Dolphins-Cardinals live blog: Tua Tagovailoa throws first TD since Week 2, Fins lose 28-27

Tua Tagovailoa’s first game in more than a month didn’t go quite as expected.

Despite him throwing for 234 yards and a touchdown, mental mistakes cost the Miami Dolphins yet again as they lost 28-27 to the Arizona Cardinals.

Look no further than the safety that occurred midway through the third quarter. At the time, the Dolphins were up 20-10 with a chance to drive down the field to go up big. One mishandled snap out of the endzone later and the lead was cut to just eight with the ball now going to the Cardinals. Arizona and Miami would trade touchdowns on subsequent possessions yet the Cards would add 10 points on their final two drives of the fourth quarter to ultimately win the game.

At 2-5, it’ll be tough for the Dolphins to make a playoff push. How the Dolphins end the season, however, will be important to morale over the next few months.

Raheem Mostert scores second touchdown of the day :

Whoever started Mostert is smiling from ear-to-ear.

With the Dolphins in need of a score after the Cardinals cut their lead to within two, Tagovailoa led the offense down the field to the six yard line. Mostert then did the rest.

Fins are up 27-18.

Jordyn Brooks saved two-point conversion :

Tagovailoa’s mishandled snap sent the ball flying out the endzone and gave the Cardinals a safety.

Marvin Harrison Jr.’s 22-yard catch in the endzone would then put the Cardinals within two. A James Conner handoff up the middle on the next play likely would’ve meant a tied game.

Brooks, however, is him.

The starting linebacker quite literally grabbed a leaping Conner out of the air and forced him out of the endzone to keep the Fins up 20-18.

Tagovailoa throws first touchdown in return :

It took nearly two and a half quarters but the touchdown pass everyone has waited patiently for finally happened.

With just over 8:31 left in the third quarter, Tagovailoa fired a screen pass to De’Von Achane who took the rock 12 yards to the house.

This was Tagovailoa’s first touchdown pass since the first quarter of the Dolphins’ 31-10 loss to the Buffalo Bills. Funny enough, both Achane caught that touchdown as well.

Jevón Holland out :

After fracturing his hand just three weeks ago against the New England Patriots, the young safety is once again injured.

Holland suffered a knee injury during the second quarter. After initially being ruled as questionable, he was downgraded to out at the start of the third quarter.

It’s unclear what happened.

Veteran safety Marcus Maye will fill in for Holland.

Tim Bowens inducted to Dolphins Ring of Honor :

The two-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle’s career was celebrated during a ceremony at halftime.

Bowens is just the 28th member of the Dolphins Ring of Honor. A 1994 first round pick who played his entire career in Miami, Bowens is considered one of the main contributors to the Dolphins’ stalwart defense during the late 90s, early 2000s.

Bowens finished his 11-year career with more than 400 combined tackles, 22 sacks and 26 tackles for loss. He also was voted defensive rookie of the year in 1994.

HALFTIME STATS:

▪ Tyreek Hill has five catches for 69 yards, his highest first half total all season.

▪ In his first game back, Tagovailoa has completed 76% of his passes for more than 162 yards.

▪ The Dolphins defense has limited the Cardinals to just 111 yards at the half.

A Tua-Tyreek deep ball :

One word: finally.

Tagovailoa connected with Tyreek Hill on a 30-yard pass for the first time in what felt like forever.

In reality, you have to go back to the season opener against the Jacksonville Jaguars — when Hill took Tagovailoa’s pass 80 yards to the house — for the last time the QB-WR duo had a big play.

The deep ball — which occurred at the 1:35 mark in the second quarter — eventually set up a 25-yard Jason Sanders field goal to extend the Dolphins’ lead to 13-7 at halftime.

Julian Hill back in:

The Dolphins tight end appeared to injure his shoulder after catching a pass in the redzone.

His return was initially questionable but Hill went back in towards the beginning of the second quarter.

Dolphins score on opening drive :

Well the Tua effect is certainly real.

The Dolphins just scored their first touchdown on an opening drive all season courtesy of Raheem Mostert’s 1-yard scamper.

Tagovailoa looked efficient on his first drive, completing 83% of his passes for 47 yards.

Fins are now up 7-0.

Tua Tagovailoa warms up :

The man of the hour is officially in the building.

All eyes will be on the franchise quarterback today ahead of his first game since a Sept. 12 concussion caused him to miss the next four games.

There’s hope that he can be the spark that this offense — which currently ranks dead last in scoring — desperately needs.

Sunday Inactives :

Starters Kader Kohou and Zach Sieler highlight the list of inactives for Sunday’s Miami Dolphins matchup against the Arizona Cardinals.

Other inactives include Jeff Wilson, Tanner Conner, Mo Kamara, Andrew Meyer and Storm Duck.

Pregame Dolphins reading:

Check out these stories prior to kickoff.

▪ ‘Can’t nobody stop us.’ With Tua Tagovailoa back at QB1, the Dolphins have hope

▪ Kelly: Tua’s latest absence could fuel his overall growth as a quarterback

▪ Tagovailoa activated; how he’s protecting himself. And Dolphins make four roster moves

▪ Here’s everything you need to know about Sunday’s Dolphins-Cardinals game

▪ Greg Cote’s Hot Button Top 10: Tua’s back!, Canes whip FSU, Messi, why Yankees still have hope & more