Dolphins outlast lightning delays and Titans
MIAMI GARDENS, FLA. — After a lengthy lightning delay shortly before halftime, a wild scuffle that saw players from both sides run on the field, and another delay that lasted even longer than the first, the Miami Dolphins and Tennessee Titans finally finished their season opener.
At seven hours and 12 minutes — thanks to three hours and 59 minutes of weather delays — it became the longest game in National Football League history since the 1970 merger.
Jakeem Grant broke free for a 102-yard kickoff return, Ryan Tannehill threw a 75-yard pass to receiver Kenny Stills for their second touchdown of the game, and the Dolphins’ defence was tested but able to pull out a 27-20 win over the Titans on Sunday.
The Dolphins nearly gave up the game to the Titans, who needed backup quarterback Blaine Gabbert to replaced starter Marcus Mariota after he suffered an elbow injury in the second half and left after two interceptions.
Reshad Jones picked off both Titans quarterbacks, his second interception coming off Gabbert with six minutes left in the game to swing the momentum back into the Dolphins’ favour during a wild fourth quarter.
Titans backup running back Dion Lewis scored on a four-yard run to tie the game at 10 with 14:17 left in the fourth quarter. Darius Jennings returned a kickoff 94 yards to cut the deficit to 24-17 with 10:11 left in the game. And Tannehill threw his second interception of the game on a deep pass intended for Grant two minutes later.
Dolphins rookie kicker Jason Sanders kicked a 30-yard field goal with 3:49 left, his second of the day, to seal the victory.
Both teams were naturally affected by the two delays. The first, which lasted one hour and 57 minutes, occurred with 1:11 left in the second quarter resulting in a three-minute halftime. The second lasted two hours and two minutes with play resuming midway in the third quarter.
Miami’s aggressive nature stemmed from its first touchdown of the season, a 10-yard pass from Tannehill to Stills that ended a 98-yard drive — the third longest in Dolphins history and longest since a 99-yard drive against the New York Jets in 1989.
But, the Dolphins left about 10 points off the scoreboard, first failing to convert on a fourth down in the red zone instead of kicking a field goal in the second quarter. Then, Tannehill was picked off in the end zone trying to connect with Gesicki, who lost his balance and stumbled off the line of scrimmage during the play.
Miami’s defence was able to take advantage of the Titans’ offence.
Mariota suffered his injury after getting hit by Dolphins defensive end William Hayes. Shortly after, he sailed a pass that was intercepted and returned by Jones in the third quarter that ended with both teams embarking in a wild scuffle on the field.
During Jones’s return, Dolphins defensive end Andre Branch hit Titans offensive tackle Taylor Lewan with a crackback block that left Lewan lying motionless. After a short time on the field, Lewan quickly bounced back up but was disoriented trying to get into the fray of the situation.
Dolphins defensive tackle Jordan Phillips taunted Titans players without his helmet, which incited more players to continue bickering.
After the play, Phillips, Dolphins cornerback Bobby McCain and Lewis were hit with unsportsmanlike conduct penalties for taunting. All three players remained in the game, while Lewan was ruled out with a concussion.