The Miami Dolphins snapped their four-game losing streak in style.
Cameron Wake sacked Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton in the end zone in overtime to give the Dolphins a 22-20 victory on Thursday night
The Bengals faced a 3rd and 10 from their own 8-yard line with 6:42 left in overtime. Wake blew through Bengals’ guard Kevin Zeitler to hit Dalton at the goal line to give Miami the win. It was Wake’s third sack of the game.
A 14-point swing give the Dolphins a two touchdown lead in the third quarter. The Bengals looked set to tie the game at 10-10 when Dalton hit Marvin Jones for a 50-yard touchdown that was nullified by a holding penalty against Jermaine Gresham. Cincinnati still managed to move into the Dolphins’ red zone before a critical mistake from Dalton.
Dalton threw an out route behind his intended receiver and Brent Grimes intercepted the pass and returned in 94 yards to extend Miami’s lead to 17-3 midway through the third quarter. It was Grimes’ first career touchdown. Dalton finished 32 of 53 for 338 yards and three interceptions.
However, the Bengals rallied behind the running of Giovani Bernard and a defense that limited the Dolphins’ possessions.
Dalton led the Bengals on a 12-play, 65-yard drive that was capped with a 3-yard touchdown run from Bernard to pull within a score.
The Bengals quickly got the ball back as Miami was unable to move the ball and Bernard tied the game with a ridiculous touchdown scamper.
Bernard tried to run off right tackle but was turned away by cornerback Brent Grimes and linebacker Philip Wheeler, who both missed tackles on the play. Bernard circled all the way back to the left sideline, making Olivier Vernon miss in the backfield as well, and picked up a block from quarterback Andy Dalton along the way. He forced another whiffed tackle from Grimes and broke a tackle from Reshad Jones as he broke free and dove into the end zone.
It was officially a 35-yard touchdown run in which Bernard likely covered double the amount of yardage weaving his way into the end zone.
Mike Nugent connected on a 54-yard field goal with 1:29 left to play to give the Bengals a 20-17 lead but the Dolphins managed to send the game to overtime. Miami had run just 11 plays in the second half for 51 yards before their final drive but Ryan Tannehill drove the Dolphins 50 yards on their final possession to set up a 44-yard field goal from Caleb Sturgis to send the game to the extra session.
Tannehill was 20 of 28 for 208 yards on the night.