MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — Jason Sanders had waited all season for this second. On a Miami Dolphins staff that scores extra touchdowns than every other within the NFL, the previous All-Professional kicker hadn’t wanted to aim many area objectives.
Sanders entered Sunday’s matchup towards the Dallas Cowboys with simply 21 area purpose makes an attempt on the 12 months, however Miami wanted his booming proper leg in its largest recreation of the season, and he delivered.
Sanders kicked his fifth area purpose of the day, a 29-yarder as time expired, and the Dolphins secured a playoff berth with a 22-20 victory over the Cowboys.
“Not yearly might be an All-Professional 12 months,” stated Sanders, who’s 22 of 26 on area objectives and 5 of seven from 50-plus yards. “I feel I’m nonetheless hitting the kicks. I’m nonetheless proper the place I have to be.”
Tua Tagovailoa threw for 293 yards and a landing for the AFC East-leading Dolphins (11-4), who beat a staff with a profitable report for the primary time this season. He related with Tyreek Hill twice on the decisive drive, which coated 64 yards and took the ultimate 3:27 off the clock.
Hill, who leads the NFL in receiving yards, had 9 catches for 99 yards after lacking final week’s victory over the New York Jets with an ankle harm.
Miami has the NFL‘s high passing and scoring offense, in addition to a top-five speeding assault and an ascending protection. Nevertheless, all of the Dolphins‘ wins getting into Week 16 got here towards groups that have been .500 or worse.
“It’s at all times large if you do one thing that, internally, you realize that you simply’re able to,” Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel stated. “In relation to fruition, it’s fairly satisfying. … No person on this staff thought we have been going to lose that recreation, and that’s fairly cool when everybody tells you that you would be able to’t do X, Y or Z.”
Dak Prescott went 20 of 32 for 253 yards and two touchdowns for the Cowboys (10-5), who’ve already clinched a playoff spot however fell a half-game behind Philadelphia within the NFC East.
Prescott put Dallas in entrance 20-19 with an 8-yard landing cross to a leaping Brandin Cooks within the nook of the tip zone. However the Cowboys have been haunted by their red-zone struggles earlier within the recreation, together with a fumble by Prescott on first-and-goal from contained in the 1 on Dallas’ first possession.
“We’re not taking any ethical victories from this,” Prescott stated. “We are going to take some confidence. We’re dedicated to 1 one other and holding one another accountable in our purpose.”
Sanders’ first area purpose was a career-long 57-yarder within the first quarter. He added kicks of 52, 54 and 35 yards to assist the Dolphins take a 19-10 lead late within the third.
Dallas received again into the crimson zone early within the fourth quarter, however Miami’s protection held and the Cowboys settled for a area purpose to get inside 19-13.
Prescott’s dynamic playmaking stored Dallas in it. On the go-ahead drive, he accomplished a cross to Michael Gallup as Miami linebacker Duke Riley was pulling him to the bottom on the 21.
After Miami security DeShon Elliott was flagged for defensive holding in the long run zone on fourth-and-goal, Prescott received the ball to Cooks, who hauled within the ball over over All-Professional cornerback Jalen Ramsey.
CeeDee Lamb caught six passes for 118 yards for the Cowboys, together with a 49-yard rating within the first quarter.
Raheem Mostert scored his NFL-leading twenty first landing of the season on a seize from Tagovailoa simply earlier than halftime. The 31-year-old, who was undrafted out of Purdue in 2015 and bounced across the league earlier in his profession, had 46 yards speeding Sunday to place him over 1,000 yards for the primary time in his profession. He’s the Dolphins‘ first 1,000-yard rusher since Jay Ajayi in 2016.
Miami defensive coordinator Vic Fangio opted to not have Ramsey shadow Lamb, and it initially appeared just like the dynamic fourth-year receiver would make him pay for it. Lamb torched the remainder of Miami’s secondary early for 93 yards on 4 catches within the first quarter.
Prescott hit Lamb on a crossing route that went 22 yards on the Cowboys’ second possession. Just a few performs later, Lamb beat second-year cornerback Kader Kohou within the slot for a catch-and-run landing that put Dallas forward 7-3.
After giving up greater than 150 yards on Dallas’ first two drives, Miami’s protection settled in. Fangio dialed up extra pressures, and it labored. The Dolphins sacked Prescott 4 occasions, which gave them a franchise-best 50 on the season and compelled 4 straight Cowboys punts.
“It’s simply lastly good to recover from that hump of the narrative and altering the narrative to be what we wish it to be,” linebacker Bradley Chubb stated, “and it’s simply been dope to see this staff come collectively, not fear in regards to the outsiders, the naysayers and simply do what we do and put together like we’re a championship staff each week.”
INJURIES
Dolphins: WR Robbie Chosen left within the first quarter to be evaluated for a concussion and didn’t return. … WR Jaylen Waddle left briefly after being poked within the eye within the second quarter. He returned, however then limped off the sector after a sort out within the third quarter. He was dominated out with a shin harm.
UP NEXT
Cowboys: Host Detroit on Saturday evening.
