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Alford's 79-yard punt return TD helps Falcons to a 19-3 win over Dolphins in preseason opener
MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (AP) Dee Alford played college football at a small school in Tusculum, Tennessee, and spent two years in the Canadian Football League before signing with the Atlanta Falcons last year. He didn’t even know at the time if he’d make the team’s 53-man roster.
On Friday night, Alford scored on a 79-yard punt return in Atlanta’s 19-3 preseason win over the Miami Dolphins - a telling statement that he's starting to feel like he belongs in the NFL.
“I’ve always had the mindset to not get comfortable,” Alford said. “But I do feel like I belong here, and I want to continue to show everyone that I do belong.”
Facing a Dolphins special teams unit that was among the NFL’s worst last season, Alford broke multiple tackles for the touchdown with 4:36 left in the game.
On Miami’s next possession, Skylar Thompson was intercepted by Breon Borders, who returned the pick 26 yards for a touchdown. Younghoe Koo then missed his second extra-point attempt of the game.
Atlanta’s Logan Woodside was 14 of 22 with 146 yards.
“I felt like I was seeing the coverage really well,” Woodside said. “Just trying to get the playmakers the ball in space."
Desmond Ridder, the Falcons' projected starter, didn't play. Ridder, who as a rookie started Atlanta’s final four games last season, has impressed teammates and coaches with his poise and command in his second training camp as he looks to end the Falcons’ streak of five straight losing seasons.
Atlanta coach Arthur Smith said the team’s starters will see action against Cincinnati next week.
Rookie running back Bijan Robinson, the No. 8 overall pick by Atlanta, didn’t play.
Thompson and fellow backup Mike White struggled as Tua Tagovailoa watched from the sideline.
Tagovailoa and most of Miami's regular starters did not suit up after two competitive practices against Atlanta, the first of which Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel called “average.”
“Really competitive. They’re an NFL team. They’ve got really good guys on that side of the ball," Tagovailoa said on Friday's television broadcast. "They made some plays. We made some plays. So, it’s always good to have good back and forth, but there’s a lot of things that were to be corrected.”
White led the Dolphins downfield with a 17-yard pass to Cedrick Wilson Jr. and a 14-yarder to River Cracraft on their opening drive, but was intercepted in the end zone by Falcons rookie safety DeMarcco Hellams on a pass he tried to force in traffic to Tyler Kroft.
Hellams, a seventh-round pick, had a team-high seven tackles and a pass breakup.
White was 9 of 14 with 85 yards in two quarters. He signed a two-year deal with Miami in March and is vying with Thompson for Miami's backup role.
The Dolphins were 0 for 3 in the red zone. White noted that there aren't specific redzone packages in the preseason for those situations.
“Now, that’s not an excuse by any means," he added, "you’ve still got to be able to execute the plays. There’s stuff that we’ve got to do better.”
Thompson, entering his second NFL season, started the second half and went 10 for 16. He was intercepted early in the fourth by Lukas Denis on a pass that was overthrown to receiver Elijah Higgins.
Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel said Thompson will be the likely starter when Miami faces Houston next week.
“I think a lot of people would be cut out (of) the league if you overreacted to one game situation,” McDaniel said.
Godwin Igwebuike took a handoff from Woodside in the second quarter and ran into the end zone untouched thanks to a couple good blocks from Atlanta’s offensive line. Igwebuike had 13 carries for 70 yards.
Miami's second-round rookie cornerback Cam Smith had four tackles, a tackle for loss and a pass breakup. He had a key third-down tackle in the red zone in the third quarter, but left with an apparent shoulder injury. McDaniel said the team doesn't yet know the extent of the injury.
De'Von Achane, a third-round rookie, had 10 carries for 25 yards and got reps at kick return.
Thompson led the Dolphins down the field in the fourth for a scoring drive that ended in Jason Sanders' 49-yard field goal that made it 6-3.
INJURIES
Falcons: Hellams left in the fourth with an apparent injury. He was attended to on the field by trainers after a hit.
