Jason Sanders delivered the deciding blow, drilling a 52-yard field goal as time expired to lift the Miami Dolphins to a thrilling 20-17 victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday afternoon in Miami Gardens, Florida.
Trailing 17-7 at halftime, a resilient Miami (1-0) roared back to silence the Jaguars in an electrifying second half.
The turning point came when Jacksonville running back Travis Etienne fumbled at the Miami 3-yard line with 2:19 left in the third quarter. Kader Kohou pounced on the loose ball in the end zone, resulting in a crucial touchback.
In the ensuing possession, Tua Tagovailoa showcased his arm strength and chemistry with Tyreek Hill, connecting for an 80-yard touchdown that narrowed the gap to 17-14.
Although Sanders initially missed a 42-yard field goal to tie the game with 13:33 left in the fourth quarter, he redeemed himself by nailing a 37-yard field goal with 4:22 remaining, setting up the stage for his dramatic game-winning kick.
Tagovailoa finished the game with an impressive 338 yards and a touchdown on 23-of-37 passing. Hill dazzled with seven receptions for 130 yards and a touchdown, while Jaylen Waddle chipped in with five receptions for 109 yards.
Before the game, Hill faced a minor off-field distraction when he was stopped by police near the stadium for a traffic violation. The incident escalated into a verbal argument, but he was not arrested, only receiving a traffic ticket according to his agent.
For the Jaguars (0-1), quarterback Trevor Lawrence completed 12 of 21 passes for 162 yards and a touchdown. Rookie running back Tank Bigsby led the game with 73 yards on 12 carries.
Jacksonville extended their lead when Lawrence concluded an eight-play, 55-yard drive with a 14-yard touchdown pass to rookie Brian Thomas, putting them ahead 17-7 with 6:21 left in the second quarter.
The Dolphins responded with De’Von Achane breaking through for a 1-yard touchdown run with just 1:04 left in the first half. However, Miami left just enough time for the Jaguars to squeeze in a 53-yard field goal from Cam Little as time expired, giving them a 17-7 advantage at the break.
This spirited, emotional contest set the tone for what promises to be an absolute rollercoaster of an NFL season. Hold onto your hats, folks; football is back, and it’s as exhilarating as ever!
