War of attrition hits Miami receivers
Wide receivers Albert Wilson and Kenny Stills – arguably the Miami Dolphins’ two biggest playmakers this season – will not play Thursday night at the Houston Texas.
That’s a serious problem for the Dolphins (4-3), who trail the New England Patriots by one game in the AFC East.
Now the Dolphins have to face the scorching-hot Texans (4-3), who lead the AFC South and have won four straight games.
“Those guys will be missed because they are talented players,” Dolphins quarterback Brock Osweiler said of Wilson and Stills. “But injuries are going to happen. It’s all about the next-man approach.”
Osweiler knows all about that since he will be making his third straight start in place of injured starter Ryan Tannehill, who is out due to a shoulder injury.
So far this season, Osweiler has outplayed Tannehill with better percentages on completions, touchdowns, interceptions, yards per attempt and yards per game.
Osweiler has completed 67.5 percent for 654 yards, six touchdowns and two interceptions. However, he took four sacks last week in a loss to the Detroit Lions, and he will face two ferocious pass-rushers this week in J.J. Watt and Jadeveon Clowney.
The Dolphins’ tackles – Laremy Tunsil on the left side and Ja’Wuan James on the right – will have to have big games if Miami hopes to be successful consistently on Thursday. The Dolphins may also require a running back or tight end to chip on that Texas twosome, and Osweiler, ultimately, will have to get the ball out of his right hand quickly.
“They’re horrible to go up against,” Dolphins head coach Adam Gase said of Watt and Clowney. “When you have both of those guys on the edges, it makes it hard to do anything, running or passing.”
SERIES HISTORY: 9th regular-season meeting. Texans lead series, 7-1. The Dolphins have never won in Houston in four tries. The last time the teams met, Miami won at its place, beating the Texans 44-26 in 2015.
