Falcons at Dolphins first half recap; Second half live chat

The Miami Dolphins lead the Atlanta Falcons at the end of the first half of the preseason matchup between the two 50 year old franchises. The game has demonstrated the power of the Miami defensive line, as well as the efficiency of the offense. The first 30 minutes has ended with the score 7-6.

The Dolphins started the game with a five play drive, but had to punt. The Falcons came out and out-did the Dolphins by going three-and-out on their first possession, in no small part due to defensive tackle Earl Mitchell. Miami's starting defensive tackle not named Ndamukong Suh tackled running back Tevin Coleman for a loss on the first play of the possession, then sacked quarterback Matt Ryan on second down. After an incomplete pass on third down, Atlanta punted it to Miami.

Miami ran seven plays on the next possession, but totaled a negative nine yards on the drive. Quarterback Ryan Tannehill connected on an eight-yard pass to running back Lamar Miller, followed by a nine-yard pass to Jarvis Landry. Then penalties bookended a Lamar Miller one-yard run, with Miami losing 20 yards on the two flags. Two incomplete passes later, and Miami lined up to punt, only to have long snapper John Denney skip the ball back to Matt Darr, who picked it up but was tackled for a turnover on downs.

Atlanta would take the mistake from Miami and turn it into points, with Ryan finding Devin Hester for a 13-yard pass, then an 8-yard pass. Coleman then carried the ball for three-yards before an incomplete pass followed by an Olivier Vernon tackle for a seven-yard loss. An incomplete pass would lead to a 43-yard field goal from Matt Bryant, and a 3-0 lead for Atlanta.

After a pair of punts, the Dolphins found their offensive rhythm, going 79 yards in just six play, highlighted by a Jarvis Landry 46-yard catch and run on the first play of the drive. Tannehill then found Miller for six yards, followed by another Landry reception, this time for 14 yards. Tannehill connected with Greg Jennings next, gaining  nine yards, moving the ball to the Atlanta four-yard line. Miller would be stopped for no gain on the next play, but an offensive holding penalty on Jamil Douglas backed Miami up to the Atlanta 14. Tannehill picked up 12 yards on a pass to Miller on the second-down play, followed by a two yard touchdown pass to Rishard Matthews.

With the extra point, Miami took a 7-3 lead, carrying it through three more Atlanta possessions that ended in a punt before a Miami fumble near the end of the half led to a 3-play, 15-yard drive with the Falcons adding a second field goal to the scoreboard.

Dolphins quarterback Ryan Tannehill left the game just before the half, finishing the day with a 15-for-19, 145 yards, 1 touchdown, 116.0 passer rating day. Miller ran for 22 yards on six carries, while Landry gained 84 yards on 5 receptions. The Miami defense recorded four sacks in the opening half, one each from Jelani Jenkins, Earl Mitchell, and Cameron Wake, and a half sack each for Chris McCain and Terrence Fede.

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GO DOLPHINS!