Defense was an option in the first half between the Miami Dolphins and the Chicago Bears as the visiting Dolphins took a 21-17 lead into halftime. A week after the Bears allowed the Dallas Cowboys to find the end zone on each of their first four drives, the Dolphins allowed a touchdown on each of their first two possessions.

Miami quarterback Tua Tagovailoa completed each of his first 9 passes and went 11 for 13 for 162 yards and threw a three-yard score to NFL receiving yards leader Tyreek Hill. Hill set up the Dolphins’ first touchdown, setting up a defensive pass interference call in the end zone. Running back Raheem Mostert made a big play up the middle and scored on the next play.

Not to be outdone, Justin Fields showed little trouble against opposing defenses, totaling 94 passing yards, two passing touchdowns (over 15 yards each) and a game-high 53 rushing yards. The Bears have done a good job designing plays to allow the field to move outside the pocket to set up favorable plays for the second-year passer.

The difference in the first half came when the Dolphins defense was the first to hit the opposing offense. Instead of the Bears’ punt cutting through the windy Chicago air, Miami linebacker Jaylan Phillips was able to block it, and linebacker Andrew Van Ginkel ran the football in for a 25-yard touchdown. It was the Dolphins’ first game since Week 12 last season against the Carolina Panthers. The Dolphins also had their own misfiring team. Kicker Jason Sanders missed a 29-yard field goal to end the half, short of his five-year career when the wind caught the kick and pushed it to the left.

This Week 9 showdown between Tua Tagovailoa and Justin Fields looks to be turning into a fireworks show, so stay tuned to the live blog below for real-time updates and analysis from the second half!