The 2018 season was an interesting one for the Miami Dolphins.
Not only would it spell the end of the Adam Gase era, but it was also another injury shortened season for Quarterback Ryan Tannehill who, unbeknownst to many, was in his last season with the team as well.
Another important change this season was that this was the first season since 2010 without veteran backup quarterback Matt Moore.
As many coaches do, Adam Gase set out to bring in players with whom he had familiarity. Topping that list was bringing in a new backup quarterback in Brock Osweiler.
A little background
When most fans of football think of Brock Osweiler they think of the Broncos Super Bowl season, lead in large part by a 5-2 record with Osweiler under center, or the massive contract that he received from the Houston Texans. However, the reality is that Adam Gase was the Offensive Coordinator for backup Quarterback Brock Osweiler.
By the time the Broncos Super Bowl victory happened, and of course the subsequent Texans contract for Osweiler, Gase had already left Denver to become the OC of the Chicago Bears under John Fox. However, his positive impression for Osweiler lingered.
A new backup in town
On March 23rd, 2018, the Miami Dolphins would sign Brock Osweiler to a one-year contract to be the backup to entrenched starter Ryan Tannehill, who was coming off of a missed year with a torn ACL.
His experience with Gase’s system was certainly an important part of this signing, especially with Tannehill missing the time that he had over the previous two seasons.
Osweiler Bears down on Chicago
Midway through the month of October, with an injured shoulder sidelining starter Ryan Tannehill, Brock Osweiler would get his first start of the season at home against the Chicago Bears. The Dolphins at the time were sitting above .500 with a 3-2 record.
An interesting anecdote, if only to me, is that while the questionable designation was placed on Tannehill all week long, bettors and fans alike weren’t surprised when he was made inactive 90 minutes prior to kickoff. Luckily for Miami, Brock had prepared like a starter, as any good backup would, and that work was about to pay off.
The Dolphins wouldn’t miss a beat in this one, wracking up 541 yards of total offense – 161 yards on the ground and 380 yards through the air. In fact, this was the best offensive performance of the season and was lead in large part by the career-best play of one Brock Osweiler.
Osweiler would go 28 of 44 passing for 380 yards, three touchdowns, and two interceptions in his first start of the season – 155 of those yards going to WR Albert Wilson. It also helped that legendary running back Frank Gore ran for 101 yards on 15 attempts.
While the game itself remained close throughout, with the teams ultimately heading to overtime, it was the Dolphins who came out on top behind a Jason Sanders 47-yard walk-off field goal.
We’ll always have Brocktober
I’ll never forget this game. I was at the local German-American Club with my family, eating a bratwurst and enjoying their Oktoberfest celebration. While there was a lot to take in at the event, none of it was more important that following along – and celebrating – via the beat writers on Twitter. I was so excited – and wasn’t even watching!
Overall, Brock Osweiler would throw for 1247 yards, 6 touchdowns and 4 intercepts in his 5 starts, resulting in a 2-3 record as a member of the Miami Dolphins.
While it didn’t work out in the long run for Brock, retiring the next season, we’ll always have that one magnificient game. We’ll always have Brocktober.
