Who’s hot, who’s not after Dolphins’ last-second win vs. Cowboys
With a 22-20 win against the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday, the Dolphins clinched a playoff berth for the second consecutive season. It marks the first time Miami has made the playoffs in back-to-back years since 1997 to 2002 when the Dolphins went to the playoffs five years in a row.
Here’s a look at who’s hot — and who’s not — after Miami’s victory.
Who’s hot
▪ Kicker Jason Sanders: Much of the conversation over the last few seasons has been about Sanders’ struggles on long-range kicks after a first-team All-Pro season in 2020. Entering Week 16, the Dolphins had the worst field goal percentage on kicks from 50 or more yards since 2021. But in a game the Dolphins needed to win to keep pace for the AFC’s No. 1 seed, Sanders came through with one of the best games of his career.
Sanders seemingly set the tone for the afternoon, making a career-long 57-yard field goal that gave the Dolphins an early 3-0 lead. He went to make all five of his attempts, including three from 50-plus and the game-winning 29-yard kick as time expired.
Through ups and downs, Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel and special teams coordinator Danny Crossman have maintained their faith in Sanders. And on Sunday, Sanders rewarded their belief with a performance that propelled Miami to the playoffs.
▪ Outside linebackers Bradley Chubb and Andrew Van Ginkel: After a strong start from quarterback Dak Prescott and wide receiver CeeDee Lamb, the Dolphins’ defense settled in with a key adjustment, opting to dial up the blitzes. Chubb and Van Ginkel wreaked havoc throughout the game as pass rushers. Both finished with 1.5 sacks as Miami set a new franchise record for sacks in a season. For Chubb, it brought his team-leading total to 11, while Van Ginkel set a new career-high with six sacks.
Who’s not
▪ Narratives: The Dolphins didn’t play a perfect game by any means. Their offense continued to bog down in situational moments, and McDaniel’s play-calling was questioned again after he opted for an unsuccessful goal-line fade pass on fourth down. Miami’s defense let up a 17-play, 69-yard drive that resulted in a go-ahead touchdown late.
However, Sunday’s game featured the playoff-type atmosphere that the Dolphins will be in for the rest of the season, with games against the Baltimore Ravens and Buffalo Bills before the postseason starts. All week, Miami had heard about their inability to beat teams with a winning record. Their victory is a stepping stone to bigger goals, but now they can move forward without the talk of their record against elite opponents being a major topic of discussion. With a critical Week 17 matchup in Baltimore that could decide home-field advantage, the Dolphins have the opportunity to make another statement on the road.