Dolphins: McDaniel said WR Jaylen Waddle has a midsection injury, but it isn't something that the team thinks will cause him to miss extended time. Waddle suffered the injury during Wedensday's practice. ... WR Robbie Chosen wanted to play, but was held out because of “nagging” injuries. ... WR Braxton Berrios left in the second quarter after taking a big hit on a punt return.
UP NEXT
Falcons: Host Cincinnati on Aug. 18.
Dolphins: At Houston on Aug 19.
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Team Stats | ||
---|---|---|
Time of Pos | 28:02 | 31:58 |
1st Downs | 13 | 20 |
Rushing | 6 | 5 |
Passing | 6 | 12 |
Penalty | 1 | 3 |
3rd Down Conv | 3-12 | 3-10 |
4th Down Conv | 1-2 | 0-2 |
Total Net Yards | 227 | 317 |
Total Plays | 53 | 61 |
Avg Gain | 4.3 | 5.2 |
Net Yards Rushing | 102 | 168 |
Rush Attempts | 26 | 26 |
Avg Rush Yards | 3.9 | 6.5 |
Net Yards Passing | 125 | 149 |
Comp. - Att. | 14-23 | 19-30 |
Yards Per Pass | 4.6 | 4.3 |
Penalties - Yards | 6-50 | 8-72 |
Touchdowns | 3 | 0 |
Rushing TDs | 1 | 0 |
Passing TDs | 0 | 0 |
Other | 2 | 0 |
Turnovers | 0 | 4 |
Fumbles - Lost | 0-0 | 1-1 |
Int. Thrown | 0 | 3 |
Punts - Avg | 5-48.0 | 3-44.0 |
Return Yards | 150 | 63 |
Punts - Returns | 2-85 | 4-25 |
Kickoffs - Returns | 1-24 | 1-38 |
Int. - Returns | 3-41 | 0-0 |
Red Zone Eff. | 1-2 -50% | 0-3 -0% |
Goal to Go Eff. | 0-0 -0% | 0-0 -0% |
Safeties | 0 | 0 |
Passing | CP/ATT | YDS | TD | INT | FPTS |
L. Woodside
11 QB
5 FPTS
|
L. Woodside | 14/23 | 146 | 0 | 0 | 5 |
Rushing | ATT | YDS | TD | LG | FPTS |
G. Igwebuike
35 RB
13 FPTS
|
G. Igwebuike | 13 | 70 | 1 | 11 | 13 | ||||||||||||||||||||
C. Washington Jr.
28 RB
6 FPTS
|
C. Washington Jr. | 12 | 27 | 0 | 7 | 6 | ||||||||||||||||||||
L. Woodside
11 QB
5 FPTS
|
L. Woodside | 1 | 5 | 0 | 5 | 5 |
Receiving | TAR | REC | YDS | TD | LG | FPTS |
X. Malone
82 WR
7 FPTS
|
X. Malone | 2 | 2 | 50 | 0 | 27 | 7 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
J. Arcega-Whiteside
83 WR
3 FPTS
|
J. Arcega-Whiteside | 2 | 1 | 20 | 0 | 20 | 3 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
C. Washington Jr.
28 RB
6 FPTS
|
C. Washington Jr. | 4 | 3 | 19 | 0 | 8 | 6 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
T. Fisk
43 TE
4 FPTS
|
T. Fisk | 3 | 3 | 15 | 0 | 7 | 4 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
J. Ali
80 WR
2 FPTS
|
J. Ali | 3 | 1 | 14 | 0 | 14 | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
P. Hart
19 WR
1 FPTS
|
P. Hart | 1 | 1 | 9 | 0 | 9 | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
S. Miller
16 WR
1 FPTS
|
S. Miller | 1 | 1 | 9 | 0 | 9 | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
M. Sexton
5 WR
1 FPTS
|
M. Sexton | 3 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 5 | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
C. Ratkovich
38 RB
1 FPTS
|
C. Ratkovich | 1 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 5 | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
F. Darby
88 WR
0 FPTS
|
F. Darby | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
P. Hesse
46 TE
0 FPTS
|
P. Hesse | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
S. Bolden
89 WR
0 FPTS
|
S. Bolden | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Defense | T-A | SACK | INT | FF |
D. Hellams
37 DB
|
D. Hellams | 5-2 | 0.0 | 1 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
T. Davis
50 LB
|
T. Davis | 4-1 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
