Miami Dolphins, who were 1-4 to start season, now on verge of a playoff berth
The Miami Dolphins’ unbelievable season marches on.
The Dolphins looked dead when they started 1-4. They were in trouble on Saturday when the Buffalo Bills rallied to take a late lead in regulation. And somehow the Dolphins won 34-31 in overtime, and inched closer to a playoff berth.
Andrew Franks hit a career-long 55-yard field goal at the end of regulation to send the game to overtime. Bills kicker Dan Carpenter missed a field goal in overtime, and then when it looked like the game was headed toward a tie, Miami running back Jay Ajayi broke free for a 57-yard run deep into Bills territory. That set up Franks’ 27-yard field goal with 47 seconds left in overtime for the dramatic win.
Ajayi, who had back-to-back 200-yard games earlier this season, rushed for 206 in Saturday’s win.
The Dolphins, who lost four of their first five games, are 10-5. Miami will clinch a playoff berth with a Denver Broncos loss on Sunday night.
Miami was in control of Saturday’s game early on. They led by 14 points three different times. But the Bills battled back and took a late lead on a fourth-down touchdown pass from Tyrod Taylor to Charles Clay. The Dolphins drove back downfield before the end of regulation, and rushed the field-goal team on for a long field goal as the clock ran. Franks hit it low, but the line drive went through and the Dolphins sent it to overtime.
The Dolphins, with rookie head coach Adam Gase, have won nine of 10 games. They’ve won the last two without quarterback Ryan Tannehill, who is out with a knee injury. Backup Matt Moore has led the Dolphins to two wins. It looks like the Dolphins’ magical streak will end up landing them in the postseason.
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Frank Schwab is the editor of Shutdown Corner on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at shutdown.corner@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter!
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