In a one-score game in the NFL, all a team needs is one mistake to completely change the outcome of the game. Both the Miami Dolphins and Washington Commanders had multiple chances to take advantage of those opportunities Sunday, but it was the Dolphins who eventually got the job done.
Miami cornerback Jack Jones intercepted Commanders quarterback Marcus Mariota on the first play of overtime, giving the Dolphins excellent field position.
After two plays moved the Dolphins closer, Riley Patterson kicked a 29-yard field goal to win 16-13.
The fourth quarter was eventful at the Santiago Bernabeu in Madrid, in the first NFL regular season game ever played in Spain. After a brief injury scare, Mariota returned and ripped off a 44-yard run with a little under 11 minutes left to get Washington down to the Dolphins' 15-yard line. But on a key fourth down from the 1, Mariota couldn't connect with tight end Zach Ertz — who slipped on the route coming out of his break. Instead of trying for a go-ahead field goal, Washington opted to give the ball back to Miami deep in their own territory.
The gamble worked out … until it didn't. The Commanders forced a punt from the Dolphins' 16-yard line. Washington would have fielded the ball with excellent field position, but the punt was muffed by Washington returner Mike Sainristil. The Dolphins recovered at Washington's 42-yard line, giving Miami the ball essentially already in field-goal position with just four minutes left in the game.
After some big runs by De'Von Achane, the Dolphins found themselves in a similar spot. With the team a yard away from a touchdown and under two minutes to go, the Dolphins once again decided to try for the touchdown. This time, Ollie Gordon was stopped at the 1-yard line, turning the ball over to Washington.
It was a questionable call at the time, one that threatened to sink the Dolphins. Going for it was the right callbased on statistical models, though there was an argument to be made that the Dolphins should have taken the points and challenged Mariota to beat them.
With his back against the wall, Mariota rallied the Commanders. Key completions to Deebo Samuel and Jacoby Jones set up Washington in field-goal range with under a minute to play. After a failed end-zone try on third down, the Commanders had to settle for a 56-yard field goal attempt. Matt Gay missed the kick, sending the contest into overtime, where Mariota promptly turned it over to lose the game.
It was a slow start for both teams. At halftime, the Dolphins and Commanders combined for just four field goals, making it 6-6. The Commanders had a chance for a third field goal in the half, but Matt Gay missed from 51 yards out, making it a tie game through two quarters.
The Dolphins have now won three of four, andMike McDaniel might be coaching his wayinto another season in Miami. The Commanders, meanwhile, have lost six in a row to fall to 3-8 and don't have much reason to bring Jayden Daniels back from injury this season.
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Kate Magdziuk
Kate Magdziuk
Dolphins tack on 22 yards, kick 29-yard FG for the win
After Jack Jones intercepted Marcus Mariota on the first play of overtime for a return of seven yards, De'Von Achane, having returned from an injury scare in the fourth quarter, rushed three times for 22 total yards to set up a 29-yard Riley Patterson field goal attempt.
It's good! Dolphins win 16-13 over the Commanders.
The Commanders got the ball first in the overtime period ... but didn't have possession long. On the first play from scrimmage in overtime, Washington QB Marcus Mariota throws an interception.
.@MiamiDolphins pick it off in the first play from scrimmage in OT!
The Dolphins only need a field goal to win it all now.
Kate Magdziuk
Gay misses from 56, game is going to OT
The Washington Commanders had the opportunity to take the lead with just 15 seconds to go in the fourth quarter, as Marcus Mariota & Co. drove 59 yards down the field to set up Matt Gay for a 56-yard field goal attempt.
Gay missed wide right, though the hold was good. That marks his second missed field goal of the day, also missing a 51-yarder earlier in the second quarter.
The Dolphins failed to make a play with just seconds left on the clock, sending the game into overtime with a tie
Kate Magdziuk
Dolphins go for it on fourth down instead of kicking the FG
The Miami Dolphins had the opportunity to take a field goal, which would have given them the lead with just over a minute to go in the fourth quarter ... but instead, Mike McDaniel kept the offense on the field to go for it on fourth down.
Unfortunately for McDaniel's prospects of keeping his job safe from the hot seat, Miami failed to convert the fourth down, ending a 95-yard drive without a single point scored after Ollie Gordon took a two-yard loss at the goal line.
Game remains tied with under two minutes to go, 13-13.
Kate Magdziuk
Dolphins RB De'Von Achane down with injury
Dolphins RB De'Von Achane went down with an apparent injury suffered on third down with just under two minutes to go. He was able to walk off the field without the assistance of trainers.
Kate Magdziuk
Commanders turn it over on downs
The Washington Commanders drove 69 yards down the field but left without any points, as Marcus Mariota failed to find TE Zach Ertz on fourth-and-goal at the 1.
