Miami Dolphins unable to close out close game drop to Colts
By Brian Miller
The Miami Dolphins looked as though they were going to pull off an upset in Indianapolis but in the end they couldn’t close the deal.
The Miami Dolphins and the Colts battled back and forth but this was a game that the Dolphins had in the palm of their hands. The loss, coming on a final second kick by Colts kicker Adam Vinatieri drops the Dolphins below .500.
Miami opened the game with a touchdown drive, their first of the year and just before half-time tied the game on a 70 yard touchdown pass from Ryan Tannehill to Leonte Carroo. While the defense stepped up early, specifically with three turnovers in the first half including two interceptions by Xavien Howard they couldn’t get the job done.
The Dolphins defense gave up 13 unanswered points in the 4th quarter including a 30 yard pass on 3rd and one with a minute left. They had Andrew Luck collapsed in the pocket but couldn’t force him to the ground. Luck escaped and threw downfield for a first down that would put the Colts in field goal range.
While today’s game could be characterized as a moral victory, moral victories do not count in the playoff chase.
The loss drops Miami one game back of the Baltimore Ravens and the Colts for the sixth seed but in reality the loss may have very well put the Dolphins out of the post-season chase given the schedule ahead of them.
For his part Ryan Tannehill played a very good game and showed little signs of rust coming off his shoulder injury but when the Dolphins were pinned deep midway through the 4th quarter, Adam Gase turned to WR screen passes and an ill-advised run rather than let his quarterback try to advance the ball for a first down. The play calling in that series was not good and it cost the Dolphins the game as the Colts would score on the next series.
The Dolphins held a 10 point lead heading into the fourth quarter before giving up big plays including long runs by the Colts running backs. While it was a good return for Tannehill, the Dolphins failures on defense and a slew of pre-snap penalties on the offensive line eventually doomed the team from upsetting the Colts.
Miami will next play at home against the Buffalo Bills in what will be a playoff type game for the Dolphins if they have any chance of staying close to the post-season chase.