Tennessee Titans upsets Miami Dolphins by 28-27
With Tyreek Hill sidelined, the Miami Dolphins struggled offensively against Titans and gave up a 14-point lead in the last 2:40 of a surprising 28-27 loss to the Tennessee Titans on Monday.
After suffering an ankle injury in the first half, Hill made a comeback in the second half, although he was in and out of the starting lineup at key junctures. The Dolphins’ two-minute drill failed, and Tennessee took the lead late, sending the Titans home with an unlikely victory.
Dolphins squander a late 27-13 advantage.
After turning two late turnovers into touchdowns to break a 13–13 tie late in the fourth quarter and take a 27–13 lead, the Dolphins looked like they had the game won. However, after a two-point convert, the Titans drove 75 yards in 1:54 to reduce their deficit to 27-21.
Following a three-and-out, the Dolphins drove 64 yards to take the lead, which was finished by a touchdown run by Derrick Henry.
With 1:49 remaining, the game-winning drive gave Tennessee a 28-27 advantage after taking 26 seconds off the clock. The Dolphins had an opportunity to reply, but Tua Tagovailoa’s sack on fourth down ended their last drive.
NextGenStats said that before the rally started, Tennessee’s chances of winning had dropped as low as 0.4% in the final quarter due to how unlikely the comeback was.
For a Dolphins team that entered Monday with the greatest offensive in the NFL and a chance to take the lead in the AFC East, it was a startling collapse. They failed to score an offensive point in the first half and struggled to move the ball the whole game with Hill either out or limited.
Miami looked to be in command following mistakes made by Tennessee.
Even though the Dolphins didn’t score an offensive touchdown until the latter part of the fourth quarter, they looked in control when the Titans made consecutive mistakes that resulted in touchdowns. With 6:07 left in the fourth quarter and the score tied at 13, Titans punt returner Eric Garror mishandled a punt to set up the Dolphins at the Titans 7-yard line.
Two plays later, Miami’s first offensive touchdown of the game came from a 4-yard run by Raheem Mostert.
Miami was once more given a short field by the Titans’ offensive play that followed. Will Levis threw a pitch meant for Henry that struck the turf instead, and Miami won possession of the ball at the 12-yard line.
With 4:34 left, Mostert scored another short touchdown run to increase Miami’s advantage to 27-13.
However, the Titans responded with a 75-yard drive that was highlighted by a touchdown pass from Levis to DeAndre Hopkins, and Henry’s touchdown made the lead permanent.
Â
Levis to Hopkins. @Titans not done yet.
— NFL (@NFL) December 12, 2023
📺: #TENvsMIA on ESPN
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus https://t.co/0LeBKvPPxF pic.twitter.com/C8hiUxhItp
Hopkins had seven catches for 124 yards and the touchdown at the end of the evening. Despite his struggles, Henry managed to score two touchdowns on a 34-yard rushing night.
With the loss, the Dolphins fell to 9-4, and the 10-3 Baltimore Ravens were the only team standing atop the AFC and in the running for the No. 1 seed, which comes with the exclusive first-round playoff bye in the league. The Dolphins and Ravens play in Week 17, a game that will have a significant impact on the postseason race.
Dolphins offense was hindered by Hill’s injury.
The Dolphins must now respond to inquiries over Monday night’s mishap. After Hill’s injury, Miami appeared vulnerable even before the late collapse.
Sean Murphy-Bunting made a sideline tackle that resulted in Hill’s ankle injury in the first quarter. Hill grabbed his leg in anguish following the tackle that locked his left leg beneath his torso.
He had a doubtful tag and an ankle trouble when he departed the game. He came back into the game halfway through the second half, making two receptions for 48 yards, the second of which put Miami in position to have a first-and-goal at the 6-yard line.
But after Tagovailoa was sack on third down, the drive faltered, and the Dolphins had to settle for a field goal to tie the game at 13–13.
Hill continued to be sidelined by his ankle injury and alternated in and out of the lineup after that.
“When a guy of Tyreek’s caliber isn’t being present, it hurts”
The head coach Mike McDaniel said to reporters following the game. https://x.com/MiamiDolphins/status/1734442104137359370?s=20
It was obvious that Tagovailoa missed Hill when he was on the sidelines. By the end of the evening, he had completed 23 out of 33 throws for 240 yards and no touchdowns. With the two crucial sacks he took in the fourth quarter, he had five sacks for 32 yards. Miami’s offensive peak was reached when it amassed 158 yards through the air.
Miami will have to rebound and hope that Hill is ready for the Jets defense, which shut down the Texans on Sunday en route to a 30–6 victory, the following week.
Sajjad ali is a versatile sports writer, is a maestro of the written word in the world of sports. With an in-depth knowledge of NBA, NFL, golf, and various sports, he crafts compelling narratives that captivate readers. His insightful analysis set him apart in the sports journalism arena. A multi-talented storyteller, his work resonates with sports enthusiasts across the globe, making him a go-to source for sporting insights. His passion for diverse sports shines through every line he pens.
2 thoughts on “Dolphins lose to Titans on Monday Night Football after collapsing in the 4th quarter”