Nothing beats a long flight home after a hard-fought victory. In a game that never saw either side take a two-score lead, the team with the most grit and determination would earn the win. Miami fought to secure an overtime 16-13 victory over the Washington Commanders in the NFL's first-ever regular season game in Spain, and it required all three phases.
Running back De'Von Achane and the ground game bolstered the offense. Linebacker Jordyn Brooks led the defense and cornerback Jack Jones hauled in a pivotal interception. And the Dolphins special teams unit continued its stellar season in the biggest moments.
1. Achane and company close it out on the ground
Achane surpassed the century mark for the third time this season, recording 120 rushing yards while adding 45 yards through the air. Achane, who is averaging 115.5 yards from scrimmage per game this season, ranks fourth in the NFL in with 1,270 yards from scrimmage and is tied for seventh in total touchdowns with nine.
The final 11 offensive plays for the Dolphins came on the ground as the running backs worked to bring Miami over the finish line for the win.
"I felt really good the whole game about how our line of scrimmage was going, felt really good about De'Von and Ollie (Gordon) and Jaylen (Wright) running the ball," Head Coach Mike McDaniel said. "We had however many yards it was, might have been 20, 25, on the ground to seal the game, and they take pride in that. We know as a group, if you're, it is a privilege to have the ability to run the ball to win the game. That takes a collective team effort that you're in a situation where you can do that."
The variety in which the Dolphins got Achane the ball is another feather in the cap of the offensive system. Achane hit big runs on outside zone, he fought for yardage inside and rescued some plays that looked like losses immediately after the snap.
Miami found their change-of-pace in the physical style of running back Ollie Gordon II, who scored the only touchdown of the game for the Dolphins. Gordon II carried the ball nine times for 45 yards.
2. Special teams walk-off
It was another banner day for Special Teams Coordinator Craig Aukerman's group. Entering play, the Dolphins special teams unit ranked fifth in EPA per play (expected points added) across the 32 teams in the NFL. That was before the Dolphins kicking game produced a takeaway, three field goals, including an overtime winner by kicker Riley Patterson, and two misses from the Commanders.
Cornerback Ethan Bonner made one of the biggest plays of the game when he wrestled away a muffed punt from Commanders returner Mike Sanristill. The Dolphins didn't cash in the turnover on the other side, but the play took possession away from the Commanders, who would've needed just 20 yards to get into field goal range for their own game-winning attempt.
3. Jack and Jordyn
The Commanders sustained drives throughout the game but Miami held firm in the red zone. Though Washington punted just once in the game, the Dolphins forced the issue with two turnovers – one on downs and the biggest interception of the season.
Jones was enjoying arguably his best game of the season through four quarters, then he stamped it by putting Miami in position to win. Covering Commanders tight end Zach Ertz, Jones undercut the throw from quarterback Marcus Mariota and pulled down a leaping interception, his first as a Dolphin, to put Miami in game-winning field goal range.
Per Next Gen Stats, Jones played 32 coverage snaps and was targeted three times, allowing one catch for -3 yards (a screen pass that he blew up) and that game-clinching pick.
"I think guys galvanize around him," McDaniel said. "He plays the style of ball we really are fond of. He's very convicted, I saw on that last interception. We talk about it as a team a ton, but we're not searching for perfection. We're not searching to be perfect. We're searching for conviction, and he saw the ball out, took an aggressive angle, was very convicted, and then utilized one of the strengths of his game, which is plays on the ball."
Brooks had a historic day in what is trending towards a historic season. He racked up 20 tackles, the most ever in an international game. He's up to 125 tackles on the season through 11 games, averaging over 11 per game. He's on pace for 193 tackles this season, which would tie for the sixth-most in NFL history. Brooks is already 10th on that list with his 184 combined tackles in 2021, when he was a member of the Seahawks.
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