There’s a message posted around the Miami Dolphins locker room.The message is a quote from Miami Heat owner Pat Riley, which reads: "Every now and then, somewhere, someplace, sometime, you are going to have to plant your feet, stand firm, and make a point about WHO YOU ARE, and what you believe in."
About an hour ago, with the season on the line and their backs against the wall, the Miami Dolphins filled in all the blanks in the most dramatic, heart-wrenching of fashions.
The somewhere? An electric Sun Life Stadium. The someplace? The Miami 14-yard line. The sometime? Seven seconds left, fourth down.
Enter newly signed cornerback Michael Thomas. Who? You’re not the only one asking.
“I didn’t even know his first name,” Jared Odrick later told the South Florida media.
“He just got here this week, nobody knows his name,” added Bryant McKinnie.
“Who is No. 31?”
After intercepting Tom Brady in the end zone with his new team’s season hanging in the balance, I think it’s safe to say Michael Thomas is now a household name in Miami.
Message read. Message received. Message executed. What a game. What a season. What a special group of players within that once heralded locker room.
Where do you even start? How about No. 17? The kid is growing up right before your eyes, Dolfans, and he’s doing it at a rapid pace.
Ryan Tannehill finished the day going 25-37 for 312 yards, three touchdowns and a career-best 120.6 QB rating. But none of that mattered on the final offensive drive, where Tannehill took over with 4:07 to play from his own 40-yard line.
Following a second down sack, Tannehill connected with Brian Hartline up to the Miami 45, setting up a 4th-and-5 and forcing Joe Philbin to make a decision that, like Tannehill, would force him to grow up as well.
Punt, or put the season on the line right now.
Philbin chose the ladder, and Charles Clay did the rest, catching a screen pass behind the line of scrimmage, breaking a tackle and forcing his way across the first-down line.
Tannehill would go back to work, hitting Rishard Matthews and Brian Hartline on back-to-back plays, bringing Miami down to the New England 14 with just over a minute to play, and needing a touchdown.
And then, with the poise, accuracy and composure of a wily veteran, Ryan Tannehill delivered, connecting with Marcus Thigpen on a back shoulder throw that gave Miami the lead with 1:14 to play.
Ryan Tannehill did his best Tom Brady. And now, it was Brady’s turn.
Starting from his own 20, with all three timeouts, Brady would methodically move the Patriots down the field, converting a huge fourth early in the drive, and getting down to the Miami 14 yard line.
Following a near touchdown pass to Danny Amendola (the ball was knocked out after he initially made the catch), and another heart-stopping incompletion to tight end Michael Hoomanawanui, Brady and the Patriots faced a 4th-and-5 with seven seconds left.
With Brent Grimes on the sidelines nursing a groin injury he suffered earlier in the game and Nolan Carroll right beside him because of an injury of his own, Michael Thomas was thrusted onto the field along with rookie Will Davis and was asked to do something few can say they’ve done.
Stop Tom Brady.
In the biggest moment, on the biggest stage, Thomas and the Miami defense planted their feet, stood firm and showed the NFL who they were and what they believed in.
Interception. Game over. Seven-game losing streak (to the Patriots) erased.
The Dolphins now sit at 8-6, winners of three in a row and five of their last seven. A Baltimore loss tomorrow night would give Miami sole possession of the final AFC wild card spot with two games to play.
But that will all take care of itself. For now, Dolfans, enjoy it. Because it really doesn’t get any bigger than this.
Something special is going on in Miami, from the quarterback, to the head coach, and everyone in between. Somewhere, someplace, Pat Riley is smiling tonight.
For the Dolphins, this is a landmark win for the ages.
By Zach Dean
