Dolphins deliver at the death
Miami Dolphins booked their place in the NFL playoffs with a last-second field goal from Jason Sanders that gave them a thrilling 22-20 win over Dallas Cowboys on Monday.
Detroit Lions also secured a post-season spot by clinching the NFC North with a victory over Minnesota Vikings, while Seattle Seahawks’ late win over Tennessee Titans kept their season alive.
Quarterback Joe Flacco continued his remarkable latecareer comeback in the NFL when he led AFC playoff hopefuls the Cleveland Browns to their third straight win with a 36-22 victory at the Houston Texans.
Miami is the second team in the AFC to secure a playoff place, following Baltimore Ravens, but it was pushed to the brink by Dallas and the side’s quarterback Dak Prescott.
After a gruelling, physical encounter, Dallas got in front with a touchdown with just 3:27 left in the game after Prescott led an outstanding 17-play, 69yard drive that culminated in a brilliant touchdown catch in the corner, under intense pressure from Brandin Cooks.
Miami quarterback Tua Tagovailoa responded in kind when he managed the clock perfectly to lead Miami down the field with a 64-yard, 12-play drive to set up Sanders.
Sanders, who made all five of his field goal attempts, including three from more than 50 yards, made no mistake from 29 yards to seal a crucial victory over a Dallas side that had already grabbed a spot in the NFC’s playoffs.
“I think the key was the guys just having competitive greatness,” Tagovailoa said. “The defence did a great job, the offence did a great job.”