New Orleans Saints vs Miami Dolphins Match Player Stats and Full Breakdown

Individual performances defined the recent encounters between the New Orleans Saints and the Miami Dolphins, particularly the hard-fought contest that took place toward the end of the 2025 regular season. When analyzing the box score from their 21-17 matchup at Hard Rock Stadium, the contrast in offensive philosophies and defensive execution provides a clear picture of why the game unfolded the way it did. This statistical deep dive covers the pivotal player metrics, historical comparisons from previous meetings, and the tactical implications of these numbers.

2025 Matchup: Primary offensive statistics

The November 30, 2025, game saw the Miami Dolphins secure a narrow 21-17 victory, a result largely dictated by a dominant ground game and a opportunistic defense. The player stats from this specific match highlight a shifting dynamic in both franchises' rosters.

Quarterback performance metrics

In the pocket, both teams saw their signal-callers manage the game with varying degrees of success under pressure.

• Tyler Shough (Saints): Tasked with navigating a swarming Dolphins pass rush, Shough finished the game completing 26 of 38 passes for 239 yards. He threw two touchdowns and avoided any interceptions, though he was sacked four times. His 68.4% completion rate suggested an efficient short-to-intermediate game, particularly when targeting the middle of the field.
• Tua Tagovailoa (Dolphins): The Dolphins’ aerial attack was more restricted in this contest. Tagovailoa completed 12 of 23 attempts for 157 yards. He did not record a passing touchdown and threw one interception. His average of 6.8 yards per attempt reflected a conservative approach, as the Dolphins leaned heavily on the run to protect their lead.

Rushing leaders and efficiency

The disparity in rushing production was perhaps the most significant statistical factor in the final score. Miami’s ability to control the clock and move the chains on the ground countered the Saints' more pass-heavy second-half approach.

• De’Von Achane (Dolphins): Achane was the standout performer of the match. He recorded 22 carries for 134 rushing yards and one touchdown. This performance was a milestone, as it propelled him over the 1,000-yard mark for the season. His 6.1 yards per carry average showcased his explosive playmaking ability, particularly on a 29-yard touchdown run in the first quarter.
• Alvin Kamara (Saints): The veteran presence of Kamara was felt more in the passing game than on the ground in this specific outing. While the Dolphins’ front seven limited the Saints' rushing lanes, Kamara remained a focal point of the offensive scheme, though his yardage totals were uncharacteristically subdued compared to his career peaks against AFC opponents.
• Jaylen Wright (Dolphins): Providing relief for Achane, Wright added valuable yardage with several 8-yard gains early in the game, helping Miami establish a physical presence from the opening kickoff.

Receiving and yardage distribution

The receiving stats reveal how each team utilized their primary weapons to exploit specific defensive coverages.

• Devaughn Vele (Saints): Vele emerged as the most productive receiver in terms of volume, hauling in 8 receptions for 93 yards and a touchdown. His ability to find soft spots in Miami’s zone coverage made him Shough's most reliable target.
• Chris Olave (Saints): Olave remained a vertical threat, catching a 17-yard touchdown pass in the third quarter that sparked the Saints' comeback attempt. He finished with a significant share of the team's air yards.
• Jaylen Waddle (Dolphins): Despite the low passing volume, Waddle was efficient, recording three catches for 40 yards, including a critical 22-yard reception in the fourth quarter that helped set up a field goal.
• Darren Waller (Dolphins): In his return from injury, Waller provided a safety valve for Tagovailoa, contributing 47 receiving yards and proving effective in third-down situations.

Defensive impact and turnover statistics

The New Orleans Saints vs Miami Dolphins match player stats are incomplete without examining the defensive contributions, which ultimately sealed the game for Miami.

Tackles, Sacks, and Interceptions

• Minkah Fitzpatrick (Dolphins): Fitzpatrick delivered one of the most statistically diverse performances of the 2025 season. He recorded seven tackles, a forced fumble, and his first career sack on a strip-sack of Tyler Shough. Most notably, he returned a two-point conversion attempt for a defensive score (a "pick-two"), providing the final 4-point margin of victory.
• Jordyn Brooks (Dolphins): Leading all defenders, Brooks tallied 12 total tackles (six solo), consistently stopping the Saints' underneath routes and limiting gains in the flat.
• Chop Robinson (Dolphins): Robinson accounted for 1.5 sacks and three quarterback hits, highlighting the pressure the Saints' offensive line struggled to contain.
• Rasul Douglas (Dolphins): Douglas recorded a crucial interception in the second quarter, which he returned 38 yards, directly leading to a field goal.
• Cameron Jordan (Saints): On the New Orleans side, Jordan continued to climb the all-time leaderboards, recording two sacks in the game and reaching 127 career sacks. His performance showed that despite the team's struggles, the defensive front remained capable of disruptive plays.

