Tua Tagovailoa Led the Dolphins to a Come-From-Behind Victory in Overtime
In a thrilling come-from-behind win, the Miami Dolphins kept their playoff hopes alive with a 33-28 victory over the league. Quarterback Tua Tagovailoa completed 33 of 47 passes for 331 yards and two touchdowns, earning a 104.1 passer rating. He was supported by his wide receivers, including Jaylen Waddle, who recorded a season-high nine catches for 99 yards, and DeVante Parker, who caught a 10-yards pass from Tagovailoa in overtime.
Tagovailoa praised tight end Mike Smith, who had a crucial touchdown catch in overtime, for his perseverance and unwavering confidence. “Throughout the game, he never said anything. Not seeing the ball, that can be discouraging, but he never blinked and we gave him opportunities,” Tagovailoa said.
The win, which was sealed by a 52-yard field goal by Jason Sanders, moved the Dolphins to 6-7 and keeping their playoff hopes alive. They currently sit in the No. 9 seed, two games behind Denver for the final spot in the AFC. According to Next Gen Stats, the Dolphins’ playoff odds have been set at 15%.
“We know if we lose, it’s over. Our season is over,” said wide receiver Ja’marr Chase. “Fortunately, we’ve got a lot of great guys on this team who don’t want to end our season in January. … We just played ball, man, when it mattered the most. We executed. Guys lined up in the right spot, guys played fast, got guys playing for each other, and that’s what it’s all about.”