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The Miami Dolphins snapped their four game losing streak with a 22-20 victory over the Cincinnati Bengals on Thursday Night Football.
The Bengals struck first on the night, connecting on a 31 yard field goal early in the second quarter. Miami came back and scored a touchdown on a one yard quarterback sneak, with Ryan Tannehill reaching across the goal line to cap a 11 play, 93 yard drive. They then added a field goal as the first half ended, taking a 10-3 lead into intermission.
The third quarter became ridiculous, when the Bengals ran 27 offensive plays before the Miami offense could get a snap. The Bengals conducted a 15 play opening drive for the half before Andy Dalton threw a 94-yard pick six to Brent Grimes, with Miami extending the lead to 17-3.
The Bengals then took the next kickoff and ran 12 plays, capped by a Giovani Bernard three yard touchdown run. Miami ran their first offensive play of the quarter with just 2:03 remaining in the period. However, as dominating a quarter as it was for the Bengals, they actually left the period with the same deficit as they began, just now it was with a 17-10 score.
After the Dolphins opened the fourth quarter with a punt, the Bengals answered with a four play, 70 yard touchdown drive, including one of the most impressive (read: ridiculous) runs you will see, as Bernard ran somewhere around 60 yards for a 35-yard touchdown. Miami's defense was simply exhausted after the third quarter and could not pull Bernard to the ground.
Cincinnati would again score, this time on a field goal with just over a minute left to take the 20-17 lead. Then, Tannehill took over and directed a nine play drive 50 yards down the field to give Caleb Sturgis the chance to tie the game on a 44-yard field goal.
In overtime, the Dolphins won the toss, but had to punt. Cincinnati drove on the next possession down to the Miami 29, but then stalled and elected to punt rather than try the long field goal. Miami again tried to establish a drive, only to have it stall after four plays, despite a long pass interference call when Mike Wallace got open deep, and have to punt again.
With the ball at their own eight yard line, Dalton then tried two passes to A.J. Green, both of which fell incomplete. On third and 10 from the eight yard line, Dalton again dropped back to pass, only to have Cameron Wake sack him in the endzone and end the game with a walk off safety.
Tannehill finished the game 20-for-28 for 208 yards and a 92.6 passer rating, as well as a 1-yard touchdown run. Lamar Miller had his first career 100 yard day, gaining 105 yards on 16 carries, a 6.6 yards per carry average. Mike Wallace led the team with six receptions for 82 yards. Wake finished the game with three sacks, including the safety, as well as a strip and fumble recovery. Paul Soliai added a sack of his own, as well as half a sack each for Jared Odrick and Derick Shelby.
The Dolphins intercepted Dalton three times, with the pick six to Grimes, as well as a Dimitri Patterson and a Dannell Ellerbe pick. Dalton was 32-for-53 for 338 yards, with the thre picks giving him a 55.4 passer rating. A.J. Green tallied a career high 11 receptions for 128 yards.
The Dolphins next play on Monday Night Football in Week 10 at Tampa Bay. The Dolphins are now 4-4 on the season.
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