Instant takeaways from the Dolphins' 20-13 victory over the Las Vegas Raiders

MIAMI GARDENS — It wasn’t a blowout.

It wasn’t even high-scoring.

It was a Dolphins victory.

And that’s good enough for the Dolphins, who outlasted the Las Vegas Raiders 20-13 by overcoming three turnovers Sunday at Hard Rock Stadium.

Those errors were overcome by Tua Tagovailoa, who completed 28 of 39 passes for 325 yards, including scoring passes of 38 yards to Tyreek Hill and 11 to Salvon Ahmed.

Raheem Mostert carried 22 times for 86 yards.

Miami's defense was led by cornerback Jalen Ramsey, who had two interceptions, including one in the end zone on a desperation heave with 25 seconds left.

Hill caught 10 passes for 146 yards. He continued on pace to meet his goal of recording the first 2,000-yard season by a receiver in NFL history. Hill has 1,222 yards and is on pace to finish with 2,077.

Those efforts were enough on a day when the teams combined for five turnovers … and yet also combined to manage just nine total points off those turnovers.

Miami’s win was all but sealed when the Raiders drove to the Miami 24 with just over three minutes left. On fourth down, Aidan O’Connell was about to be sacked by Christian Wilkins when he unloaded the ball in desperation. Jaelan Phillips, who had just recorded a sack, caught the ball for his first career interception.

The Dolphins improved to 7-3 and remained in control of the AFC East race entering a Black Friday game in the Meadowlands against the New York Jets. The Raiders, who entered the game on a two-game winning streak under interim coach Antonio Pierce, are 5-6.

The Dolphins have now won 17 of their past 19 home games. The last time they had such a streak was in their Orange Bowl days, a 23-2 run from 1983-86.

The Dolphins are 21-9 in the past 30 games started by Tagovailoa.

The Dolphins also have won eight of their past 10 games against the Raiders.

Here are our takeaways:

De’Von Achane’s return is far too brief

This was a day many Dolphins fans waited for. Dynamic rookie running back De’Von Achane, he of the 12.1-yard rushing average, was returning after a four-game absence on injured reserve.

But Achane finished with just one carry for 1 yard and one reception for 4 yards.

Achane appeared to be injured when tackled by rookie defensive end Tyree Wilson on the reception and a player landed on the knee he injured last month. He tried to jog off the field, appearing to be in some discomfort, and was soon seen in the blue tent, then headed inside. Although he was officially questionable to return, he spent the rest of the game on the sideline, no helmet in hand, as a spectator. "He was politicking to try to come back in the game, but I was a little worried off the rust to go and do that," Coach Mike McDaniel said. "We kind of held him back, and we'll see what it looks like tomorrow."

The first half became a nail-biting time for Dolphins fans because Hill also headed inside with a hand injury. He returned to the game — a scene we’ve seen many times before. Seems it’s hard to keep him out of a game.

Interestingly enough, both Achane and Jaylen Waddle appeared deep on kickoffs, though both produced touchbacks.

Can’t anyone hold onto the ball?

Fumbles played a big role in this one.

Both teams fumbled — or nearly fumbled — on their opening possessions. But once replay reviews were factored in, both plays went in the Raiders’ favor.

First came what originally was called a 39-yard touchdown return by safety Jevon Holland of a fumble by tight end Michael Mayer. Replays showed Mayer never had control of the pass, so the recovery didn't count.

More: Dolphins linebacker Jaelan Phillips: Guess Raiders forgot to pack their run game after all

Then, on Miami’s series, Tagovailoa was ruled to have fumbled before going down on a scramble. Marcus Epps recovered on the Miami 31, but the play only cost the Dolphins three points.

Later in the half, rookie tight end Julien Hill, pressed into duty with Durham Smythe out injured, fumbled following a reception. Divine Deablo recovered on the Miami 32, setting up a 47-yard field goal to pull Las Vegas within 14-13 at halftime.

The Dolphins’ fortunes were no better to start the second half, when Tagovailoa tried to hit Waddle deep. His poor throw was easily intercepted by Isaiah Pola-Mao.

Jason Sanders has hits and misses from distance

Dolphins kicker Jason Sanders was wide left on a try from 50 yards, leaving him 4 of 14 from 50 yards or more over the past three seasons. But: McDaniel made an interesting (and out-of-character) call late in the third quarter, sending out Sanders to try a 51-yarder on fourth-and-1. The decision drew boos from the crowd, but this time, Sanders hit from the distance.

Elsewhere on special teams, the Raiders' A.J. Cole, the best punter in the NFL, certainly is a weapon. His 61-yard punt late in the first half flipped the field and indirectly led to a 47-yard field goal. He also had a 51-yarder that forced Cedrick Wilson into a fair catch on his own 15-yard line.

Not to be outdone, with the Dolphins trying to protect a 20-13 lead in the fourth quarter, Jake Bailey nailed a 65-yard punt that DeAndre Carter curiously fielded on his own 2, returning it only to the 13.

Were you questioning sideline reports?

When CBS sideline reporter Michelle Collins was giving constant updates concerning injuries to Achane and Hill, did you wonder if she was stating fact or simply assuming what was happening under the blue tent or in the locker room? If so, you now know why so many journalists were quick to show their disdain this week toward admissions by sideline reporter Charissa Thompson that she fabricated reports in the past.

Thompson, currently a Fox Sports and Amazon Prime Video “Thursday Night Football” host, admitted in her younger days, whenever she didn’t get the info she needed from coaches as a Fox sideline reporter, she’d just make stuff up. She didn’t see any harm because the things she made up were what she assumed coaches would say.

Since she didn’t see any harm this admission would make to her reputation, she obviously lacked the ethics to know the impact it would have on peers reporting from the sideline.

One only needs to look at social media this weekend to see endless jokes of obvious fabrication, all “attributed” to Thompson.

There’s plenty of damage done here, although little appears to be to Thompson, who remains at her on-air jobs.

This and that …

Kevin Harlan called the game for CBS. The Dolphins are 7-1 over the past eight games he has called for Miami. … Did McDaniel get too fancy on one trip to the red zone. He went for it on fourth-and-1 from the Las Vegas 3, Tagovailoa tried to hit Hill, who was immediately hit by Pola-Mao for a loss of 4 yards. ... The Dolphins’ next home game isn’t until Dec. 11 vs. Tennessee.

Dolphins reporter Hal Habib can be reached at hhabib@pbpost.com. Follow him on social media @gunnerhal.

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Instant takeaways as Tua Tagovailoa,Miami Dolphins beat Raiders 20-13