Special Teams and Kicking

In a game decided by four points, kicking accuracy was paramount.

• Riley Patterson (Dolphins): Patterson was perfect on the day, converted field goals from 39, 25, 48, and 33 yards. His 12 points from kicking were essential in a game where the Dolphins' offense struggled to find the end zone in the second half.
• Charlie Smyth (Saints): Smyth showcased his leg strength by hitting a 56-yard field goal in the fourth quarter, keeping New Orleans within striking distance until the final minute.

Historical context: 2021 and 2017 statistical comparisons

To understand the evolution of the New Orleans Saints vs Miami Dolphins player stats, it is useful to look back at the previous two meetings. These games occurred during different transitional periods for both franchises.

2021: Defensive dominance in New Orleans

The December 27, 2021, matchup was a defensive struggle that saw Miami win 20-3. The stats from this game reflected the Saints' significant roster challenges at the time.

• Ian Book (Saints): Making a start under difficult circumstances, Book completed 12 of 20 passes for 135 yards but suffered two interceptions. The Saints' offense was held to just 164 total net yards.
• Jaylen Waddle (Dolphins): Even as a rookie, Waddle was a statistical powerhouse, recording 10 receptions for 92 yards and a touchdown.
• Tua Tagovailoa (Dolphins): In this earlier meeting, Tagovailoa was efficient, completing 19 of 26 passes for 198 yards.

2017: The Saints' shutout in London

Contrastingly, the October 1, 2017, game in London saw the Saints dominate with a 20-0 victory. The stats from this era highlight the Drew Brees-led offense at its height.

• Drew Brees (Saints): Brees completed 29 of 41 passes for 268 yards and two touchdowns. His ability to distribute the ball to eight different receivers was a hallmark of that season.
• Michael Thomas (Saints): Thomas caught 8 passes for 89 yards and a touchdown, illustrating his role as one of the league's premier possession receivers.
• Jay Cutler (Dolphins): Miami’s offense struggled significantly, with Cutler throwing for only 164 yards and one interception. The Dolphins were held to 186 total yards, failing to cross the goal line the entire game.

Team-wide statistical breakdown (2025)

Comparing the collective output of both teams in their most recent encounter provides a macro-view of the game’s flow.

The symmetry in total yards (294 vs 298) and time of possession suggests a game that was evenly matched on paper, but the Dolphins' superior rushing average (5.1 yards per carry vs the Saints' 3.0) allowed them to dictate the tempo during the crucial first half.

Tactical analysis of the player statistics

The player stats from the Saints vs Dolphins matchups suggest several trends that have defined these teams in the mid-2020s.

Miami’s heavy reliance on the ground game

The 164 rushing yards produced by the Dolphins in 2025, led by De’Von Achane, highlight a deliberate shift in Mike McDaniel’s offensive scheme. When Tagovailoa’s passing numbers dip—as seen with the 157-yard performance—the ground game acts as the primary engine. The stats show that when Miami achieves a rushing average above 5.0 yards per carry, their win probability increases significantly, even if the passing game is stymied by interceptions or sacks.

The Saints' red zone efficiency challenges

Despite Tyler Shough’s 239 passing yards and a high completion percentage, the Saints struggled to convert yardage into points during the first half of the 2025 game. The stats indicate that while they can move the ball between the twenties, finishing drives remains an area for adjustment. The reliance on a 56-yard field goal and a late-game touchdown pass suggests that the offensive rhythm is often found too late to overcome early-game deficits.

Defensive playmaking as a stabilizer

For both teams, defensive player stats often overshadow offensive output. Cameron Jordan’s two-sack performance and Minkah Fitzpatrick’s multi-category stat line (tackles, sack, forced fumble, pick-two) demonstrate that these rosters are built to stay competitive through defensive disruption. In the 2025 match, the Dolphins' four sacks and two takeaways were the definitive counter to the Saints' passing volume.

Looking ahead to future statistical trends

As the league moves further into 2026, the data gathered from the Saints vs Dolphins matchups suggests a few things for future encounters. The development of young receivers like Devaughn Vele for New Orleans provides a new statistical ceiling for their passing game. Conversely, the Dolphins' ability to integrate high-efficiency rushing with a ball-hawking secondary remains their statistical identity.

Monitoring the player stats in these games reveals more than just who won or lost; it shows the mechanical efficiency of two different approaches to winning in the modern era. Whether it was the shutout by Brees in 2017 or the ground-and-pound victory by Achane in 2025, the numbers tell a story of constant adaptation.

For those analyzing the box scores, the key metrics to watch in future meetings will likely involve rushing yards per attempt for Miami and red zone conversion percentages for New Orleans. These figures have historically been the most accurate predictors of success in this intermittent rivalry.