Photo courtesy of Miami Dolphins
Despite a valiant effort, the Miami Dolphins’ losing streak hit six on Sunday at Hard Rock Stadium.
A late field goal by Younghoe Koo was the difference as Miami lost to the Atlanta Falcons, 30-28. The Dolphins had rallied from 13 points down in the fourth quarter to take the lead, but could not hold on.
Now 1-6, Miami will try to avoid the season sweep against the Buffalo Bills this week. Before the teams meet in Upstate New York, here are five “Fin”teresting facts from Sunday’s loss to Atlanta:
1. Four TD Tosses for Tua
Miami quarterback Tua Tagovailoa had two debilitating interceptions in Sunday’s loss, but he also set a new career-high with four touchdown passes. Tagovalioa finished 32-for-40 passing for 291 yards and the four scores. He became the first Dolphins’ quarterback to throw four touchdown passes in a game since Ryan Fitzpatrick did so against the Cincinnati Bengals in December 2019. Each of his four touchdown tosses went to a different receiver. Tagovailoa became the first Miami quarterback to throw touchdowns to four different receivers since Dan Marino in 1987.
2. Dolphins Kicked by Falcons
Sunday marked the second straight week that the Dolphins lost on a made field goal on the game’s final play. On Sunday, it was Koo who knocked home the 36-yard game-winner as time expired. The week prior, the Dolphins fell 23-20 to the Jacksonville Jaguars on a last-second make by Matthew Wright. This marks the first time that the Dolphins have lost on a field goal on the game’s final play in consecutives since 2012. In September of that year, Miami suffered consecutive overtime losses to the New York Jets and Arizona Cardinals.
3. Down in the “Sand”
While Atlanta’s Younghoe Koo was making the game-winner on Sunday, Miami kicker Jason Sanders’ only field goal attempt was blocked in the first half. With the block, Sanders is now 7-for-10 on field goals this season. The three misses equals his total from all of last season.
4. Ford Drives Into the End Zone
Miami Dolphins’ wide receiver Isaiah Ford has appeared in games in each of the last four seasons and has more than 50 career catches. Until Sunday however, Ford had never scored an NFL touchdown. That changed on the opening drive as Ford was on the receiving end of a 10-yard touchdown pass from Tagovailoa. That served as his lone catch of the day in the defeat. Ford has spent much of his career moving back and forth between the practice squad and active roster.
5. Home, Unsweet Home
With Sunday’s defeat, the Miami Dolphins fell to 0-3 this season at Hard Rock Stadium. Miami is currently the only AFC team without a home win. They however, aren’t the only team in the conference without a win in its home stadium. The lone home win for the Jacksonville Jaguars came against the Dolphins in London the week prior.
Mike Ferguson is the managing editor for Fifth Quarter. Be sure to follow Mike on Twitter at @MikeWFerguson. Follow all of Mike’s work by liking his Facebook page.