Where Dolphins ranked among NFL leaders. And why Miami put ‘foot down’ on Mostert, Waddle

Amid a disappointing end to the regular season, several Dolphins finished atop — or near the top — in several statistical categories.

Among the notable feats:

▪ Tua Tagovailoa led the NFL in passing yards with 4,624, beating out Detroit’s Jared Goff (4,575).

He became the first Dolphins player to lead the league in passing yards since Dan Marino did it in 1992, with 4,116 yards.

What’s more, his 4,624 passing yards are third most in franchise history, behind Marino’s 1984 season (5,084 yards) and 1986 season (4,746 yards).

Tagovailoa became just the second Dolphins quarterback to throw for more than 4,500 yards in a season, joining Marino.

Among quarterbacks who played at least 10 games, Tagovailoa’s 69.3 completion percentage was the NFL’s third best behind Dak Prescott and Brock Purdy.

His 101.1 passer rating was fourth best, behind Purdy (113), Prescott (105.9) and Lamar Jackson (102.7).

But Tagovailoa’s 62.7 passer rating in Sunday’s 21-14 loss to Buffalo was his worst of the season. He finished the night 17 for 27 for 173 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions.

▪ Dolphins rookie running back De’Von Achane averaged 7.8 yards per carry on 103 rushing attempts. That’s the highest yards-per-carry average since the NFL/AFL merger — topping the 6.4 by Mercury Morris (in 1973 for Miami) and Jamaal Charles (in 2010 for Kansas City).

It’s the highest per-carry average by any running back (minimum 100 rushes) since Beattie Feathers averaged 8.4 for the Bears in 1934.

▪ Tyreek Hill led the NFL in receiving yards with 1,799, topping Dallas receiver CeeDee Lamb’s 1749.

Hill is the first Dolphins player to ever lead the league in receiving yards in a full season. His 13 touchdown receptions tied Tampa Bay’s Mike Evans for the NFL lead. And Hill’s 119 receptions were tied for second most in the NFL, behind Lamb’s 135.

▪ Though he missed the final two games of the season with an ankle injury, Raheem Mostert’s 18 rushing touchdowns led the league.

▪ Zach Sieler’s 10 sacks were third among all defensive tackles, behind Baltimore’s Justin Madubuike (13) and Kansas City’s Chris Jones (10.5).

▪ Injured Dolphins linebacker Bradley Chubb tied Tampa Bay’s Antoine Winfield Jr. as the league leader in forced fumbles with six.

As a team, the Dolphins led the league in total offense, averaging 401.3 yards per game, just ahead of the 49ers (398.4). It marks the first time since 1994 (379.9) that the Dolphins have led the NFL in total offense.

It is just the second time that Miami has averaged 400-plus yards per game in a full season. The Dolphins averaged 433.5 yards per game in 1984.

The Dolphins were second in points per game at 29.2, behind Dallas’ 29.9.

But excluding defensive touchdowns, Miami averaged only 16.5 points in its six games against teams that are playoff bound.

The Dolphins finished the season with the NFL’s top passing offense, averaging 265.5 passing yards per game. It is the first time since 1993 that the Dolphins ranked first in passing.

The Dolphins averaged 235.8 rushing yards per game, which ranked sixth.

Defensively, the Dolphins permitted 318.3 yards per game, which was 10th best in the league. But the Dolphins were only 22nd in points yielded per game, at 23.0.

The Dolphins were 15th in passing yards allowed per game (221.2) and seventh in rushing yards relinquished per game (97.1).

Miami’s 56 sacks were third most in the league and set a team record.

PLAYING TIME NOTES

▪ With Jevon Holland’s knees limiting his availability against Buffalo on Sunday, Holland played only 27 of Miami’s 78 defensive snaps.

DeShon Elliott, who sustained a pregame calf injury, played 72 defensive snaps and Brandon Jones 62. Elijah Campbell played three defensive snaps.

▪ Linebacker Jerome Baker, who had missed the previous four games with a sprained MCL, didn’t play in the first quarter but logged 41 defensive snaps and had a key goal-line stop before halftime, preventing a Bills score.

Duke Riley, who had been filling in for Baker, played 39 snaps. The other inside linebacker, David Long Jr., played 69 snaps and tied for Elliott for the team lead in tackles with 10.

Miami didn’t use inside linebackers Channing Tindall or Calvin Munson on defense.

▪ The Dolphins were left with only two edge players after losing Andrew Van Ginkel to a third-quarter foot injury and Cameron Goode to a major knee injury on Buffalo’s third-quarter punt return for a touchdown.

Melvin Ingram, who was out of the league until mid-December, played 58 snaps and Emmanuel Ogbah played 46. Van Ginkel played 29 defensive snaps and Goode 12 snaps before their injuries.

One option for Miami next week: Playing Baker some at outside linebacker.

▪ With Xavien Howard sidelined by a foot injury (and wearing a walking boot on the sideline), cornerback Eli Apple played all 78 defensive snaps and Jalen Ramsey 76.

Kader Kohou played 51 defensive snaps, Nik Needham six and rookie Cam Smith two.

▪ With Jaylen Waddle sidelined, Cedrick Wilson Jr. played 50 of Miami’s 52 offensive snaps, Tyreek Hill played 40 and Braxton Berrios 24.

Three other receivers played limited snaps: nine for River Cracraft, four for Chase Claypool and two for Robbie Chosen. Claypool was the intended receiver on Tagovailoa’s interception that foiled Miami’s final drive. Hill wasn’t on the field for that play because he took a hard hit on the previous play.

Coach Mike McDaniel said he’s optimistic Waddle will play in Saturday’s playoff game in Kansas City (8 p.m., NBC 6, Peacock) after missing two games with a high-ankle sprain.

The Dolphins sometimes opted for two tight ends instead of three receivers. Tight end Durham Smythe played 39 offensive snaps and rookie Julian Hill 17.

▪ With Mostert sidelined by knee and ankle injuries, Achane played 33 of Miami’s 52 offensive snaps and Jeff Wilson Jr. played 25.

McDaniel said he’s optimistic Mostert will play in Kansas City after missing the past two games with his injuries.

Of the decision to hold out Mostert and Waddle against Buffalo, McDaniel said: “They were pretty close, but in both situations, [they] would be very, very vulnerable to that being their last game if they would’ve played… [considering] what setbacks could incur. That’s kind of where we had to put our foot down.”