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NFL Preseason Week 1 Recap: Miami Dolphins 20, Atlanta Falcons 13

2XRD6P1 Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Penix Jr. (9) aims a pass during the first half of a pre season NFL football game against the Miami Dolphins, Friday, Aug. 9, 2024, in Miami Gardens, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

The Miami Dolphins kicked off their preseason with a 20-13 victory over the Atlanta Falcons at Hard Rock Stadium on Friday evening. 

All eyes were on Falcons rookie quarterback Michael Penix Jr.‘s first NFL action, and while the Washington product wasn't perfect, he did show off a couple of the traits that enabled him to be the eighth overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. He finished just nine-of-16 for 104 yards and showed off his deep ball accuracy when he hit receiver Chris Blair in stride down the sideline for a 41-yard gain.

PFF's dedicated team of graders was hard at work, analyzing every player on every play in real time. The grades and data will be available after a thorough review tomorrow at 12 p.m. EST.

In the meantime, we’ve gathered some high-level data and snap counts from the game to give you an early look. Our expert graders have also nominated the standout player of the game, highlighting exceptional performance on the field.

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PLAYER OF THE GAME

In the preseason, it's often hard to select a “Player of the Game” because most players don't play a ton of snaps. Therefore, with that in mind, Falcons cornerback Kevin King takes home that prestigious honor for his performance. Over his 21 snaps in coverage, King was able to haul in a Skylar Thompson pass for an interception near midfield, which he returned all the way to the 16-yard line, in addition to forcing a fumble that unfortunately went out of bounds before a Falcon could recover it. He also accrued a forced incompletion to round out his evening.

BOX SCORE

Falcons Dolphins
Total points 13 20
Total offensive plays 71 68
Average EPA per play -0.396 -0.381
Total net yards 216 263
Avg yards per play 3 3.9
Total first downs 11 13
Rushing first downs 4 8
Passing first downs 7 5
Penalty first downs 0 0
Third-down efficiency 12% 29%
Fourth-down efficiency 13% 0%
Possessions 17 15
Avg plays per drive 4.8 5.3
Avg yards per drive 12 16.4
Avg points per drive 0.7 1.3
Red-zone possessions 4 3
Red-zone plays 17 9
Red-zone TDs 1 2
Red-zone FGs 0 0
Red-zone scoring efficiency 25% 67%

SNAP COUNTS & PLAYER PARTICIPATION

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