Trailing 26-23 with 52 seconds left in regulation, Miami needed a late score to either tie or take the lead against the New York Jets on Sunday afternoon at Hard Rock Stadium.
Wide receiver Malik Washington jumpstarted the pivotal drive with a 45-yard kick return to give Miami possession at their own 45-yard line. Quarterback Tua Tagovailoa connected with wide receiver Jaylen Waddle and Tyreek Hill for gains of six and 14 yards to set up a 52-yard field goal by Jason Sanders, his fourth of the afternoon, to send the game into overtime.
On the lone overtime possession, the Dolphins went on an eight-play, 70-yard drive which was capped by a 10-yard touchdown pass to tight end Jonnu Smith, sealing Miami’s thrilling 32-26 victory.
This was Miami’s first overtime victory since they defeated Cincinnati, 38-35, in Week 16 of the 2019 season.
Quarterback Tua Tagovailoa completed 33-of-47 passes (70.2 pct.) for 331 yards and two touchdowns. This is the first time in his career that he has thrown for 300-plus yards in three straight contests.
Wide receiver Tyreek Hill caught a team-high 10 passes for 115 yards (11.5 avg.) and a crucial fourth-down touchdown in the fourth quarter that gave the Dolphins a chance to make it a tie game. Wide receiver Jaylen Waddle, who hauled in the two-point conversion that followed Hill’s score, totaled a season-high nine catches for 99 yards (11.0 avg.).
Running back De’Von Achane had six catches for 45 yards (7.5 avg.) to go along with his 24 rushing yards. Tight end Jonnu Smith added 44 yards and the game-clinching score on three receptions (14.7 avg.), all of which came in overtime.
The Dolphins’ passing offense was hot from the jump. Completions of 20 yards to Waddle, 11 yards to Tyreek Hill and 14 yards to Achane created a red zone opportunity for Miami. The second-year back finished off the drive with a two-yard touchdown run, giving Miami a 6-0 lead with 10:24 left in the first. This was Achane’s fourth consecutive game with a score and 10th score of the season.
Miami and New York exchanged field goals, giving the Dolphins a 9-3 lead with 14:53 remaining in the second quarter.
On New York’s next possession, an explosive 35-yard pass from quarterback Aaron Rodgers to wide receiver Garrett Wilson and a 17-yard touchdown run by running back Isaiah Davis highlighted the six-play, 70-yard scoring drive that took up 2:57 of game time.
Miami answered with a seven-minute drive – their longest of the game. Tagovailoa’s 14-yard connection to tight end Julian Hill kicked off a 12-play, 65-yard drive that ended on a 24-yard field goal by Sanders.
Following another Carlson field goal, Sanders came up clutch for the Dolphins in the final moments of the first half. Starting at their own 30-yard line with 41 seconds left, Tagovailoa engineered a five-play, 31-yard drive that ended with a 57-yard field goal by Sanders, tying his career long, to give the Dolphins a 15-13 lead at halftime.
Coming out of the half, New York’s aerial attack was in full force. Rodgers found Wilson downfield for a gain of 42 yards to put the Jets in Dolphins territory. A three-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Davante Adams gave the Jets a 20-15 advantage with 11:20 to go in the third quarter.
The Jets extended their lead on their next drive, as Carlson nailed a 40-yard field goal to put them up 23-15 headed into the fourth quarter.
Miami’s first drive of the fourth quarter was a nine-play, 60-yard drive that ended with Hill’s four-yard touchdown reception and Waddle’s two-point conversion catch to make it a tie game, 23-23, with 9:04 left to play.
After punts from both teams, the Jets took the lead once more after Carlson drilled a 42-yard field goal to cap off an 11-play, 63-yard drive. With less than a minute remaining, the Dolphins offense orchestrated a methodical drive that sent the game into overtime with Sanders’ 52-yard field goal.
Miami sacked Rodgers three times on the day, with defensive tackle Zach Sieler coming away with two of these takedowns. Linebacker Jordyn Brooks recorded a team-high nine tackles to go along with his sack and pass deflection.
Miami has won four out of their last five games and will travel to Houston to take on the Texans (8-5) on Sunday, Dec. 15 at 1 p.m. on CBS.
