Dolphins Eliminate Patriots

     The Miami Dolphins outlasted the New England Patriots 22-12 at Hard Rock Stadium on Sunday. The Patriots were eliminated from postseason contention and will not play in the NFL playoffs for the first time since 2008. Miami will end the 2020 campaign with a winning record. 

     There would be no scoring until the second quarter. New England(6-8) made it 3-0 at the 8:55 when Nick Folk kicked a 45-yard field goal. Folk added another field goal from 36 yards with 4:15 to go in the first half. 

     In the third quarter, Miami(9-5) leaped to the lead 7-6 at the 10:32 mark. Running back Salvon Ahmed rushed the ball in from one yard away. The Pats got a 45-yard field goal by Folk with 4:20 left in the third. 

     The Dolphins extended their lead to 15-9 at 12:55 of the fourth quarter. Quarterback Tua Tagovailoa scrambled up the middle of the field and scored from three yards out. They made a two-point conversion when Ahmed got a lateral from a downfield wide receiver, following a Tagovailoa pass, and dashed into the end zone. 

     Folk compiled his fourth field goal on the contest. It was from 42 yards with 9:03 remaining. Tagovailoa completed the scoring for Miami when he sneaked in from one yard with 3:17 left.