Monday, September 18, 2017

Dolphins Escape From L.A.

     The Miami Dolphins nipped the Los Angeles Chargers 19-17 at StudHub Center on Sunday. It was the season opener for the Fins because they had their home opener in Miami last week rescheduled due to Hurricanes Irma.
     The Chargers played their first home game in Los Angeles since 1960. They moved away from San Diego during the summer after a 56-year run.
     Miami(1-0) put up the first points on the scoreboard in the first quarter. Cody Parkey connected with a 30-yard field goal at 7:13.
     The second quarter belonged to Los Angeles(0-2) as they pulled ahead 10-3. Younghee Koo made a 41-yard field goal at the 13:46 mark. Running back Melvin Gordon would burst up the middle on a one-yard touchdown run with 5:05 remaining in the first half.
     Both teams exchanged touchdowns during the third quarter. Quarterback Jay Cutler threw his first touchdown pass since he joined the Dolphins in early August. Wide receiver Kenny Stills made a 29-yard reception for the score to tie it 10-10 at 12:15.
     The Chargers regained the lead 17-10 with 8:24 to go in the third. Tight end Antonio Gates caught a seven-yard touchdown pass in the middle of the end zone from quarterback Phillip Rivers. Gates set an NFL record for most touchdowns catches in  a career by a tight end with his 112th to surpass Tony Gonzalez.
     The Dolphins cut the margin several times in the second half on the foot of Parkey, who once kicked with the Jupiter Warriors while in high school. Parkey put through a 28-yard field goal at the 2:48 mark of the third quarter.
     He followed that with a 35-yard field goal with 6:32 remaining in the fourth. Parkey connected with the go-ahead field goal from 54 yards away with 1:10 left in the contest to give the Dolphins a 19-17 lead. Koo missed a field goal for Los Angeles in the final seconds of the game that gave Miami the victory.

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