The Miami Dolphins (5-3) beat the Arizona Cardinals (5-3) to match their 2019 win total with 8 games left to play in the 2020 NFL season. The Fins’ 34-31 win was easily the NFL’s game of the week. Jason Sanders’ field goal became the clincher when Cardinals kicker Zane Gonzalez was short on a 49-Yard field goal attempt to tie the game late in the fourth quarter.
This team 🥰 >>>#FinsUp pic.twitter.com/hDRVHOktfI
— Miami Dolphins (@MiamiDolphins) November 9, 2020
We were told that this Dolphins team would rally around first-round pick Tua Tagovailoa, but words are just words. Pictures show how good this kid is and how his team rallied behind him.
It’s only been two starts and one was lackluster, but Tua went toe-to-toe today with another young star, Kyler Murray.
First catch? It’s a TD. @mackhollins
@NFLonCBS pic.twitter.com/3wCxHBgP1c
— Miami Dolphins (@MiamiDolphins) November 9, 2020
Tua was throwing absolute dimes today as offensive coordinator Chan Gailey began to open up the offense for his young QB. When the Cardinals and Murray scored, the Dolphins and Tua answered. It was a hell of a game.
Gonzalez’s miss of a “gimme” 49-yarder was not only crucial to the Cardinals season, but a shocker. He had screwed up on a few kicks in the Seattle Seahawks game a week prior — and was well known for four failures in 2018 when he played for the Cleveland Browns against the New Orleans Saints.
Me watching Zane Gonzalez miss a 49-yard field goal SHORT, handing the Dolphins a win. pic.twitter.com/Q9D6MQ1mQ7
— Steve Bermel (@SteveBermel) November 9, 2020
The Fins’ defense showed up when needed. It started with the strip-sack fumble for a touchdown scored by Shaq Lawson and assisted by Emmanuel Ogbah. They allowed a few fourth-down conversions by the Cardinals, but showed up when it mattered most and made the crucial stop on 4th and Inches to put the offense in the perfect position to take the lead. Sanders’ ensuing field goal essentially won the game.
The Dolphins will wear white throwback uniforms next week at home against the Los Angeles Chargers who lost another close game this week. It will be the first rookie vs. rookie QB matchup this season for the Dolphins as they face number-six overall pick, Justin Herbert.
