The Dolphins spotted the Vikings seven first quarter points to go along with another second quarter touchdown and trailed 0 - 14 three and a half minutes into the second quarter. Minnesota had seven rush attempts for 27 of 54 total yards, and walked into the end zone on their first possession. They went five and out on the next series, and on the Vikings third possession they scored their second touchdown on a short field of 23 yards with a twenty one yard Teddy Bridgewater to Greg Jennings touchdown pass. The short field was the result of a Tannehill pass that was intercepted upon being released from his fingertips, on the Dolphins third play of their third touch of the ball.
Miami's first 12 play 42 yard series field goal attempt fell short of the required 56 yards while their second possession stalled on 7 plays for 37 yards at the Vikings forty four yard line. With their fourth possession, Miami quarterback Ryan Tannehill went five of five for 56 yards as the Dolphins managed their lone first half seven points on a 92 yard drive in 12 plays that took 6:41 off the clock. The drive concluded on a Ryan Tannehill fourteen yard TOUCHDOWN PASS to tight end Dion Sims to draw within 7 - 14.
Cam Wake got the first sack of Bridgewater on the Vikings fourth series that went three and out. Miami's fifth touch of the ball went forty five yards on six plays, and concluded with a punt from the visitors forty six yard line. The Vikings drove 86 yards in ten plays on their fifth possession to kick a field goal, and increase the Minnesota lead to 7 - 17 as the first half ended.
Minnesota rookie quarterback Teddy Bridgewater was 7 of 11 for 113 yards with a touchdown pass and sack. The Vikings running game produced 67 rushing yards with a touchdown on 18 attempts. Ryan Tannehill completed 16 of 24 for 160 yards with a touchdown, interception, and sack. Miami's ground game accrued 63 yards on 11 carries.
The visitors opened the third quarter with a three and out of 9 yards. Miami followed with their quarterback completing 3 of 3 passes for 53 yards on a six play 80 yard drive. The Dolphin drive concluded with a Mike Wallace extraordinary reception, and effort to dive into the end zone for Ryan Tannehill's second TOUCHDOWN PASS of the day to pull within 14 - 17.
Bridgewater suffered his second Dolphin sack of the day via Dion Jordan on the Vikings initial play. Minnesota gathered three first downs on the 46 yard drive to the Miami thirty four. Upon the third first down play Dolphin line backer Derrick Shelby snatched an offensively deflected pass at the line of scrimmage for an interception and two yard return to that Miami 36 yard line.
With 3:36 remaining in the third quarter, Lamar Miller ran for fourteen to the fifty yard line. Tannehill followed that with a 17 yard completion to Dion Sims. After a 15 yard defensive penalty, a couple rushes for a yard each that surrounded a Charles Clay reception of eleven yards at the visitors one yard line, the third quarter ended.
The games fourth quarter included Five Touchdowns (three for Miami), a Vikings field goal, four extra points, a Minnesota two point conversion, and a Dolphins Special Teams blocked punt for a two point safety! With the fourth quarters first play from the Vikings one. On third down Lamar Miller walked the ball in for the TOUCHDOWN to give Miami it's first lead of the day at 21 - 17.
Upon gathering 64 yards in nine plays that included a Randy Starks sack (Miami's third of the day), the visitors kick a 33 yard field goal for a 21 - 20 deficit.
The home team marches eighty yards in eight plays as Tannehill (with one being of forty yards to Brandon Gibson) goes 3 of 5 for 57 yards passing. Running backs Miller (6), and Damien Williams (12, 5) gather 23 yards on three attempts. The 80 yard drive finishes with Ryan Tannehills third TOUCHDOWN PASS of the day and second (14 & 7) to Mike Wallace to give the Miami Dolphins an eight point advantage at 28 - 20.
The clock has 6:39 fourth quarter clicks to go as Sturgis (who for some terribly odd reasoning is terrified to kick the ball through the end zone) kicks the ball on the ground to a short man at the 30 whom easily returns it to the Vikings forty. Five plays later Teddy Bridgewater tosses an eight yard 6 point touchdown for a 28 - 26 deficit. Minnesota decides to tie it with a two point conversion that Miami stops twice, but committed penalties upon to give the Vikings a third opportunity from the one inch line. The visitors convert the two point play to tie the game at 28 - 28.
On the two point conversion Miami commits it's third successive penalty, this one of the personal foul variety via Olivier Vernon (his second penalty of the three), and the Vikings kickoff from the fifty yard line. They kick a pop fly that allows the coverage to swarm as Jarvis Landry slips, falls, and fumbles the ball away to the opponents at the Dolphins five yard line. The next official offensive play is a Minnesota five yard run and touchdown as the Vikings have gone from eight points down to seven points up in eleven seconds for a scoreboard Dolphin disadvantage of 28 - 35.
4:35 ticks to go, and the Miami Dolphins take 3:24 to go eighty three yards in eleven plays. Ryan Tannehill completes nine of ten passes for the entire 83 yards, the connections of ten plus yards include the first pass of 22 yards to Clay, the next play of 11 to Landry with later well executed passes to Wallace of 11 and 14 yards. Tannehill finished the 83 yard drive with his fourth TOUCHDOWN PASS of the day, a three yard dart to running back Damien Williams to tie the score at 35 - 35.
Minnesota accrued 20 first downs with 357 total yards (238 on 26 passes, and 119 on 28 rush attempts). Miami defensive lineman Derrick Shelby had an interception while Randy Starks & Dion Jordan accrued single sacks each to go along with Cam Wake's two for his season total of 11.5, and team 38th.
The Miami Dolphins totaled 36 first downs with 493 yards (377 through the air on 47 attempts, and 116 via the ground attack on 28 carries). Miami held a six plus minute time of possession advantage, and lost the turnover battle (2 - 1).
Lamar Miller romped for 92 yards on nineteen attempts with a touchdown, and had five receptions for 58 yards. Miller is 79 yards shy of 1000 for the year while scoring eight touchdowns.
Charles Clay caught six balls for 114 with a long of 41 yards.
Running back Damien Williams had six receptions for 50 yards and a touchdown.
Brandon Gibson grabbed two for 50 yards with a long of 40.
Mike Wallace snatched five balls for 58 yards with two touchdowns, his 9th and 10th of the season equaling his career high!
Ryan Tannehill whom was sacked twice connected on 35 passes, a career high, and in another best effort, he threw FOUR TOUCHDOWN PASSES! He has twenty six touchdowns to twelve interceptions for the year!
Upon the excitement of victory, Miami Dolphin Owner Stephen Ross announced that Joe Philbin will return in 2015!
A Pittsburgh Steeler win prior to the Dolphins Victory eliminated 8 - 7 Miami from the playoffs. Your Favorite Football Team closes the season at home versus the New York Jets.
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Merry Christmas and/or Happy Holidays to All!!
GOFINS!!!
