The Miami Dolphins won again on Sunday, topping the Washington Commanders, 16-13, in the NFL’s first game played in Spain from Santiago Bernabéu Stadium.
It took overtime to do so, but thanks to a second takeaway, Miami won it with a 29-yard Riley Patterson field goal. The Dolphins have won consecutive games for the first time in 2025 and have suddenly won three out of their past four.
As Miami improves to 4-7, here are three overreactions:
The Dolphins are one of the NFL’s hottest teams
It’s crazy to say, but the Dolphins have now won three of four and are suddenly on a bit of a roll. And, don’t look now, but Miami faces winnable opponents in its next two games.
The Dolphins will enjoy a Week 12 bye and then they host New Orleans (2-8) and travel to the New York Jets (2-8). Win each of those games and Miami would be at 6-7 and would close at Pittsburgh (5-4), versus Cincinnati (3-6), versus Tampa Bay (6-3) and at New England (9-2).
Could this Dolphins squad rally back from the dead and seriously enter the AFC Wild Card discussion? That’s a long road still to travel, but with winnable games in the immediate future, it just might wind up as Miami’s reality.
Miami’s defense won this game
The Dolphins’ defense came up big on Sunday. Much-maligned throughout 2025, Miami bent but didn’t break on Sunday from Spain.
From Washington’s first series forward, Miami came up with key stops. On that opening Commanders possession, Miami saw Washington drive down to the Dolphins’ 2-yard-line, but Minkah Fitzpatrick and Jordyn Brooks combined for a key tackle for loss that forced the Commanders to settle for a field goal.
Midway through the fourth quarter, Miami came up with the late goal line stand and turnover on downs. Then, the Dolphins’ defense bailed its offense out in the final moments of regulation, forcing a 56-yard Matt Gay field goal try that was no good.
And, of course, Dolphins cornerback Jack Jones came up with the play of the day when he intercepted Marcus Mariota to put Miami in position to win with the walk-off field goal in overtime.
The Dolphins’ decision to gamble on 4th-and-goal wasn’t a bad one
It’s certainly much easier to stomach now that Miami made the plays afterwards to walk out of Madrid with a victory. But, Mike McDaniel’s and Miami’s decision to gamble on fourth-and-goal from the Washington 1-yard-line with less than two minutes to play wasn’t a bad one.
The execution? Not good at all. Miami turned and handed off to rookie running back Ollie Gordon on fourth-and-goal and he was stuffed. That Gordon carry came after De’Von Achane was stuffed on the previous third-and-goal snap from the Commanders’ 1-yard-line.
Again, poor execution. There’s a conversation to be had about whether or not the Dolphins trust Tua Tagovailoa to make a throw to win the game in that spot, but the logic on rolling the dice made sense. Miami felt a touchdown would win the game and wanted to deliver the knockout blow right then and there.
This article originally appeared on Dolphins Wire: 3 overreactions to Dolphins’ overtime win vs. Commanders
