Five takeaways as Dolphins win 16-13 OT thriller over the Commanders
Miami Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel might need to donate a portion of his salary to Jack Jones.
On the first offensive snap of overtime, Washington Commanders quarterback Marcus Mariota fired a pass slightly behind tight end Zach Ertz, allowing the cornerback to snag the ball right out of the air.
Four plays later, Riley Patterson kicked a 29-yard game-winning field goal as the Dolphins edged out the Commanders 16-13.
“I seen the tight end chip, once he chipped, he tried to sneak across the formation and I had good eyes,” Jones said, adding that cornerbacks coach Mathie Araujo had consistently preached the importance of “good eyes” since his arrival in Miami. “I just made the steal.”
This game, however, should’ve been over in regulation. Poor decision-making gave the Commanders a shot to win the game after McDaniel opted to run the ball on fourth down instead of kicking what would’ve been the game-winning field goal, as there was under two minutes left and the Commanders no longer had a timeout.
Although the Dolphins have now put together back-to-back wins for the first time in 2025, it should not be lost that this game nearly went the opposite way. Miami needs to have better execution on the other side of the bye week if they plan to resurrect what was once a lost season.
“All wins are good,” Tua Tagovailoa said. “We’re going to carry this momentum along throughout the bye week and hopefully take it into our next game.”
DISMAL MONEY DOWN EXECUTION
The Dolphins converted just 33% of their third- and fourth-down attempts, going 3 for 9.
An inability to convert on these downs can ultimately determine a team’s success, and the Dolphins failed miserably in that area. It also nearly cost the Dolphins the game.
Obviously, the failed run play to Ollie Gordon II on fourth down late in the game was the most egregious example, as it gave the Commanders the ball on a potential go-ahead drive. Mariota did lead his team into field-goal range, however, Matt Gay missed the 56-yard kick.
“A field goal gives them the ball back and their special teams is very adept at getting the ball between the 30 and 40 which would leave about 25 yards for a tying field goal as opposed to going 60 yards when they’re backed up,” McDaniel said.
In the third quarter, the Dolphins’ again missed another opportunity to take the points on fourth down, as Tagovailoa could not connect with wide receiver Jaylen Waddle on an out route from the Commanders’ 2-yard line. Commanders linebacker Bobby Wagner read the play perfectly and got a hand on the ball, redirecting the pass.
DOLPHINS HAVE BALANCED RUSHING ATTACK
At first, it was De’Von Achane. By the fourth quarter, Gordon decided he wanted to join the fun.
The Dolphins rushed for 169 yards, their second-highest total of the 2025 season in large part due to the rookie-veteran duo. Achane finished with 120 yards on 21 carries, while Gordon added another 45 and a touchdown on nine tries. Even Jaylen Wright got involved, taking his sole attempt four yards.
Achane credited the offensive line for his third game with more than 100 yards on the ground.
“The reps I’m getting with my O-line, the blocking on the edge, it makes it easy for me,” the third-year veteran said. “I don’t got to do too much; all I got to do is make a few guys miss and that’s my job.”
This was crucial as the passing offense couldn’t get much going. Tua Tagovailoa completed 70% of his passes for 171 yards. While Achane led the team in catches with five for 45 yards, Waddle led the team in total yardage with 52 on three grabs.
DOLPHINS DEFENSE CAN’T STOP THE RUN
The Dolphins have perennially been near the bottom when it comes to run defense.
Even in Spain, it’s clear old habits die hard.
The Dolphins allowed the Commanders to rush for 172 yards, led by running back Chris Rodriguez Jr. who had one of the best games of his young career. For most of the game, Rodriguez, who had 79 yards on 15 attempts, looked unstoppable as he powered through various Dolphins defenders. Mariota clocked in second on the team with 49 yards on four attempts, even showcasing his wheels with a whopping 43-yard gain.
A trio of rushers — Jacory Croskey-Merritt (28) Jeremy McNichols (13) Deebo Samuel Sr. (three) — also contributed.
MARIOTA LOOKS COMFORTABLE
When a defense cannot stop the run, the opposing offense essentially has the world at its fingertips.
That was certainly the case as Mariota looked as comfortable as ever, completing 66% of his passes for 213 yards and a touchdown. The Dolphins only sacked Mariota once and other than his one pick, albeit in crunch time, he made very few mistakes.
Very few times did the 10-year veteran look flustered, which allowed him to distribute the ball to eight different receivers. Samuel led all wideouts with seven catches for 74 yards, while Ertz grabbed four balls for 42 yards.
SETTLING FOR FIELD GOALS
The Dolphins’ offense moved the ball well in the first half.
On their first two drives, they made it to the Washington 23-yard line and then the red zone. Unfortunately, a combination of penalties and well-executed pressure ultimately limited their ability to score touchdowns.
The opening drive ended when a delay of game on fourth-and-1 pushed the Dolphins out of a short-yardage situation. Coach Mike McDaniel then opted to take the field goal.
Miami, however, responded on its subsequent series and moved the ball to the Commanders’ 10-yard line. Then Dan Quinn showed why he’s a Super Bowl-winning defensive coordinator. A well-timed blitz courtesy of linebacker Jacob Martin led to a sack of Tagovailoa and the loss of 11 yards.
Although the Dolphins eventually pulled out the win, they will need to find a way to turn field goals into touchdowns to have success against the better teams.
This story was originally published November 16, 2025 at 1:31 PM.
