On the last play of the game, the Dolphins used multiple laterals to find an opening and score the game-winning touchdown.
It didn’t involve running through Stanford’s band, but in a play that evoked memories of “The Play,” the Miami Dolphins lateraled their way to a last-second miracle touchdown on Sunday, beating the New England Patriots, 34-31.
Just like Cal did when facing off with the Cardinal back in 1982, the Dolphins found themselves down late and needing a touchdown to win. And like Cal, they knew they couldn’t get in the end zone with just one player carrying the ball.
In this 2018 version, which was pulled off at Miami’s Hard Rock Stadium, Ryan Tannehill took the snap at Miami’s 31-yard line. He threw 14 yards to Kenny Stills and as the wide receiver absorbed some contact from Jonathan Jones, the broadcast team declared “this will end it.”
Stills, though, showed terrific awareness of the field, turned and lateraled the ball to DeVante Parker who ran just a bit before pitching the ball to Kenyan Drake.
The play still seemed likely to end in failure, but Drake, a running back, broke a tackle, cut left, got a tremendous block to give him some room, and then cut back right, streaking down the sideline and into the end zone, easily outrunning Rob Gronkowski, the Patriots’ tight end who had been in on defense to help in deep pass coverage.
