A win is a win is a win. The Dolphins might not frame this one, but they aren’t throwing back Sunday’s 16-13 overtime victory in Madrid. They made just enough big plays and sidestepped some certain second-guessing to move to 4-7 on the season.
How to explain those final few minutes? Here are 10 thoughts on the game:
**1. Play of the Game**
Dolphins cornerback Jack Jones cut in front of Washington tight end Zac Ertz for an interception on the first play of overtime. The Dolphins took over at the Washington 35-yard line, and a few De’Von Achane runs later, Riley Patterson kicked the game-winning 29-yard field goal.
**2. Almost-the-Call of the Game**
Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel opted not to kick a field goal and instead went for it on fourth-and-1 with 1:15 left in regulation while the game was tied. How could he not take the points—and maybe the win? It looked especially second-guessable when Ollie Gordon lost 2 yards up the middle on that fourth down, giving Washington the ball.
**3. One Coach Who Doesn’t Second-Guess the Call**
Washington coach Dan Quinn did the same in a similar situation, but with just under seven minutes left in the game. On third-and-2, Dolphins linebacker Tyrel Dodson and safety Ashtyn Davis filled the hole to stop Washington running back Chris Rodriguez for no gain. On fourth down, Davis had good coverage of tight end Zac Ertz, who slipped on his route, resulting in an incompletion.
**4. Stat of the Game: 1-for-7**
That was the teams’ combined red-zone success rate. Those final two “shun-the-touchdown” calls underscored the overall underachievement. Why did the coaches make those decisions? Do they trust their offenses that much? Or don’t they trust their defenses to make stops? Maybe no one second-guesses going for it on fourth down anymore—especially when both teams are struggling at 3-7. If either coach had gone for it in those moments, their team likely would have won in regulation.
**5. Weekly Update: Achane Is the Hands-Down Team MVP**
Achane is as electric as any playmaker in the league. He finished with 21 carries for 120 yards and five catches for 45 yards—more than half of the Dolphins’ total 311 yards. Coach McDaniel clearly noticed. Eight of the Dolphins’ nine final plays when turnovers gave them near-winning field position were Achane runs.
His best play came at the start of the fourth quarter. On first down at the Washington 20, in a quasi-trick play where Tua jumped as if it was a high snap, Achane was pinned to the sideline by a handful of Washington defenders behind the line. Somehow, he turned it into a 9-yard gain. The Dolphins then scored a touchdown to tie the game at 13-13.
**6. Almost-the-Play of the Game**
Washington’s Mike Sainristil muffed his first attempted punt catch in the NFL, and Ethan Bonner recovered the ball at the Washington 42 with 4:11 left in a 13-13 game. That turnover put the Dolphins in a prime position, with six straight Achane runs driving the ball to the Washington 2-yard line.
The Dolphins’ two turnovers this game meant they have a 5-0 turnover margin over the past two weeks—an impressive stat for their success.
**7. “Operational Issues” Remain a Concern**
That’s not a phrase Dolphins fans want to hear again this season, but it popped up on the first drive. The drive began well, with Achane running for 11 yards, Tua throwing to Waddle for 14 yards, and Achane running for 24 more. However, the Dolphins used a timeout just two minutes into the game—early timeouts remain an ongoing issue, as it happened twice in the first quarter last week against Buffalo.
Later, on fourth-and-1 at Washington’s 23, Tua attempted to draw the defense offsides but was instead flagged with a delay of game penalty.
**8. The Book on Tua Was on Display Sunday**
Tua Tagovailoa completed 14 of 20 passes for 170 yards and, importantly, threw no interceptions. He delivered an accurate and perfectly timed quick slant to Jaylen Waddle, who took it for 31 yards on their first play of the second half—that’s quintessential Tua.
However, his limitations showed at critical moments. From first-and-goal at the 7-yard line, Washington didn’t have to worry about him running. On third-and-goal and fourth-and-goal at the 2, Tua’s passing options were limited; some quarterbacks might consider running when no pass is open, but Tua is less mobile.
Earlier, on third-and-2 at the Washington 10, Tua couldn’t evade a blitzing Quan Martin and suffered an 11-yard loss. Overall, Tua is accurate and anticipates well on specific throws, but his athleticism remains limited—a fact that was evident again Sunday.
**9. Quick Hits**
– Top draft pick Kenneth Grant stuffed Washington running back Chris Rodriguez on third-and-1 during Washington’s opening drive. Washington converted a short pass on fourth down, demonstrating the kind of progression you want to see from young players.
– Jaylen Waddle had two costly drops in the fourth quarter.
– Washington’s Chris Rodriguez ran for a career-high 79 yards on 15 carries.
– The Dolphins were 3-of-9 on third downs; Washington converted six of 13.
A memorable line from NFL Network’s Jonathan Vilma after Hawaii natives Tua Tagovailoa and Marcus Mariota each started with five straight completions: “Hawaii Five-O,” he said.
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Despite the challenges and key moments that could have swung the game differently, the Dolphins did what matters most—they got the win. A win is a win is a win.
https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2025/11/16/hyde10-jones-heroics-achanes-day-obvious-second-guesses-10-thoughts-on-dolphins-win-over-commanders/
