Jason Sanders nailed a 52-yard field goal as time expired, giving the Miami Dolphins a 20-17 season-opening victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday afternoon in Miami Gardens, Fla.
Miami trailed 17-7 at the break before silencing the Jaguars in the second half.
Jacksonville running back Travis Etienne opened the door for the Dolphins, fumbling at the Miami 3 with 2:19 left in the third quarter. Kader Kohou recovered the loose ball in the back of the end zone for a touchback.
On the next play, Tua Tagovailoa connected with Tyreek Hill for an 80-yard score, pulling the Dolphins within 17-14.
Sanders later missed a 42-yard field goal that would have tied the game with 13:33 remaining in the fourth. However, he redeemed himself by making good on a 37-yarder with 4:22 to go ahead of his game-winner.
Tagovailoa finished with 338 yards and one touchdown on 23-of-37 passing. Hill had seven catches for 130 yards and the TD, while Jaylen Waddle finished with five receptions for 109 yards.
Before the game, Hill was detained by police about a block from the stadium over a traffic violation that led to a verbal argument. He was not arrested but cited for a moving violation, according to his agent.
Trevor Lawrence completed 12 of 21 passes for 162 yards and a touchdown for the Jaguars, who were outgained 400-267. Tank Bigsby was the game’s leading rusher with 73 yards on 12 carries.
Jalen Ramsey was called for defensive pass interference with 4:34 left in the first quarter, costing Miami 40 yards. One play later, Etienne plunged into the end zone from 1 yard out to put the Jaguars up 7-0.
Jacksonville doubled its lead when Lawrence capped an eight-play, 55-yard drive with a 14-yard touchdown pass to rookie Brian Thomas with 6:21 to go in the second quarter.
De’Von Achane got the Dolphins on the board with 1:04 remaining in the first half, rushing for a 1-yard TD.
However, Miami left too much time on the clock for the Jaguars, who managed to get a 53-yard field goal from Cam Little as time expired for a 17-7 advantage at the intermission.
–Field Level Media
