10 best Miami Dolphins games of the past decade

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MIAMI, FLORIDA – SEPTEMBER 29: Mark Walton #22 of the Miami Dolphins runs with the ball in the fourth quarter against the Los Angeles Chargers at Hard Rock Stadium on September 29, 2019 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Mark Brown/Getty Images) /

7. 12/28/19 Miami Dolphins 27 New England Patriots 24

Seeing as the game was less than a week ago, do I really need to recap it for you? Okay, you twisted my arm! The Dolphins came into the game 4-11 with little to play for and 17-point favorites against the 12-3 Patriots.

The Dolphins were leading 3-0 in the second quarter when former Patriot Eric Rowe corralled an errant Tom Brady pass and returned it 35 yards for a touchdown to make it 10-0. The rest of the second quarter belonged to the Patriots as they scored 10 points while Miami only gained 36 yards on offense. It was tied at 10 heading into halftime.

A Patriots three-and-out to begin the second half was followed by a masterful 9-play, 88-yard drive by QB Ryan Fitzpatrick to put the Dolphins back up 17-10. Brady would come back with a touchdown drive of his own to tie the score again at 17-17 going into the 4th quarter.

In the fourth quarter, the Patriots would answer a Dolphins field goal drive with a 65-yard TD drive to put the Patriots up 24-20 with 3:59 remaining. At this point, many people believed that the Dolphins would fold and the day would be just another Patriots home victory. Instead, Fitzpatrick and the Dolphins used that time to move 75 yards for what was the winning touchdown; capping it off with a 5-yard TD catch by TE Mike Gesicki.

What made this game special: In one of the most awkward Dolphins seasons ever, the Dolphins ended the decade on a definite ‘high note’. The victory was the first win in Foxboro since the “wildcat game”, knocked the Patriots out of a first-round bye and maybe Brady’s last chance at a Super Bowl.

6. 12/15/13 Miami Dolphins 24 New England Patriots 20

This game was a back-and-forth affair from the beginning. The Patriots took a ten-point lead with 1:38 left in the second quarter but the Dolphins went 82 yards in eight plays; capping it off with a 39-yard TD catch by Mike Wallace to make it 10-7 at the half.

A Caleb Sturgis 32-yd field goal had the game tied after three quarters. RB Daniel Thomas‘ 2-yard TD run to begin the 4th quarter put Miami up by seven points.

The Patriots proceeded to score the next 10 points to lead 20-17 with 4:07 left in the game. From there, Tannehill went 6-8 for 60 yards and capped the drive off with a 14-yard pass to Marcus Thigpen with 1:14 remaining. A late Patriots rally was squashed when DB Michael Thomas intercepted Tom Brady in the endzone on 4th down from the Dolphins 14.

What made this game special: As Dolphins fans know, ANY win over the Patriots is worth celebrating but this one felt a little more special considering that Thomas was signed to the active roster the week of the game.

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