MIAMI GARDENS — The Miami Dolphins, coach Mike McDaniel and quarterback Tua Tagovailoa opened their 2024 NFL season at home against the Jacksonville Jaguars, coach Doug Pederson and quarterback Trevor Lawrence.

The Dolphins beat the Jaguars, 20-17, on a 52-yard field goal by Jason Sanders, in the season opener for both teams.

Tyreek Hill caught an 80-yard touchdown from Tua to bring Miami within 17-14 in the third quarter.

Jevon Holland forced an incredibly huge fumble, stopping Travis Etienne as he ran in for a potential 24-7 lead.

Here are Joe Schad's Instant Grades following Sunday's game:

Quarterback

Tua Tagovailoa had a long touchdown pass to Hill. And another very long completion to Jaylen Waddle. At times it was hard for Tua to drive the ball down the field consistently on Sunday, and he was also hurt by some drops. Tua scrambled for a first down with a key 11-yard run on 2nd-and-10 in the second quarter, shortly before halftime. Tua did finish the game with more than 300 yards passing. And he did not throw an interception.

Grade: B

Running Backs

The Dolphins could not get an effective rushing game going. Midway through the fourth quarter, Miami was sitting on 14 rushes for 32 yards, a paltry average of 2.3 per carry. De'Von Achane made the most of a screen with a 39-yard catch in the first quarter. The Dolphins had only 1 yard on 4 rushes in the first quarter. Later, Achane had another catch for 15 yards. Achane scored a 1-yard touchdown run just before halftime, to bring the Dolphins within 14-7. Achane was a valuable weapon in the receiving game, with more than 70 yards.

Grade: C+

Receivers

Jaylen Waddle turned on the burners to catch a long pass against zone coverage for a 63-yard gain in the third quarter. In a huge play in the third quarter, Tyreek Hill caught a deep crosser from Tua Tagovailoa and took it 80 yards for a score, out-running two Jaguars defenders, to bring Miami within 17-14. As was the case most all of last season, Tua relied heavily on two receivers. Hill did top 100 yards in the game, hours after he was detained by police following a traffic stop. Waddle also topped 100 yards.

Grade: B

Tight ends

This was not one to remember for Jon Embree's squad. Tight end Jonnu Smith had a rough start, with a drop and an offsides penalty that was declined, both in the first quarter. Durham Smythe dropped a short pass in the second quarter and couldn't haul in a few other targets in the second quarter. Smythe was later called for a false start.

Grade: D

Offensive Line

Guard Robert Jones was called for a hold in the first quarter. This negated a 12-yard, first-down scramble by Tagovailoa. Then Jones was called for holding on a run in the third quarter. Arik Armstead powered past right guard Liam Eichenberg for a third-down sack in the third quarter. Tua was sacked three times in the first 2.5 quarters on Sunday. The line could not help gain traction in the run game.

Grade: C

Defensive Line

Veteran Calais Campbell, 38, had a sack and a tackle for loss on his first two plays as a Dolphin. Emmanuel Ogbah had a pressure in the second quarter. Ogbah had a huge sack late in the fourth quarter. Zach Sieler made a few plays. But Jacksonville's run game was too effective for most of the game, as they topped 100 total rushing yards and were averaging more than five yards per carry.

Grade: C+

Linebackers/Edge Rushers

Rookie Chop Robinson drew a Jaguars tackle offsides in the second quarter. Jaelan Phillips, returning from an Achilles injury, and Chop, did not have a quarterback hit in the first half. Phillips did have a huge sack late in the game. Trevor Lawrence was not under consistent pressure, even though, like many teams, they came into the game with questions about the strength of the line.

Grade: C+

Defensive Backs

Jalen Ramsey, the star cornerback who played despite a hamstring injury, was called for a pass interference on a long passing play in Miami's end zone in the first quarter. Ramsey wrapped an arm around the chest of Brian Thomas, Jr., setting up a short touchdown run. In the second quarter, Thomas caught a touchdown pass with Ramsey and safety Jordan Poyer in coverage. To be fair, it was a splendid throw by Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence. But neither defensive back got off to a fast start.

Jevon Holland had a third-down pass breakup early in the third quarter. Later, Poyer had a facemask penalty. Holland had an incredibly big forced fumble on Travis Etienne as he was going into the Miami end zone for a 24-7 lead. Huge play. Miami's ball at the 20. Kendall Fuller made a key run stop on a Jaguars' failed fourth down attempt on 4th-and-1.

Grade: C+

Special Teams

Punter Jake Bailey dropped one inside the Jaguars' 10-yard line in the first quarter, as it rolled out of bounds at the 4. Later, Bailey punted another one to the Jaguars' 3-yard line. The Dolphins had a penalty on a kickoff return, moving too early. Anthony Walker cost Miami five yards. This dynamic kickoff play isn't so dynamic as everyone is just electing to take the touchback. Kicker Jason Sanders missed a 42-yard field goal that would have tied the score at 17 in the fourth quarter, hooked wide left. Sanders did make a 37-yarder to tie the game.

Grade: B

Coaching

The Dolphins did overcome a 17-7 deficit thast was nearly 24-7 if not for a forced fumble by Holland. Defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver gets a win in his first game with Miami.

Grade: B

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Joe Schad is a journalist covering the Miami Dolphins and the NFL at The Palm Beach Post. You can reach him at jschad@pbpost.com and follow him on Instagram and on X @schadjoe. Sign up for Joe's free weekly Dolphins Pulse Newsletter. Help support our work by subscribing today.

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Miami Dolphins Instant Grades vs. Jacksonville Jaguars | Schad