RSS
Home
Loss makes fans sick
Print
Email
RSS
Subscribe
The Miami Dolphins didn't lose a football game yesterday, they lost an opportunity. An opportunity to climb above .500, an opportunity to become one of the top five teams in the standings, an opportunity to prove to themselves that they could close a tight game in the waning seconds.
The loss is making fans sick. It's a replay over and over again in their minds, 76 yards to win a game in 1:38. A fourth-down prayer pass that connects through coverage to continue the drive. An over-the-middle pass to bring the ball to the 13...tick, tick, tick, a stop on first down at the goal line, a stop on second, and a stop on third. Fourth down, seven seconds, 3 yards. A QB rush, 3 yards, three seconds, a touchdown. Game over.
The Dolphins led 14-3 at one point, gave up a field goal to make it 14-6, then gave up a punt return for a touchdown to go into the half with a one-point lead. The Dolphins would give up the lead in quarter number three allowing a touchdown that would give the Texans 20 points and eventually a 23-21 lead in the late fourth quarter.
The Dolphins offense showed some of what they are made of. With over two minutes left the Dolphins began their final drive. A tipped pass by Anthony Fasano turned into an interception on a third-down play. The ball would be fumbled back to Miami on the same play for a Miami first down. It seemed the bounces were favoring the Phins.
With new life breathed into them, the Phins moved down the field at will. No "Wild Cat" trickery, just smash mouth football. A field goal to win was all they needed and when Chad Pennington connected with Ronnie Brown down the sideline, the Dolphins were in position to run out the clock, force Houston to use their time outs and let Dan Carpenter kick the winning FG. Instead, the Miami offense was too good.
Ronnie Brown took the second-down handoff, avoided a back-field tackle, bounced outside of the tackle for an easy walk in touchdown. The Texans couldn't have asked for anything better. With 1:38 and one time out, they needed a touchdown that seemed so unlikely. In the end, it was obvious who the football gods were favoring.
Miami will look to rebound from this loss. They will break down film and figure out how they let this happen and how not to let it happen again. It won't make the ill feeling in the pit of the stomach subside however, but then again, that is NFL football.
Related Articles:
Comments
