Dolphins need overtime to knock off Commanders in Spain
Riley Patterson's 29-yard field goal with 7:33 remaining in overtime lifted the Miami Dolphins to a 16-13 victory over the Washington Commanders on Sunday in the NFL's first regular-season game in Madrid, Spain.
The winning score was set up when Jack Jones intercepted Washington quarterback Marcus Mariota on the first play of the extra period and returned it to the Commanders' 33-yard line.
De'Von Achane, who led the Dolphins with 120 rushing yards on 21 carries and 165 all-purpose yards, got Miami 22 yards closer on three carries to set up Patterson's game-winner.
It was Achane's second 100-yard rushing game in a row as Miami (4-7) won back-to-back contests for the first time this season.
Mariota, who made his second consecutive start for the Commanders for an injured Jayden Daniels (elbow), completed 20 of 30 passes for 213 yards and one touchdown, but his lone interception set Washington (3-8) on the path to its sixth consecutive defeat.
Each team had chances to take the lead in regulation.
Washington's Mike Sainristil muffed a punt and Dolphins' defensive back Ethan Bonner recovered at the Washington 42 with 4:11 left.
The Dolphins drove to Washington's 1 before Achane was stopped cold by Javon Kinlaw for no gain on third and goal. Miami went for it on 4th and goal instead of kicking a go-ahead field goal, and Ollie Gordon II was stuffed for a 1-yard loss, turning the ball over on downs with 1:41 left.
Washington's push into Miami territory ended with Matt Gay missing a 56-yard field goal with 15 seconds remaining in regulation.
Earlier in the fourth, the Commanders also went for it on fourth and goal from Miami's 1 instead of trying a go-ahead field goal. Mariota slipped as he threw and the pass sailed out of the reach of Zach Ertz, ending the drive with 6:03 left.
The Commanders broke a 6-6 tie in the third quarter with the game's first touchdown when Mariota found Deebo Samuel on a quick screen. The 20-yard score put Washington ahead 13-6. Samuel finished the game with seven receptions for 74 yards.
The Dolphins tied the game 13-13 with 12:36 remaining on a 1-yard touchdown run by Gordon, which capped a 10-play, 53-yard drive.
Raiders Insider Thinks Veteran RB Could Be Surprise Cut
Going into training camp, Raheem Mostert seemed like one of the safer bets to make the Raiders’ roster, but in the days leading up to the final preseason game, at least one insider covering the team thinks Mostert might be one of the Raiders’ surprise cuts next week.
Las Vegas Review-Journal insider Vinny Bonsignore left Mostert off his most recent 53-man roster projection and he explained his rationale this week.
“Zamir White kind of burst through early in training camp, and it’s been nothing but steps in the right direction for him. I think he’s really impressed a lot of people around here, including offensive coordinator Chip Kelly,” Bonsignore said on the Vegas Nation First and 10 podcast.
“I would have to say that as of right now, the combination of [Zamir] doing his thing… and also the lack of Raheem sometimes at practices has really maybe solidified Zamir as that number two running back.”
The player that could surpass Mostert on the depth chart, according to Bonsignore, is second-year player Dylan Laube.
“If you move Raheem down to the third running back role, I think that puts his roster spot in a little bit of peril, because there’s guys behind him, and Sincere McCormack and Dylan Laube, Dylan in particular, can play special teams,” Bonsignore continued.
“I just keep seeing Dylan Lauby lining up with every first team special teams. Every day, when they go to special teams, he’s on a first team unit, punt return, punt coverage, kickoff return, kick coverage. He’s always out there. So that, I think, is really starting to convince me that he might have a spot on this 53-man roster.”
Without question, Mostert brings experience to the Raiders’ running back room, but at 33 years-old, some might say he brings a little too much experience.
In March, Mostert signed a one-year, $1.6 million contract with the Raiders and only $175,000 of that amount is guaranteed, according to Spotrac.
