yards. Finnegan finished the game with four passes defensed, plus a forced fumble. Grimes shut down his receiver, to the point that Chicago only threw toward Grimes three times during the game, according to Pro Football Focus. All day, the cornerbacks for the Dolphins played well, and it frustrated Chicago (leading to Marshall shoving Finnegan at the end of the game, then quickly backing off when linebacker Chris McCain was immediately there to back up Finnegan). Also, an honorable mention for Jamar Taylor, who, despite some young-player mistakes, and a couple of questionable penalty calls, actually played decently.