Here’s what needs to happen for the Miami Dolphins to win the AFC East in Week 17.
While the Miami Dolphins were unable to lock down the AFC East in Week 16 thanks to the Buffalo Bills beating the Los Angeles Chargers, they were able to clinch their spot in the NFL Playoffs with a victory of their own over the Dallas Cowboys.
While notching their first win of the season over a team with a winning record, the Dolphins didn’t get the firepower they typically get from their offense. Even with MVP candidate Tua Tagovailoa completing 24 of 37 passes for 293 yards and a touchdown, 16 of Miami’s 22 points came courtesy of kicker Jason Sanders.
A First-Team All-Pro selection in 2020, Sanders began his day with a career-long 57-yard field goal in the first quarter and then tacked on kicks of 52, 54, and 35 yards (plus the extra point following Tua’s TD pass to Raheem Mostert) to help Miami to a 19-10 lead late in the third quarter.
After Dallas staged a furious fourth-quarter comeback to take a one-point lead, Sanders secured a 22-20 victory for Miami with a 29-yard field goal as time expired.
