"Biggest play of the game," Miami receiver Mike Wallace said.
Backup tight end Dion Sims,Air Force 1 Australia Womens, a rookie, made a one-handed catch of Ryan Tannehill's 1-yard pass for the decisive touchdown.
"We had a lot of opportunities to finish the game," Ryan said. "We just didn't get it done in the red zone. We have to find a way to punch it in."
But consecutive possessions by Atlanta in the second half netted a total of 10 yards, which allowed the Dolphins to rally.
His other scoring pass was an 18-yarder to Hartline to make it 20-20 late in the third quarter,Hydro Flask ?terf?rs?ljare. Tannehill also moved Miami 60 yards in the final 2:04 of the first half for a field goal on the final play.
1. MISSED CHANCES: The Falcons stalled four times in scoring territory, and Matt Bryant went 3 for 4 on field goals, missing a 35-yarder that would have given them a six-point lead with less than 5 minutes left.
Atlanta led 10-0 and 20-10 and lost despite advantages of 24-16 in first downs, 377-285 in yards,Shoes Nz Sale, 5-0 in sacks and 37-23 in time of possession minutes.
2. TANNEHILL LEADS RALLY: The last-minute comeback victory was the first for Miami's second-year QB. Tannehill finished 24 for 35 for 236 yards and two scores, shook off two turnovers and was at his best at the end of each half.
Ryan led drives of 14, 11 and 13 plays on the first three possessions, but twice Atlanta settled for field goals. As a result,Benson Mayowa Jersey, the Falcons' lead was only 13-10 at halftime, even though they kept the ball for nearly 23 minutes in the first half.
"Awesome," Sims said of his first NFL score. "Amazing."
At one point the Dolphins trailed in total yards by 127-3. Ryan finished with 231 yards passing, and in the absence of Steven Jackson — one of several sidelined Falcons — Jacquizz Rodgers and Jason Snelling combined for 139 yards rushing.
But an enthusiastic crowd of 70,Cheap China Jerseys,660 reflected the buzz building about the home team. After Hartline's touchdown, he jumped on the bench and waved both arms to encourage more noise from the crowd.
5. HOME-FIELD ADVANTAGE: The Dolphins are only 35-46 at home since 2003, and they've often played in a half-empty stadium in recent years.
"We have a special team," receiver Brian Hartline said. "Expectations will continue to rise, and high expectations bring out the best in you. We welcome it."
A jarring tackle by Jones on punt returner Harry Douglas forced a fumble the Dolphins recovered to set up the touchdown that made the score 20-all.
The injury-plagued Falcons, who were one play from the Super Bowl last season, fell to 1-2. Here are five things we learned in Miami's defeat of Atlanta:
Surprising Miami rallied Sunday with a 75-yard touchdown drive in the final 5 minutes,Cheap Hydro Flask, scoring with 38 seconds to go to beat the Atlanta Falcons 27-23.
On the final drive Tannehill went 9 for 12 for 69 yards, with two of the incompletions because of dropped passes. The winner came on second down, when Tannehill lobbed his throw over linebacker Stephen Nicholas to Sims.
4. SPECIAL TEAMS TURNOVER: Despite the contributions by Jordan and Sims, the biggest play by a rookie may have come from seventh-round draft choice Don Jones.
The place could really be rocking in two weeks when the Dolphins play defending Super Bowl champion Baltimore. First comes a game at New Orleans next Monday night.
Tannehill suggested the play to his coaches during a timeout just beforehand.
"Guys had to step up," said first-round draft pick Dion Jordan, who came off the bench to see his most extensive action of the season. "We stuck together and it came up big."
The three-game start is the best by Miami since 2002, and never mind that those Dolphins didn't make the playoffs.
The players believe they're practicing for celebrations to come.
3. DEFENSE DIGS IN: The Dolphins lost defensive end Cameron Wake (knee) and linebacker Koa Misi (shoulder) to injuries, but the defense dug in after a slow start.
MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (AP) — Jubilant to be 3-0 for the first time in 11 years, the Miami Dolphins doused coach Joe Philbin in the locker room with a bucket of icy sports drink.
"Statistics don't always tell the whole story," Atlanta quarterback Matt Ryan said. |
