Dolphins and Bears Fight to a Draw

The first test arrived for the Miami Dolphins in week one of the NFL preseason with a trip to the midwest for a week filled joint practice followed by a game against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field. Injuries have been a big problem for the Dolphins throughout training camp as well as drama with Tyreek Hill with rumors that he might be traded. It was questioned whether head coach Mike McDaniel would start his starters against the Bears.

QB Tua Tagovailoa insisted that he got some playing time in this game against the Bears which saw McDaniel give him the opening drive. This game would have ties to South Florida with head coach Ben Johnson making his debut for the Bears was once assistant of Butch Davis at Florida International University. Bears WR Maurice Alexander who had a touchdown in this game is also a FIU football alumni who was reunited with Johnson.

This would be Tagovailoa's first time playing in a preseason opener since 2021 with the Miami QB going five for six with 27 yards in a 15-play opening drive against the Chicago backups. Miami got it to the goal line and decided to go for it on fourth and goal but could not convert leaving some concern that the Miami starters could not score on Chicago backups.

Dolphins RB Jaylen Wright would get his revenge later on in the game getting into the end zone on a 7-yard run at the conclusion of the first half. Miami would see QB's Zach Wilson and Quinn Ewers take the field leading Miami to three touchdown drives with the ever reliable Jason Sanders drilling a 56-yard field goal in the final quarter of play. This field goal would have the game tied at 24 with a fun and entertaining end to the game.

Ewers would go five of 18 for 91 yards completing as well a 21-yard pass to Alexander Mattison on a drive that went eight plays for 41 yards. The news would be good in this game for Mattison who was seriously injured and now reported by ESPN's Adam Schefter that the Dolphins player underwent season ending surgery on his neck. This leads to more bad news for Dolphins who have been plagued by injuries all training camp long. Both offenses had a chance to win the game with less than a minute left in the game and could not covert leaving the game to a 24-24 draw.

Next up for the Miami Dolphins is a road trip to Detroit for two joint practices with a preseason game against the Lions on the 16th.

Written by: Daniel Torres

Dolphins and Bears Fight to a Draw