Tua and Tyreek star in win over Chargers. Who’s hot, who’s not after Miami’s victory

The Tua Tagovailoa-Tyreek Hill connection was perhaps at its best in the Dolphins’ season-opening win over the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday.

Here’s a look at who’s hot — and who’s not — after the 36-34 Miami victory.

Who’s hot

▪ Tyreek Hill: Before the 2023 season started, Hill did not hide his desire to achieve the NFL’s first 2,000-yard receiving season. And in Game 1, he got off to a strong start to reach that goal. Hill caught a game-high 11 passes for 215 yards and two touchdowns, including the game-winning score with 69 seconds remaining. The 215 receiving yards were Hill’s most as a Dolphin.

And five plays before he caught a 4-yard fade pass to put the Dolphins up late, Hill separated deep for a 48-yard catch on third down.

Hill has said his first year in Miami, which saw him set franchise marks for catches and receiving yards, was mainly based on his athleticism and that he didn’t have a great understanding of the offense. And while Dolphins coach McDaniel downplayed that narrative, calling Hill a “natural performer,” he added: “It would be very, very accurate to say we saw a better version of himself today within the offense.”

▪ Tua Tagovailoa: All eyes were on Tagovailoa, who was playing in his first game in almost nine months after a second stint in the NFL’s concussion protocol prematurely ended his 2022 season. And facing draftmate Justin Herbert for the third time in their careers, Tagovailoa outdueled the quarterback who was selected one pick after him in 2022. Tagovailoa completed 28 of 45 passes for 466 yards, three touchdowns and one interception. Tagovailoa was at his best late, stepping up in the pocket to complete the clutch pass to Hill on third down and dropping a pinpoint pass into Hill’s hands for the game-winning score.

▪ Mike McDaniel: The second-year head coach didn’t want to make Week 1 about any schematic matchup with Chargers coach Brandon Staley. But his performance in the season opener was notable because last year’s loss to Los Angeles was one of the few times one could say McDaniel was outcoached. This time around, McDaniel had effective answers for the Chargers’ defense and showcased smart in-game management, taking a timeout with 14 seconds left in the first half before Los Angeles attempted a field goal. The extra possession allowed Miami to get a last-second field goal and take a 20-17 halftime lead in what was eventually a two-point win.

▪ Dolphins’ offensive line: For all the focus on the Dolphins’ skill position players, Miami’s offense won’t run as it should unless the offensive line plays to its potential. And the unit started the season well, giving up no sacks to the Chargers.

Who’s not

▪ Dolphins’ run defense: In what was an underachieving 2022 season for Miami’s defense, the unit could rely on a stingy run defense. Last year, the defense allowed the sixth-fewest rushing yards in the NFL. But in the first game with Vic Fangio as defensive coordinator, the Chargers ran for 234 yards and averaged 5.9 yards per carry.

▪ Center Connor Williams: Williams’ snapping issues from the preseason crept into the first game of the season. Though it’s hard to say who is at fault, on two occasions there was a mishap on the quarterback center-exchange. Williams was also flagged for holding on a third-down run by wide receiver Erik Ezukanma that picked up a first down.

▪ Cornerback Xavien Howard: Howard didn’t allow much in coverage but he was flagged three times on Sunday, including twice on a third-quarter drive that ended in a Chargers touchdown.