SportsDirect Inc. staff
Sep 22, 2013
Dolphins 27, Falcons 23: Ryan Tannehill hit Dion Sims for a 1-yard touchdown pass to cap a 75-yard drive late in the fourth quarter as host Miami rallied to improve to 3-0 for the first time since 2002.
Tannehill was 9-of-12 for 69 yards on the winning drive and finished 24-of-35 for 236 yards with two touchdowns and an interception. Atlanta (1-2) got the ball back with 38 seconds left and two timeouts, but Jimmy Wilson picked off Matt Ryan on the second play of the drive to seal the win.
Ryan passed for 231 yards and two touchdowns, Julio Jones caught nine passes for 115 yards and Jacquizz Rodgers had a career-high 86 yards on 18 carries, but the Falcons converted only two of their five red-zone trips for touchdowns.
Ryan was 15-of-17 for 118 yards and a touchdown in the first half, but the Falcons only held a 13-10 lead at the break. Jason Snelling's 7-yard TD reception capped a 14-play, 80-yard drive on their first possession, but they had to settle for field goals of 52 and 20 yards from Matt Bryant on their next two scoring drives.
Osi Umenyiora's sack and forced fumble on the second play of the second half set up the Falcons at the Miami 12, and Ryan hit Levine Toilolo for a 2-yard touchdown four plays later. But the Falcons didn't find the end zone again, settling for a 33-yard field goal from Bryant before a 35-yard miss set up Miami's winning drive.
GAME NOTEBOOK: The Dolphins visit the New Orleans Saints for a matchup of unbeaten teams next Monday night. … Bryant is 9-for-10 from beyond 50 yards since joining the Falcons in 2009. … Dolphins rookie K Caleb Sturgis made field goals of 46 and 50 yards to improve to 6-for-6 for the season.