For the Miami Dolphins, the day was filled with confusion but ended on a high note.
Jason Sanders kicked a 52-yard field goal as time ran out, giving the Dolphins a 20-17 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars and securing their fourth consecutive season opener victory. This came after a day full of unusual events, including two players being handcuffed outside the stadium before the game.
Tua Tagovailoa, having recently signed a big contract, threw for 336 yards and a touchdown. He led Miami on a crucial eight-play, 31-yard drive in the last 2:09 of the game.
“We just needed to get our head out of our (butt),” said Tagovailoa, who gave a passionate halftime speech, challenging both teammates and coaches while Miami was down 17-7. “That was it. That was it.”
Tyreek Hill sparked the comeback with an 80-yard touchdown catch in the third quarter, closing the gap to 17-14. After scoring, Hill pretended to be handcuffed, referencing an earlier incident where he was handcuffed by Miami-Dade Police officers for a traffic stop near Hard Rock Stadium.
“I have no idea, for real. No idea. No idea, man. It was crazy. No idea,” Hill said about the handcuffing incident. “I wasn’t disrespectful because my mom didn’t raise me that way. Didn’t cuss. Didn’t do none of that. Like I said, I’m still trying to figure it out, man.”
The police were also unclear about the situation. Miami-Dade officials have started an investigation into the officers’ actions and put one officer on administrative leave.
Defensive tackle Calais Campbell, who stopped to help Hill when he saw the situation, was also handcuffed after being told he disobeyed orders.
“That’s definitely a first,” Campbell said. “It is definitely startling, especially with probably our best player. That’s not what you want to see.”
Hill ended the game with seven catches for 130 yards. Devon Achane had seven catches for 75 yards and also rushed for 25 yards and a touchdown on 10 carries.
Sanders tied the game with a 36-yard field goal with 4:22 remaining, and the Dolphins’ defense then took control by sacking Trevor Lawrence on two consecutive plays. This allowed Tagovailoa to lead the winning drive.
Lawrence, who also signed a big contract extension in the offseason, completed 12 of 21 passes for 162 yards and a touchdown. Tank Bigsby rushed for 73 yards on 12 carries.
Rookie receiver Brian Thomas Jr. caught a 14-yard touchdown pass and also drew a pass-interference penalty from cornerback Jalen Ramsey, who had been listed as questionable with a hamstring injury.
This penalty set up Jacksonville at the 1-yard line, where Travis Etienne ran the ball in for a touchdown.
Etienne had the ball knocked away by Dolphins safety Jevon Holland just before scoring in the third quarter. Miami scored on the next play when Tagovailoa threw a pass to Hill, who sped past two Jaguars defenders into the end zone.
“Obviously turnovers are killers, especially down in the red zone,” Lawrence said. “But I thought Travis did a good job of bouncing back and keeping his head in the game. … We still had plenty of time in the game, and we have to be able to handle the adversity and go score in the next series.”
After the Dolphins stopped Jacksonville on a fourth down, Sanders missed a 42-yard field goal that would have tied the game.
Achane scored a 1-yard touchdown in the second quarter, but the first half was largely disappointing for the Dolphins, who were expected to perform well offensively after bringing back most of the top players from a unit that led the NFL in total yards in 2023.
Miami turned the ball over on downs twice and punted four times before Hill’s touchdown.
“The thing that really motivated me the most was when we came in during halftime, and this is like the first time I heard Tua’s Hawaiian accent,” Hill said. “It’s crazy. He was turned up and animated in the locker room. I’m like, ‘Ok, I’m liking this.’”
Jaylen Waddle had five catches for 109 yards, including a 63-yard reception that set up Miami at the Jacksonville 26 while trailing by 10. However, Miami went backwards on three straight plays, and Tagovailoa took a sack on third down, pushing the Dolphins out of field goal range.