Sorry, fantasy football managers. The Miami Dolphins opted to give rookie Ollie Gordon II the goal-line carry after a seven-yard reception from starting running back De'Von Achane set them up at the 1-yard line.
Gordon was good from a yard out for the Dolphins' first touchdown of the day, tying up the game 13-13 early in the fourth quarter.
That marks Gordon's third career scrimmage touchdown.
Chris Cwik
Dolphins get ball back in solid field position
The Dolphins gave up one first down, but quickly stopped the Commanders after Miami's last drive stalled out in the end zone. The Commanders reached their own 15-yard line before being forced to punt the ball back to Miami.
That gave the Dolphins the ball back on their own 47-yard line. Miami needs a touchdown to tie things up. The team trails 13-6 heading into the fourth quarter.
Chris Cwik
Commanders make fourth-down stand at the goal line
Following the Commanders' first touchdown of the day, the Dolphins looked to keep pace on their next drive. After driving down the field, the Dolphins faced a tough choice on fourth down at the goal.
With the team so close to a score, the Dolphins decided to go for it. Tua Tagovailoa tried to find wideout Jaylen Waddle for the score, but the ball was knocked away at the last second.
Source: Bills WR Keon Coleman is inactive today because he missed a team meeting Friday morning. Until then, the Bills planned to play him, but their plans changed when he missed the meeting. pic.twitter.com/2IyMUDrBRY
The Dolphins turned the ball over on downs. While it was a disappointing result, the Dolphins did pin the Commanders back deep in their own territory. Miami will hope for a quick defensive stand so the team can get the ball back in decent field position.
After the turnover on downs, the Dolphins still trail 13-6.
Chris Cwik
Commanders get early third-quarter touchdown
It didn't take the Commanders long to get on the board in the third quarter. After both teams traded field goals early, Washington finally found the end zone with a pass to Deebo Samuel.
Samuel took it 20 yards for the first touchdown in Spain.
The FIRST TD in the NFL Madrid Game goes to Deebo Samuel 🔥
The Commanders took a 13-6 lead after converting the extra point.
Kate Magdziuk
Commanders, Dolphins tied heading into halftime
The first half of the Commanders-Dolphins matchup wasn't exactly full of fireworks for the crowd in Madrid; it's been more of a "field goal" day than "fireworks."
The Commanders looked poised to potentially score the first touchdown of the game just ahead of the two-minute warning as they executed a strong drive from Marcus Mariota down the field. However, yet again, an offensive penalty put the Commanders out of range to strike.
So, they opted to settle for a 30-yard field goal attempt from Matt Gay, which was good to tie up the game 6-6.
The Commanders will receive the opening kickoff in the second half after winning the opening coin toss and deferring.
Kate Magdziuk
Two-minute warning ⏰
The Commanders started out the drive pinned at their own 6-yard line, but after a phantom pass interference call that gave them a free 15 yards, they began to find some rhythm on offense.
Marcus Mariota connected with WR Chris Moore over the middle for a 19-yard gain, and managed another chunk pass to TE Zach Ertz for 15 yards just ahead of the two-minute warning.
Kate Magdziuk
Phantom pass interference call
A phantom pass interference call gave the Commanders a free 15 yards, and Mike McDaniel is furious:
The NFL really needs to start allowing reviews for pass interference
Chris Rodriguez Jr. has dominated running back snaps for the Commanders so far in this contest, but rookie Jacory Croskey-Merritt has finally taken his first carry of the day with just under six minutes to go in the second quarter.
That carry went for a one-yard loss, tackled behind the line by Dolphins DT Benito Jones.
Kate Magdziuk
Battle of the field goals
It's not been a particularly eventful game so far on offense despite a lack of punts (and highlights) so far.
The Commanders didn't change matters on their second offensive drive of the day, sending Matt Gay and the field goal unit out to attempt a 51-yarder on fourth-and-16.
He misses, and the Dolphins maintain an early 6-3 lead over the Commanders.
Gay has now made four of eight attempts from 50-plus yards this year.
Kate Magdziuk
Dolphins DL Benito Jones questionable with ankle injury
#Dolphins DL Benito Jones has an ankle injury and is questionable to return.
The Dolphins had a couple of chunk gains on their second drive of the game, including a 14-yard connection from Tagovailoa to TE Greg Dulcich, another 18-yard pass to WR Malik Washington, and a 15-yard run from De'Von Achane, but the offense again stalled out.
Kicker Riley Patterson boots it in from 39 yards to take a 6-3 lead early in the second quarter.
Kate Magdziuk
NFL ... Madrid edition
Ref making a call in Spanish for the first ever game in Spain 🔥
