The Miami Dolphins came up big with a wild win against the Chicago Bears.
There was a collective groan and the echo of, "careful what you wish for," when Ryan Tannehill was ruled out for the game. It was his 21st missed game in the last three years. Brock Osweiler meanwhile, is certainly no Jay Cutler, but since leaving Denver with a huge free agent contract to play in Houston, he has been unable to regain the magic, until Sunday.
After exchanging punts, Osweiler and the Dolphins put together a 54-yard drive that culminated in a touchdown pass to newly signed tight end Nick O'Leary. O'Leary is a local Palm Beach native, who also happens to be the grandson of golf legend, Jack Nicholas. O'Leary did Jack proud, playing a very fine football game for his hometown team.
On the ensuing drive, the Bears seemed to find their stride and went for it on 4th and 1. It wasn't to be, as Miami's premier defender Reshad Jones, sniffed out the screen and shut down the Bears. Plays like this demonstrate why Miami is not the same team without Jones on the field. His presence lifts the entire defense.
After punting back and forth, the Bears got it going again with a 74-yard drive to the Miami 1 yard line. Just when it seemed Chicago would tie the game Robert Quinn stripped Howard and the ever-present Kiko Alonso jumped on the loose ball. Miami had stuffed the Bears again.
Miami began driving the football again, moving 64 yards in 11-plays when Brock Osweiler took a shot down field to Devante Parker. Parker failed to protect his QB, leading to an Osweiler INT without Parker even attempting to make a play on the ball. Miami went into half time leading 7-0. The play may have been the final straw for Parker, who did not play another down.
On the heels of that disparaging play, the second half started disastrous for the Miami Dolphins. The Bears scored in three plays. Osweiler proceeded to telegraph an awful interception trying to find Albert Wilson on the sideline. In one play, the Bears scored again, erasing the tie to lead 14-7. It was easily Osweiler's worst play of the game.
Miami drove 43-yards in 8 plays but settled for a field goal to pull within 14-10. Three plays later, the Bears cut through the Miami defense like a hot knife through butter and scored again. With the score now 21-10, the Dolphins looked shell-shocked and it seemed the rout was on.
Miami did not cave as expected and drove the ball 68-yards in 11 plays, giving the defense a much needed rest. Osweiler did not seem bothered by much of anything and team followed his leadership. Unfortunately, the Dolphins were unable to convert the touchdown and settled for a field goal to end the third quarter, down 21-13.
The bears began the fourth quarter by driving all the way to the Miami 3 yard line when the magic began to happen. TJ McDonald stepped in front of a Trubisky pass in the endzone and the Dolphin defense breathed new life into the entire team.
The Dolphins worked the field for six plays when Osweiler flipped a short pass to Albert Wilson. Wilson shredded the Bears secondary leaving would be tacklers clutching nothing but air. 43-yards later, Wilson danced into the endzone leaving the Dolphins down by 2 points.
Adam Gase, decide to ride the train out and went for two. Osweiler was chased from the pocket. On a typical non-call for Miami, Danny Amendola was pushed to the ground. Unfazed, Osweiler kept the play alive long enough to throw a rope to Kenny Stills in the back of the endzone and Miami had completed the comeback to tie the game at 21.
The Bears again took control of the Miami defense, immediately driving 75-yards in 11 plays, while eating nearly 6 minutes off the game clock to take back the lead 28-21.
Albert Wilson would have none of that and in one play, raced through the entire vaunted Chicago defense, 75-yards into the endzone and Miami had tied the game at 28 in less than 30 seconds.
Miami could not convert after Kiko Alonso forced a fumble recovered by Howard and went 3 and out. With only 34-seconds left, deep in their own territory, Chicago opted to take the game into overtime.
Miami won the toss and promptly rode the horse named Frank Gore all the way to the one yard line. Then disaster struck, Kenyon Drake took a handoff and bounced right heading for the winning TD when the ball was popped loose. Drake lost the handle and hung his head in despair as the Bears drove down for the winning field goal.
But the great Gods would have none of it and former Dolphin Cody Parkey promptly missed the game winning field goal, wide right...
Osweiler one more time took the reigns, getting the ball three straight times to a redeemed Kenyon Drake for a total of 22-yards. A quick throw to Amendola for 6 yards positioned Miami at the 29 yard line. Osweiler spiked the ball with only 3 seconds left before the game would end in a tie.
After a Chicago icing, rookie kicker Jason Sanders stepped up and knocked through the game winning 47-yard field goal as time expired. All over Miami fandom pandemonium exploded. The Dolphins had miraculously gutted out an incredible victory after two straight agonizing losses.
For the much maligned Brock Oweiler, the victory was sweet. For Kenyon Drake, what could have been a confidence destroying fumble was washed away with the savory flavor of victory. The Miami defense showed again that this unit is moving toward something special.
Coach Adam Gase stuck with his team and never allowed them to think victory was impossible. We're left to ponder the future of Ryan Tannehill, but allow that to rest while the sweet scent of this win resonates in the hearts of Miami fans everywhere. :) :) :)
