Miami Dolphins Defeat Washington Commanders In Overtime Slog
In what might be the sloppiest game of international football ever played, the Miami Dolphins managed to stumble their way to a 16-13 overtime victory against the Washington Commanders. The historic first NFL game in Madrid, Spain, felt less like a clash of titans and more like two clumsy cousins wrestling at a family reunion. Frankly, it looked like neither team wanted to win, but someone had to, and the Dolphins drew the short straw.
Both teams entered the contest with a dismal 3-7 record, desperate to salvage what’s left of their seasons. What ensued was a comedy of errors, a festival of field goals, and a masterclass in how not to execute in the red zone.
Dolphins and Commanders: A Tale Of Two Stumbles
The game was a bizarre mirror match of offensive ineptitude. The Dolphins would march down the field, powered by a surprisingly potent running game, only to trip over their own feet. A promising opening drive stalled, leading to a field goal. Washington, not to be outdone, did the exact same thing on their possession. It was a relentless cycle of “anything you can do, I can do worse.”
Miami’s offense, led by De’Von Achane’s 165 total yards, moved the ball with ease between the 20s. But once they got close to the end zone, it was like they’d hit an invisible wall. Fourth-and-goal failures became a recurring theme, with Miami getting stuffed at the one-yard line not once, but twice.
You could almost hear the collective groan from Dolphins fans all the way across the Atlantic. It was painful to watch, like seeing someone repeatedly fail to parallel park a Smart car.
A Comedy Of Errors In Madrid
The Commanders were equally committed to the slapstick routine. Quarterback Marcus Mariota, in a moment that will surely haunt him, threw a boneheaded interception on the very first play of overtime. The ball sailed behind his intended target and into the grateful arms of Dolphins Cornerback Jack Jones, setting Miami up for the game-winning chip shot. It was a gift-wrapped turnover, the kind of mistake that makes coaches question all their life choices.
Before that fatal error, both teams seemed locked in a competition to see who could shoot themselves in the foot more spectacularly. Penalties at crucial moments? Check. Missed field goals? Check. A muffed punt by the Commanders that gave the Dolphins golden field position, which they promptly squandered? Double-check. The game was a chaotic mess, but you couldn’t look away. It was a beautiful disaster.
The Dolphins’ Unlikely Escape
In the end, it was Riley Patterson who put everyone out of their misery, booting a 29-yard field goal to seal the win. The Dolphins escaped Madrid with a 4-7 record, heading into their bye week with a victory that feels more like a sigh of relief than a cheer of triumph. While it wasn’t pretty, a win is a win, and for a struggling team like the Dolphins, they’ll take it any way they can get it. Even if it means winning the award for the least-worst team on the field.
