Tua Tagovailoa secures NFL achievement no Dolphins quarterback has since Dan Marino
MIAMI GARDENS — Tua Tagovailoa stands alone atop the NFL in passing yards and alongside Hall of Famer Dan Marino in the franchise record book.
Tagovailoa secured the most NFL passing yards for the 2023 regular season with a five-yard pass to De'Von Achane on the Dolphins' first offensive play of the third quarter in Sunday night's contest against the Buffalo Bills.
He will be the first Dolphins quarterback to finish as the league leader in passing yards since Dan Marino led the NFL with 4,116 passing yards in 1992.
Tagovailoa needed just 125 passing yards entering the game to surpass Detroit quarterback Jared Goff, who closed the year with 4,575 passing yards after the Lions over Minnesota earlier Sunday.
He came within a yard of the achievement on a 3-yard touchdown pass to Tyreek Hill inside the final two minutes of the first half. Miami led Buffalo 14-7 at halftime in a game that will decide the AFC East.
Playoff schedule revealed: When and where will Miami play in the NFL Playoffs?
Marino and Tagovailoa are the only Dolphins quarterbacks to lead the league in passing yards in an NFL regular season.
Marino claimed the achievement five times (1984-86, 1988 and 1992), tied for the second-most ever. He is tied with Sonny Jurgenson and trails only Drew Brees (7).
Earlier in the game, wide receiver Tyreek Hill overtook Dallas Cowboys wide receiver CeeDee Lamb (1,749 yards) to finish the 2023 regular season as the NFL's leading receiver.
Hill is the only player in Miami Dolphins franchise history to lead the NFL in receiving yards over a regular season.
Recent: Tua Tagovailoa has given Dolphins answers they needed and earned new contract
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
Eric J. Wallace is deputy sports editor for The Palm Beach Post. He can be reached at ejwallace@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Tua Tagovailoa secures NFL top passer for 2023, first Dolphins QB since Dan Marino
