Not since 2008 have the Dolphins won four consecutive games. After three successive home victories versus the AFC's Pittsburgh, Buffalo, and Jets.
Miami traveled west to face-off with yet another AFC rival San Diego and their elite quarterback Phillip Rivers. Interceptions by Tony Lippett (2), Byron Maxwell, and a Kiko Alonso 60 yard pik-six game clincher in the 59th minute stole victory from the arms of a tie and/or defeat for Miami's first road win of the season 31 - 24.
Ryan Tannehill threw for two touchdowns with zero turnovers on 17 of 24 for 240 yards. Though he made many an elite play throughout the day. Jay Ajayi had 19 attempts for 79 yards while Miami totaled just 106 rushing yards on 25 carries. The Chargers rushing game consisted of 24 Melvin Gordon attempts for 70 yards.
The Dolphins accrued 337 total yards to the Chargers 379, eleven penalties for 81 yards to the home teams 29 yards on four fouls, and Miami lost the time of possession battle 27:01 to 32:59. Miami won the game and the turnover battle 4 to 1 (Jakeem Grant muffed punt).
Miami started aggressive and tossed their way down to the Chargers thirty on their opening possession before getting conservative to the point of being pushed out of field goal range. They remained complacent until they found themselves trailing 0 - 10 halfway through the second quarter.
At this point (to cap off a 9 play 74 yard drive), Tannehill fired a 60 yard line drive from the 50 to the back of the endzone/endline that hit Kenny Stills at full stride running nortbound for a forty yard touchdown to pull within three points. The first half ended with a 7 - 10 scoreboard.
Miami opened the second half with a five play 75 yard drive in 2.5 minutes that ended with a one yard touchdown run from Damian Williams. The play previous to the touchdown was an elite play via Ryan Tannehill when rollin-out under duress he threw a 25 yard sideline strike to Jarvis Landry at the one. 14 - 10 Miami.
The Chargers immediately returned the favor and regained the lead with a 75 yard drive of their own. 14 - 17.
The Dolphins answered again with another 75 yard drive on the following possession. Tannehill saved this drive with his legs when from the San Diego 44 on third and twelve he was engulfed by a defender for a definitive sack but he somehow spit the hook and scrambled while weaving his way around and through the opposition for 18 yards and " another Miami Dolphins first down" at the 26. Two plays later he threw the perfect 18 yard lollipop to Damian Williams in the rear corner of the endzone. 21 - 17 Miami at third quarters end.
The Dolphin defense held on the Chargers opening 4th quarter possession but Jakeem Grant muffed the punt and San Diego recovered at Miami's five yard line. The D held for three plays but committed a penalty on the last giving the home team a fresh set of downs at the Dolphins two yard line. Two plays later Tony Lippett picked off Phillip Rivers in the endzone for the first of four Miami Dolphins fourth quarter interceptions.
The Chargers drove from their 12 to the Miami 30 on their next possession before Byron Maxwell at his own 14 gathered in a second Dolphins defensive interception.
With 5:06 remaining in the game the Chargers took their third fourth quarter possession 58 yards in one minute for a touchdown. Miami had them stopped on a three and out but guess what, a penalty negated punt formation. Two plays later a 49 yard touchdown gave San Diego a 21 - 24 lead.
Miami's Dolphins took one more minute to drive from their own 25 to the Chargers 9 for the game tying field goal. Needless to say, Tannehill (while being molested via a multitude of hands to the throat and helmet) was spectacular with a first down 56 yard strike to DeVante Parker while roughing the passer on the same play moved Miami 15 yards closer for the short field goal. 24 - 24.
2:57 remains and San Diego takes the ball from their 25 to the Miami 47 when on first and ten Kilo Alonso takes a Phillip Rivers pik-six, sixty yards To'Da'House! MIAMI DOLPHINS 31 - 24 !!
The home team had one game minute remaining from their own 25. Two plays later, the visitors Tony Lippett picks off Phillip Rivers for the fourth quarters fourth time!!!
IT'S NEVER OVER, TILL IT'S OVER!!
The Miami Dolphins are 5 - 4, (5 - 3 in conference), not out of range from New England, and on the heals of the wildcard 5th/6th seeds!!
YEEEE-HAAAA, GIGGITTYY, GOFINS!!!
