2023-12-25 01:42:01
MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (AP) — Jason Sanders kicked his fifth field goal of the game, a 29-yarder as time expired, and the Miami Dolphins clinched their postseason berth Sunday with a victory 22-20 over the Dallas Cowboys.
Tua Tagovalioa threw for 293 yards and a touchdown for the AFC East-leading Dolphins (11-4), who beat a team with a winning record for the first time this season. Tua connected twice with Tyreek Hill on the decisive offensive possession, which covered 64 yards and consumed the 3:27 remaining on the game clock.
Hill, who leads the NFL in receiving yards, caught nine passes and had 99 total yards after missing last week’s win over the New York Jets because of an ankle injury.
Dak Prescott completed 20 of 32 passes for 253 yards and two touchdowns for the Cowboys (10-5), who already had their postseason berth assured, but fall half a game behind Philadelphia in the NFC East.
Prescott put Dallas ahead 20-19 on an 8-yard touchdown pass to Brandin Cooks who hopped into the corner of the end zone. But, the Cowboys were plagued by red zone complications earlier in the game, including a Prescott fumble on first-and-goal inside the one-yard line on Dallas’ first possession.
Sanders’ first field goal was a career-high 57 yards in the first quarter. He added another of 52, 54, and 35 yards to help the Dolphins take a 19-10 lead at the close of the third quarter.
Prescott led the Cowboys’ comeback with some dynamic plays created. On their go-ahead possession, he completed a pass to Michael Gallup while Miami lineman Duke Riley pulled him to the turf at the 21.
After Miami safety DeShon Elliott was flagged for a defensive hold in the end zone on fourth down, Prescott successfully passed to Cooks, who dropped the ball over All-Pro cornerback Jalen Ramsey.
CeeDee Lamb had six receptions and 118 total yards for the Cowboys, including a 49-yard score in the first quarter.
Raheem Moster scored his NFL-leading 21st touchdown of the season by catching a pass from Tagovailoa just before halftime. The 31-year-old out of Purdue undrafted in 2015, in addition to bouncing around the league early in his career, had 46 rushing yards Sunday that put him over 1,000 yards for the first time in a season. He is the first Dolphins running back to reach that number after Jay Ajayi in 2016.
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