After taking a 16-0 lead into halftime against the New Orleans Saints in week thirteen, the Miami Dolphins found themselves needing some late game magic to claim victory at home coming off of the bye week. However, in this contest, the late game heroics didn’t come from Miami’s offense — it was the defense that saved the day on Sunday.
Saints rookie quarterback Tyler Shough and second-year wide receiver Devaughn Vele got into a groove during the late stages of Sunday’s game in Miami, putting up big numbers en route to the near comeback. However, it was a phenomenal defensive play from one of the Dolphins top defenders that saved the day for Miami in this one.
Miami Dolphins Week Thirteen MVP – SAF Minkah Fitzpatrick
After a late touchdown that brought the Saints all the way back to within two points of the Dolphins, New Orleans needed to attempt a two-point conversion to deadlock the contest in an attempt to get the game to overtime. Shough tried to fit a throw into a tight window near the goalline, however Dolphins safety (and my Most Valuable ‘Phin for week thirteen) intercepted the pass and took the football all the way to the house for the rare Pick-2 play — putting the Dolphins up by four points in the process.
Those two points proved to be very consequential, as the Saints then recovered a controversial onside kick and began their final drive needing a touchdown to win — not just a field goal.
Miami’s defense would stop New Orleans on a 4th and 1 quarterback sneak attempt to win the game, but without the two-points scored by Fitzpatrick just moments earlier, the Saints would have been able to attempt a 52-yard field goal try to potentially win the game instead of having to go for it on 4th down.
That play, combined with Fitzpatrick’s first career sack (which resulted in a fumble recovered by Miami) earlier in the contest, gave the Dolphins safety the slight edge over running back De’Von Achane for this week’s MVP award.
MVP TRACKER
Week One – RB De’Von Achane
Week Two – WR/PR Malik Washington
Week Three – RB Ollie Gordon II
Week Four – TE Darren Waller
Week Five – WR Jaylen Waddle
Week Six – RB De’Von Achane
Week Seven – RB De’Von Achane
Week Eight – LB Jordyn Brooks
Week Nine – OL Daniel Brunskill
Week Ten – RB De’Von Achane
Week Eleven – LB Jordyn Brooks
Week Twelve – BYE
Week Thirteen – SAF Minkah Fitzpatrick