A. Ebiketie
47 LB
|
A. Ebiketie | 3-0 | 1.0 | 0 | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||
C. Chattman
39 DB
|
C. Chattman | 3-0 | 1.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
L. Denis
41 DB
|
L. Denis | 3-0 | 0.0 | 1 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
N. Brooks
35 DB
|
N. Brooks | 3-0 | 1.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
T. Horne
98 DT
|
T. Horne | 2-1 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
M. Hughes
21 CB
|
M. Hughes | 2-0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
M. Abernathy
29 DB
|
M. Abernathy | 2-0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
B. Borders
20 CB
|
B. Borders | 2-3 | 0.0 | 1 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
A. Smith
59 LB
|
A. Smith | 2-0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
N. Landman
53 LB
|
N. Landman | 1-4 | 1.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
D. Hall
23 CB
|
D. Hall | 1-0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
A. Ogundeji
92 LB
|
A. Ogundeji | 1-1 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
J. Gaziano
99 DE
|
J. Gaziano | 1-1 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
M. Jones Jr.
45 LB
|
M. Jones Jr. | 1-1 | 0.5 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
L. London
72 DE
|
L. London | 1-0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
D. Malone
51 LB
|
D. Malone | 1-1 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
M. Walker
3 LB
|
M. Walker | 1-3 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Z. Harrison
96 DL
|
Z. Harrison | 1-0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
A. Huggins
94 DT
|
A. Huggins | 1-3 | 0.5 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
K. Turay
53 DE
|
K. Turay | 0-1 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
C. Davis
74 DT
|
C. Davis | 0-1 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 |
Kicking | FG | LG | XP | PTS |
Y. Koo
6 K
1 FPTS
|
Y. Koo | 0/0 | 0 | 1/3 | 1 |
Punting | NO | AVG | IN20 | LG |
B. Pinion
13 P
|
B. Pinion | 5 | 48.0 | 1 | 53 |
Kickoff Returns | NO | AVG | LG | TD |
G. Igwebuike
35 RB
13 FPTS
|
G. Igwebuike | 1 | 24.0 | 24 | 0 |
Passing | CP/ATT | YDS | TD | INT | FPTS |
S. Thompson
19 QB
0 FPTS
|
S. Thompson | 10/16 | 104 | 0 | 2 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
M. White
14 QB
1 FPTS
|
M. White | 9/14 | 85 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
Rushing | ATT | YDS | TD | LG | FPTS |
M. Gaskin
37 RB
9 FPTS
|
M. Gaskin | 7 | 57 | 0 | 35 | 9 | ||||||||||||||||||||
E. Ezukanma
18 WR
9 FPTS
|
E. Ezukanma | 2 | 52 | 0 | 39 | 9 | ||||||||||||||||||||
D. Achane
28 RB
10 FPTS
|
D. Achane | 10 | 25 | 0 | 6 | 10 | ||||||||||||||||||||
C. Brooks
33 RB
4 FPTS
|
C. Brooks | 5 | 24 | 0 | 10 | 4 | ||||||||||||||||||||
S. Thompson
19 QB
0 FPTS
|
S. Thompson | 2 | 10 | 0 | 5 | 0 |
Receiving | TAR | REC | YDS | TD | LG | FPTS |
D. Achane
28 RB
10 FPTS
|
D. Achane | 4 | 4 | 41 | 0 | 19 | 10 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
E. Higgins
84 TE
5 FPTS
|
E. Higgins | 3 | 2 | 36 | 0 | 28 | 5 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
M. Gaskin
37 RB
9 FPTS
|
M. Gaskin | 2 | 2 | 20 | 0 | 11 | 9 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
C. Wilson Jr.
11 WR
2 FPTS
|
C. Wilson Jr. | 2 | 1 | 17 | 0 | 17 | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
E. Ezukanma
18 WR
9 FPTS
|
E. Ezukanma |