The Miami Dolphins’ season was circling the drain Sunday when the defense couldn’t find a stop and the New York Jets entered the fourth quarter with an eight-point lead. But the Dolphins did just enough to force overtime and got the job done with an eight-play, 70-yard drive punctuated by a 10-yard touchdown pass from Tua Tagovailoa to Jonnu Smith.
New York racked up a season-high 402 yards in the game and didn’t punt at all until the start of the fourth quarter. When the Dolphins defense finally got its first stop at the beginning of the fourth quarter, Tagovailoa took advantage and led the Dolphins on a nine-play, 60-yard touchdown drive. With a 4-yard touchdown pass to Tyreek Hill on a fourth down followed by a two-point conversion to Jaylen Waddle, the Dolphins tied the game with about nine minutes left.
After the Dolphins’ next offensive possession fizzled near midfield, the Jets drove into field goal range and Anders Carlson put the team in front with a 42-yard field goal in the final minute of the game.
But Malik Washington put the Dolphins in a great spot to answer with a 45-yard kickoff return. A 14-yard pass from Tagovailoa to Hill and a 6-yarder to Waddle set up Jason Sanders for a 52-yard field goal that he nailed to force overtime.
Then the Dolphins finally leaned on their veteran tight end. Smith had zero receptions in regulation, but racked up 44 yards on three overtime receptions, including the game-winner.
Here’s how Miami’s dramatic win in Week 14 went down:
Dolphins MVP of the game: QB Tua Tagovailoa
(Photo by Megan Briggs/Getty Images)
The Dolphins offense sputtered at times, but Tagovailoa was stellar throughout. He racked up 331 passing yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions. Most importantly, he showed up in the clutch moments. His touchdown pass to Tyreek Hill came on a fourth down, Tagovailoa led the Dolphins into field goal range at the end of the regulation, and he called game in overtime with his touchdown pass to Smith.
Jets MVP of the game: WR Garrett Wilson
Garrett being Garrett!!!#NYJvsMIA on CBS & @paramountplus pic.twitter.com/fJYJRBztYx
— New York Jets (@nyjets) December 8, 2024
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Wilson spent most of his day lined up across from a seven-time Pro Bowler, but that was no problem for the third-year receiver. The Jets receiver racked up 114 receiving yards, often at the expense of Jalen Ramsey. Wilson’s biggest play of the game, a 42-yard grab down the right sideline, could’ve been an easy touchdown, but he was forced to get two feet in on a throw that was leading him out of bounds.
Dolphins play of the game: Jonnu Smith’s game-winner
The game-winner
: #NYJvsMIA on @NFLonCBS & @paramountplus pic.twitter.com/p3XezuWxIO
— Miami Dolphins (@MiamiDolphins) December 8, 2024
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There were a few highlights that swung momentum, but could the play of the game be anything else? On an afternoon that was shockingly quiet for the tight end, Smith exploded in overtime with 20- and 14-yard receptions to start the drive and a 10-yard touchdown to finish it.
Stat that says it all: 0:00 of possession in overtime for Jets
(Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images)
The Dolphins won the coin toss and drove into field goal range in overtime Sunday. But rather than settle for three and hope for a stop, the offense got the job done and made sure Aaron Rodgers never saw the ball again. The killer instinct from the Dolphins was huge and kept their playoff hopes — no matter how slim they are — alive for at least one more week.
What’s next?
Thomas Shea-USA TODAY Sports
The Dolphins will look to keep their postseason hopes alive again when they travel to play the Houston Texans at NRG Stadium. The 8-5 Texans spent Week 14 on bye after beating the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 13.
The Miami Dolphins’ season was circling the drain Sunday when the defense couldn’t find a stop and the New York Jets entered the fourth quarter with an eight-point lead. But the Dolphins did just enough to force overtime and got the job done with an eight-play, 70-yard drive punctuated by a 10-yard touchdown pass from Tua Tagovailoa to Jonnu Smith.
New York racked up a season-high 402 yards in the game and didn’t punt at all until the start of the fourth quarter. When the Dolphins defense finally got its first stop at the beginning of the fourth quarter, Tagovailoa took advantage and led the Dolphins on a nine-play, 60-yard touchdown drive. With a 4-yard touchdown pass to Tyreek Hill on a fourth down followed by a two-point conversion to Jaylen Waddle, the Dolphins tied the game with about nine minutes left.
After the Dolphins’ next offensive possession fizzled near midfield, the Jets drove into field goal range and Anders Carlson put the team in front with a 42-yard field goal in the final minute of the game.
But Malik Washington put the Dolphins in a great spot to answer with a 45-yard kickoff return. A 14-yard pass from Tagovailoa to Hill and a 6-yarder to Waddle set up Jason Sanders for a 52-yard field goal that he nailed to force overtime.
Then the Dolphins finally leaned on their veteran tight end. Smith had zero receptions in regulation, but racked up 44 yards on three overtime receptions, including the game-winner.
Here’s how Miami’s dramatic win in Week 14 went down:
Dolphins MVP of the game: QB Tua Tagovailoa
(Photo by Megan Briggs/Getty Images)
The Dolphins offense sputtered at times, but Tagovailoa was stellar throughout. He racked up 331 passing yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions. Most importantly, he showed up in the clutch moments. His touchdown pass to Tyreek Hill came on a fourth down, Tagovailoa led the Dolphins into field goal range at the end of the regulation, and he called game in overtime with his touchdown pass to Smith.
Jets MVP of the game: WR Garrett Wilson
Garrett being Garrett!!!#NYJvsMIA on CBS & @paramountplus pic.twitter.com/fJYJRBztYx
— New York Jets (@nyjets) December 8, 2024
https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js
Wilson spent most of his day lined up across from a seven-time Pro Bowler, but that was no problem for the third-year receiver. The Jets receiver racked up 114 receiving yards, often at the expense of Jalen Ramsey. Wilson’s biggest play of the game, a 42-yard grab down the right sideline, could’ve been an easy touchdown, but he was forced to get two feet in on a throw that was leading him out of bounds.
Dolphins play of the game: Jonnu Smith’s game-winner
The game-winner
: #NYJvsMIA on @NFLonCBS & @paramountplus pic.twitter.com/p3XezuWxIO
— Miami Dolphins (@MiamiDolphins) December 8, 2024
https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js
There were a few highlights that swung momentum, but could the play of the game be anything else? On an afternoon that was shockingly quiet for the tight end, Smith exploded in overtime with 20- and 14-yard receptions to start the drive and a 10-yard touchdown to finish it.
Stat that says it all: 0:00 of possession in overtime for Jets
(Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images)
The Dolphins won the coin toss and drove into field goal range in overtime Sunday. But rather than settle for three and hope for a stop, the offense got the job done and made sure Aaron Rodgers never saw the ball again. The killer instinct from the Dolphins was huge and kept their playoff hopes — no matter how slim they are — alive for at least one more week.
What’s next?
Thomas Shea-USA TODAY Sports
The Dolphins will look to keep their postseason hopes alive again when they travel to play the Houston Texans at NRG Stadium. The 8-5 Texans spent Week 14 on bye after beating the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 13.