The Miami Dolphins threatened to make things awfully uncomfortable for the Green Bay Packers in the second half. After a 70-play touchdown drive and a defensive stop, the Dolphins drove over 80 yards and threatened to score another touchdown that would’ve potentially cut Green Bay’s lead to eight.
Instead, a second down run for De’Von Achane from the 1-yard line was stopped for no gain. A third down pass to tight end Jonnu Smith was knocked away by a Packers defender. And finally, Tua Tagovailoa was sacked on fourth down.
“There is a play call that I’d absolutely like to have back,” Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel told reporters of the fourth down play. “It was a collection of things over the four-play process that will be tough for us to swallow when we watch the film.”
On the final play of the drive, Tagovailoa faked a handoff to Achane before looking for a receiver to get open. But only Jaylen Waddle and Durham Smythe, who were both tightly covered, even made it across the goal line before Packers pass rushers swallowed up Tagovailoa.
The other three options never came close to getting free. Alec Ingold tripped over the leg of right tackle Kendall Lamm, and both Achane and Julian Hill struggled to find their way through traffic in the middle of the field. The result was a disastrous fourth down call that never had a chance.
A SACK ON 4TH & GOAL!
Pro Bowl vote 🗳️: https://t.co/JsfUV5geTn pic.twitter.com/4uLlomGoxI
— Green Bay Packers (@packers) November 29, 2024
According to Tagovailoa, Ingold was the first read on the play.
“I had seen Alec [Ingold] fall and as I got through to Jaylen [Waddle], I couldn’t really navigate to see if he won his matchup or not,” Tagovailoa said. “By that time I was just trying to maneuver through the pocket and hopefully find an opening to find somebody on a scramble drill.”
The turnover on downs essentially slammed the door on the Dolphins’ comeback bid and the Packers nailed the coffin shut with a 78-yard drive capped by a field goal that pushed their lead to 19.
