Jason Sanders fondly recalls his inaugural game-winning kick, a remarkable 53-yarder that secured victory over Tulsa in his senior season at New Mexico back in 2017. Fast forward to the present, and the Miami Dolphins’ kicker effortlessly nailed a 29-yard field goal with time ticking away, clinching a thrilling 22-20 triumph against the Dallas Cowboys and securing a playoff spot for the second consecutive season. Noteworthy is Sanders’ pivotal 50-yard field goal against the New York Jets in 2022, a kick that marked Miami’s return to the playoffs for the first time since 2016.
Despite a somewhat challenging record, having connected on just 6 of his previous 16 kicks of at least 50 yards, Sanders defied expectations by flawlessly executing attempts of 57, 54, and 52 yards in a flawless 5-for-5 performance. Reflecting on his season, Sanders, who boasts a commendable 22-for-26 on field goal attempts, remains confident, stating, “Not every year can be an all-pro year, so I think I’m still hitting the kicks. I’m still right where I need to be – a couple blocks here and there; I don’t think there’s anything to worry about.”
The victory against the Cowboys marked the Dolphins’ first triumph of the season against a team with a winning record, addressing a narrative that had lingered in the team’s locker room. Head coach Mike McDaniel acknowledged the impact of external chatter and expressed pride in the way his team responded to the criticism. He remarked, “With the advent and heavy push of social media, I think it’s really hard to ignore the noise, so to speak, or not hear it.”
Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa played a pivotal role, throwing for 293 yards and a touchdown. Despite leading for most of the second half, the Dolphins faced a resilient Cowboys side. Tagovailoa orchestrated a 12-play, 64-yard drive in the closing minutes, setting the stage for Sanders’ game-winning field goal. The quarterback, having led the team to victory, expressed the satisfaction of hard-fought success, emphasizing the collective effort required week in and week out.
With two weeks left in the regular season, the Dolphins are in pursuit of the AFC’s top seed, trailing the Baltimore Ravens by half a game. A win against the Ravens and the Buffalo Bills in the final two games could secure the coveted top seed. Equally significant is the Dolphins’ two-game lead over the Bills in the AFC East, with an opportunity to clinch their first division championship since 2008 by triumphing over Baltimore in the upcoming week.
While breaking the losing streak against winning teams brought relief, the team’s primary focus remains on winning the division. Linebacker Bradley Chubb echoed this sentiment, emphasizing that the team is far from done and aspires to achieve more. Chubb expressed the team’s resilience against external doubts, stating, “It’s just been dope to see this team come together, not worry about the outsiders, the naysayers and just do what we do and prepare like we’re a championship team each and every week.” Reflecting on the emotional response, Chubb added, “I got emotional with the ‘who can’t’ because at the end of the day, we put our heart and put our soul into this, and for somebody to tell us we can’t do it, we’re going to want to go out there and prove them wrong every time.”
