The Miami Dolphins could not have headed into Thursday’s Halloween day matchup with the aptly dressed Cincinnati Bengals in any more desperate need of a win. The team was coming in off of four straight losses while their foes were on a four game winning streak; all of the odds seemed to be stacked against the Dolphins.
The game started in a defensive (boring) fashion, as neither team was able to score in the first quarter with Dolphins rookie kicker missing his only try of the quarter, continuing his rookie slump.
The next quarter would be opened by Cincinnati as they went on a 6 minute drive the resulted in a field goal scoring the game’s first points.
Two drives later, though, Miami went on a 6 minute drive highlighted by a 40 yard Ryan Tannehill-to-Mike Wallace connection. The drive was capped off by a Ryan Tannehill quarterback sneak and the Dolphins sent the game into halftime up 10-3 after Caleb Sturgis managed to break his field goal slump on a 36 yarder which was set up by an ill-advised Andy Dalton interception.
The Bengals methodically drove down the field to open the third quarter and it appeared as if the Dolphins 3rd quarter woes would continue until Dalton threw his second interception of the game which pro-bowl cornerback Brent Grimes returned for a 94 yard touchdown. 17-3 Dolphins.
Just as it seemed The Bengals may be ready to curl up and call it a day on the road, Andy Dalton led his team on a five and a half minute touchdown drive to bring the game within a score just before the conclusion of the third quarter.
The Bengals scored their second touchdown of the game to open the final quarter, tying the game at 17.
With only a minute a thirteen seconds left in the contest the Bengals took the lead on a field goal and the ghosts of this Miami season reared their ugly heads again. Another second half meltdown.
However Ryan Tannehill had other ideas. On the heels of a great Brian Hartline catch, he led his offense down the field, and when it mattered most Caleb Sturgis nialed a 44 yard field goal.
Overtime.
The two teams traded drives back and forth, perhaps being able to take long range field goals but instead opting to put their opponent in adverse field position. Finally with less than seven minutes remaining in the overtime period, Dolphins punter Brandon Fields was able to pin the Bengals at the seven yard line. After two incomplete passes, pro bowl defensive end Cameron Wake beat his man to the inside on a stunt and sacked Dalton in the endzone for the only the 3rd game winning safety in league history.