Miami Dolphins are taking their talent to the NFL Playoffs.
Dolphins clinched a playoff berth with a signature win.
Jason Sanders kicked his fifth field goal of the day, a 29-yarder, as time expired, and the Dolphins secured a playoff berth with a 22-20 victory over the Dallas Cowboys.
“It was awesome,” Sanders said. “I felt like I’ve been waiting for that moment since the Jets game last year. It feels good to come on a big game like this against a good opponent.”
Sanders became the first Miami player with three 50-yard field goals or more in a game.
Tua Tagovailoa threw for 293 yards and a touchdown for the AFC East-leading Dolphins (11-4), who beat a team with a winning record for the first time this season.
“If we were to listen to any of the narratives, I don’t think we would be in the position we are in,” Tagovailoa said. “I’m very proud of this team. Very proud of those guys in that locker room continuing to fight for one another, press forward, and manage the outside noise.”
Miami has the NFL’s top passing and scoring offense, a top-five rushing attack, and an ascending defense. However, all the Dolphins’ wins entering Week 16 came against teams that were .500 or worse.
The last time Miami made the playoffs in back-to-back years was from 1997-2002 when the Dolphins went to the playoffs five years in a row.
This will mark Miami’s 25th playoff berth in franchise history.
Head Coach Mike McDaniel is the third head coach in team history to lead Miami to the postseason in his first two seasons, joining Don Shula (1970-71) and Dave Wannstedt (2000-01).
“It means we won our 11th game. It means that the team isn’t crazy for feeling the way they feel. I think, specifically since I’ve been in the National Football League,” McDaniel said. “I think the experience for players has changed with the advent and heavy push of social media. I think it’s tough to ignore the noise, so to speak, or not hear it.”
This is the first time in team history Miami has a 4,000-yard passer (QB Tua Tagovailoa), a 1,000-yard rusher (RB Raheem Mostert), and two 1,000-yard receivers (WR Tyreek Hill and WR Jaylen Waddle) in the same season.
Dak Prescott went 20 of 32 for 253 yards and two touchdowns for the Cowboys (10-5), who have already clinched a playoff spot but fell a half-game behind Philadelphia in the NFC East.
“This is completely on everybody, one that sucks, but definitely took a step, I guess you can say, from last week’s game, getting some points, playing a hell of a team here on the road,” Prescott said. “We’ll have to build off it. We’ll have to use the good, make sure we get better from the things that weren’t up to standard, but use the good and plan to go on the road.”
The Cowboys committed the one turnover of the game, a fumble on their opening drive in scoring position at the Dolphin’s two-yard line.
The beat goes on for both teams. Dolphins visit the Baltimore Ravens in a battle for the number overall seed. The Cowboys host the Detroit Lions. Dallas has lost two in a row.
After this Dolphins win, the quarterback and head coach are on the same page. Those two have Tagovailoa and McDaniel have tremendous respect for one another, leading to their success. At this point of this season, this win versus the Cowboys seals a winning attitude these two will build on. Miami does not have an egotistical head coach or quarterback, and it works.
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