How's Ron Rivera Explain Washington Commanders Getting Torched by Miami Dolphins' Tyreek Hill in 45-15 Loss?
LANDOVER, Md. -- The Washington Commanders (4-9) hosted the Miami Dolphins (9-3) in Week 13 of the NFL season knowing they had to face the best receiver in the league today and lost 45-15 thanks in large part to the team's inability to contain him.
Despite knowing that Dolphins star Tyreek Hill has the proven ability to burn defenses, the Commanders ended up severely disadvantaged in several situations, with multiple defensive backs left helpless in one-on-one coverage as they watched their assignment run away from them with the speed of a cheetah.
The first blow against Washington came on the first third down attempt Miami tried all day. On 3rd and 2 from his own 22-yard line Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa spotted Hill in one-on-one coverage with rookie defensive back Quan Martin, unleashed the pass, and 78 yards later they were celebrating their first touchdown of the game.
"We should've been tighter (on) his release," coach Ron Rivera said about the play after the game. "We didn't squeeze him on the release, we didn't push into him, and then we just gotta make sure we got somebody up over the top."
Miami Dolphins wide receiver Tyreek Hill (10) celebrates in the end zone after catching a touchdown pass against the Washington Commanders during the first quarter at FedExField.
Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
By the end of the first half, Hill had four receptions, 152 yards, two touchdowns, and the issues outlined by Rivera after the game were evident throughout the contest.
Specifically, three of Hill's receptions were of the explosive variety (20 yards or more) and each of those occurred on third downs.
"Well, what we tried to do is make sure we had people over the top," Rivera said when we asked him about the overall plan to contain Hill on Sunday. "And (we've) just gotta be able to make sure we're where we need to be."
That plan sounds good in theory, but the execution was clearly not there and Hill finished the game with five catches for 157 yards and two first-half touchdowns.
To the stat box scout that'll look like the Commanders' defense stepped up in the second half.
The reality of the situation, of course, is that Miami had the game in hand and opted to do the sportsmanlike thing and take their collective feet off the breaks a bit.
It wasn't an effort by Hill alone, but his contributions early in the game set Washington on a losing path early and Rivera's team was never able to carve a new one, losing their ninth game of the season with four left to play.
