Dolphins secure playoff berth with last-second FG vs. Cowboys،
MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. – Jason Sanders remembers his first game-winning kick, a 53-yarder to beat Tulsa during his senior season at New Mexico in 2017.
His final kick on Sunday was a little easier.
The Miami Dolphins kicker kicked a 29-yard field goal as time expired to seal a 22-20 victory over the Dallas Cowboys, clinching a playoff spot for the second straight season. Sanders also kicked a 50-yard field goal to beat the 2022 New York Jets and clinch Miami's first playoff berth since 2016.
Despite connecting on just 6 of his previous 16 kicks of at least 50 yards, Sanders connected on attempts of 57, 54 and 52 yards in a perfect 5-of-5 performance.
“Every year can't be an all-pro year, so I think I just keep kicking,” said Sanders, who has made 22 of 26 field goal attempts this season. “I'm still where I need to be – a few blocks here and there; I don't think there's anything to worry about.”
The win was the Dolphins' first of the season against a team with a winning record – a narrative that had permeated the Dolphins locker room to some extent. Head coach Mike McDaniel has consistently acknowledged any concerns about his team's record against winning opponents while challenging his players to change it.
The second-year coach said he was proud of how his team responded to the criticism surrounding it.
“With the advent and big push of social media, I think it's really hard to ignore the noise, so to speak, or not hear it,” he said. “I think you're going to hear it…I thought it was a big win for this team, because it's always big when you do something that you know internally that you're capable of, and when that comes to fruition, it's quite satisfactory.”
Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa threw for 293 yards and a touchdown, but the Dolphins largely struggled to pull away despite leading for most of the second half.
His touchdown pass to Raheem Mostert late in the second quarter was their only touchdown of the night. The two teams traded field goals in the third quarter before Dallas scored 10 unanswered points to take a 20-19 lead with just over three minutes left.
Tagovailoa then led a 12-play, 64-yard drive to set up Sanders' game-winning field goal, completing 4 of 5 passes for 31 yards on the final drive. After kneeling down with 16 seconds remaining, Tagovailoa said he didn't even see Sanders' kick go through the uprights.
But he knew it was right.
“I don't think I watched Jason kick. I think I entered the field with my hands up,” he said. “I didn't even watch it. But when we took that last knee, it was really cool. I just think about the amount of work it takes to play a game week in and week out, to prepare for a very good match, team on Sunday.
“Every team is good. So to do this and get a win, a hard-earned win, it's worth it.”
With two weeks left in the regular season, the Dolphins are a half-game behind the Baltimore Ravens for the AFC's top seed. Miami can claim first place in the conference if it beats the Ravens and Buffalo Bills in its final two games.
The Dolphins' two-game lead over the Bills in the AFC East is more widespread; they can clinch their first division championship since 2008 with a victory next week against Baltimore.
While Miami is relieved to end its losing streak against winning teams, linebacker Bradley Chubb repeatedly asked, “Who can't?” as he returned to the locker room after the match, winning the division remains his biggest goal for now.
It's cool, man, it's cool, but we're not done. We're not even close to being where we want to be,” Chubb said. “There are a lot of games that we left out and championship teams don't leave those games out – it's finally good to get over that narrative hump and change the narrative to be what we want it to be, and how we I want to approach everything. It was just awesome to see this team come together, not worry about the underdogs, the naysayers and just do what we do and prepare like we're a championship team every week.
“I got emotional with the 'who can't' because at the end of the day we put our heart and soul into it and for someone to tell us we can't do it, we're going to want to go for it .there and prove them wrong every time.
