MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. -- America, meet Xavien Howard: star lockdown cornerback.

Howard brought his handcuffs to Hard Rock Stadium and applied them directly to Amari Cooper and the rest of the Raiders’ receivers.

The Miami Dolphins are 3-0 for the first time since 2013, and they continue to lead the AFC East. Howard was the defining factor between a win and a loss.

Howard, who began the season as one of Miami’s budding stars, no longer needs ‘budding’ as a prefix anymore. He had two interceptions, including the game-changer in the end zone on a fade ball to Martavis Bryant that could have given the Raiders a fourth quarter lead, and one more pass breakup.

“I just have to make them pay for coming at me,” Howard said.

The man known as ‘X’ has been well-known among local fans, but he deserves national recognition. He bursted on the scene after back-to-back two interceptions games in 2017, the latter against Tom Brady and the Patriots.

“He’s one of the best cornerbacks in the league," fellow corner Bobby McCain said. "We been telling people that. We been telling people that for a year. Now they know. He locked down Amari. The league knows now.”

There’s something about this Dolphins team, and it may be too much for the world to ignore at this game. Just like Howard.

They don’t appear to be the same old Dolphins. This is a team that fights through adversity and after an ugly first three quarters, found a fourth quarter surge to lead their team to a comeback victory.

They overcame losing defensive lineman William Hayes (knee), defensive lineman Andre Branch (knee) and tight end A.J. Derby (foot) to injury. Miami was already down starting safety Reshad Jones to start the game. Akeem Spence was ejected in the second quarter.

Ryan Tannehill has been everything the Dolphins wanted and more. He went 17-of-23 for 289 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions.

This is starting to look like the 2016 Dolphins team that made the playoffs, as Tannehill alluded to earlier this week.

“This team has grit. I think that team had grit too,” Tannehill said. “We found a way to win games at the end in 2016 and it seems like we’re turning into that team here as well."

But for at least one day, this should be Howard and the defense’s day. They kept holding on tight, despite being gassed. Timely red zone stops, including a fourth-down stop on goal-line by Davon Godchaux, kept the game alive for the offensive surge. And in the end with the Raiders driving for the go-ahead touchdown, Howard played receiver Martavis Bryant perfectly, found a way to get two feet down and made the game-saving interception.

“That was a game changer,” Howard said. “That meant everything. I think we took the soul out of them when I caught that interception. Our offense got on the field and attacked and scored. That’s what it was all about.”

Howard has three in his first three games so far this season.

“He looks like the guy we have been seeing since training camp, so I think he’s just trying to figure out a way to get better every day. He’s done it,” coach Adam Gase said. “He’s practiced well and we’re starting to see that translate to the game.”

So yeah, Howard has earned his respect. The Dolphins may have, too.