Desiring a Miami Dolphin Victory on the road against a (winning 3 of the last 4 games) soaring Philadelphia Eagles team is easier said than done. From an execution point of view, Miami tried their hardest to satisfy the reasoning for some of their fans quitting on them. Fans that on numerous occasions have admittedly turned off their televisions upon calculating that a 16 - 3 first quarter deficit can only result in a 64 - 12 Dolphin loss. From within the hearts of those that wear the Aqua & Orange, due to the love of the game, loyalty to their fellow players, Dan Campbell, coaches, and franchise. The Miami Dolphins Team (of which the entire active roster got on the field in this game), simply refuse to quit!
On Miami's opening possession they scored with a field goal to take the lead. The Dolphins now at 4 - 5 have yet to lose a game that they've led at some point. Less than two minutes later they trailed by four points as the Eagles easily swooped down the field 58 yards for the go ahead touchdown.
Losing a ball out of the back of the end zone for a third consecutive games early safety against Miami had the Dolphins down by six points just five seconds later. The safety was the end result of one of those "execution point of view" mishaps as a fumbling, bumbling, indecisive kickoff return gave the visitors the ball at their own one yard line. Naturally, a first down drive hindering penalty (before the snap which has been par for the course) resulted in another half yard loss. On the first play ran, quarterback Ryan Tannehill was practically broke in half as he took a 20 MPH hit to the center of his spine from an untouched blindside blitz that forced the ball beyond the end-line. Miami started three of their series from within their own 3 yard line, and only five of their 14 possessions from beyond their own 20.
Philadelphia with what is now a 9 - 3 scoreboard advantage receive the (after a safety) free punt and drive to score a 16th point four minutes later as their slow as molasses 30 year old tight end has been grazing in a wide open pasture of nothing but grass for 90 yards on two possessions.
Hindering an answer to the onslaught, Miami follows with a five and out punt which gives the home team the ball with two first quarter minutes remaining. Four minutes later the home team has driven 57 yards but present Eagle (Caleb Sturgis) misses the 32 yard field goal attempt.
Inclined not to quit. The Dolphins defense and/or if not Ndamukong Suh by himself (two TFL's for minus 12 yards on the previous drive), and the forcing of a missed field goal has suddenly inspired the players to believe that hard work does indeed payoff. For those who refused to continue watching. A 16 - 3 first quarter deficit is never suggestive that the final score will be 64 - 12 as from here on out the Eagles scored just 3 points while Miami's defense accrued four sacks, forced four drive stopping fumbles (though they didn't recover them), blocked a punt, and had an end zone interception!!! Miami's offense too is suddenly motivated, and drives 74 yards for a 22 yard field goal to pull within ten points at 16 - 6 with little more than half the second quarter ticks to go.
Never say Never as The Miami Dolphins (rookie Zach Vigil) blocks the Eagles following possessions punt to take control at the home teams 12 yard line and pull within 16 - 13 two plays later with a Tannehill screen to Lamar Miller for the touchdown. Two Philadelphia punts surrounded by two Dolphin punts ends the first half.
So. Does a 16 - 13 halftime deficit automatically determine that the game will end with a 32 - 26 Dolphin loss? NOPE! The third quarter amounts to three Philadelphia punts surrounded by two Miami punts. The Dolphins third series of the third quarter goes for 87 yards on seven plays and ends five seconds into the fourth quarter with a Tannehill to Jarvis Landry four yard touchdown reception for Miami's 20th game winning points to Philadelphia's 16. The Eagles scored a 19th point on their next series, and drove to the Dolphins 9 yard line two possessions after that before a Rashad Jones end zone interception sealed the deal. A Dolphin punt and Eagles loss of possession on downs resulted in Miami closing the game in 20 - 19 VICTORY FORMATION!
ALL 46 ACTIVE MIAMI DOLPHIN PLAYERS GOT ON THE FIELD, CONTRIBUTED, and NEVER QUIT!
Thank You for an Open-Minded Read, and we look forward to your never quitting angle of view : )) !!
GO DOLPHINS!!!
