Dolphins defeat Colts 31-24 in Week 1 behind Tagovailoa, Hill and Waller

INDIANAPOLIS, IN - Behind a balanced day from Tua Tagovailoa and a defense that delivered timely takeaways, Sean Nguyen's Miami Dolphins opened their season with a 31-24 road win over Shane Steichen's Indianapolis Colts. Nguyen, fresh off last year's Super Bowl title with Houston, watched Miami build a cushion in the middle quarters and hold off a late Colts surge to spoil Indy's home opener.

Game Recap

After a scoreless first frame, Miami struck twice in the second quarter. De'Von Achane powered in from three yards out, and just before halftime Darren Waller snagged a 1-yard touchdown from Tagovailoa for a 14-0 lead. The Colts answered after the break when Mo Alie-Cox hauled in a 4-yard score from Anthony Richardson Sr, but Miami immediately countered on a 10-yard burst by rookie Jaylen Wright, sending the Dolphins to the fourth up 21-7. An Indianapolis field goal trimmed the deficit, yet Tyreek Hill punctuated a crisp drive with a 2-yard touchdown catch from Tagovailoa. Richardson willed the Colts back with a 6-yard rushing score and, after Riley Patterson drilled a 33-yard Miami field goal, he zipped a 7-yard touchdown to Josh Downs with 1:16 left. Miami's hands team and offense closed it out from there.

Stars of the Day

Tagovailoa was efficient (21/30, 243 yards, 2 TDs) and leaned on his playmakers: Hill erupted for 119 yards and a score on seven grabs, while Waller added five catches, 43 yards, and the late-half dagger. Achane paced the ground attack with 85 yards and a touchdown on 23 totes, and Wright added a short-yardage TD. Defensively, Minkah Fitzpatrick posted eight tackles, an interception and a forced fumble; edge duo Bradley Chubb and Jaelan Phillips notched sacks, and Zach Sieler added another. For Indianapolis, Richardson authored a gutsy line (17/22, 257 yards, 2 TDs; 83 rushing yards and a TD) while Michael Pittman Jr (5/81) and Tyrie Cleveland-Warren (4/83) stretched the field. Downs (3/55, TD) and Alie-Cox (TD) finished drives, and Spencer Shrader hit from 18 yards.

Turning Point

With the Colts gaining momentum after Alie-Cox's third-quarter touchdown, Miami's response-a five-play march capped by Wright's 10-yard scoring run-reestablished a two-score cushion. Later, Hill's red-zone TD and Patterson's late field goal provided just enough daylight to withstand Richardson's fourth-quarter fireworks.

Team Stats Snapshot

Indianapolis actually out-gained Miami 467-400 and went 2-for-7 on third down (28.6%) to the Dolphins' 5-for-9 (55.6%). Miami won situational football-four red-zone touchdowns on six trips (83.3%) and four sacks to Indy's one-while generating multiple takeaways, including Fitzpatrick's interception and a pair of forced fumbles from the front seven. The Colts' pass game was explosive (42-yard long) and their red-zone finishing (3 TDs, 1 FG on five trips) kept them within striking distance, but the early 14-0 hole proved costly.

What's Next

Nguyen's Dolphins head home to host the New England Patriots in Week 2. Steichen's Colts stay at Lucas Oil Stadium for a conference tilt with the Denver Broncos.