MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. – Miami Dolphins players spread their Christmas joy with Local 10 News after clinching a playoff spot in Sunday’s 22-20 win over the Dallas Cowboys.
Local 10 News spoke with running back Raheem Mostert Sunday who shared what scoring his 21st touchdown of the season meant to him and how Miami plans to prepare for the Baltimore Ravens in a game that could determine the top seed in the AFC.
A shin injury couldn’t slow down Mostert on Sunday after the 31-year-old also broke a career milestone after rushing for over 1,000 yards for the first time in his career.
Former Washington Redskins running back John Riggins currently holds the record for most touchdowns scored by a running back 30 years or older (24).
Kicker Jason Sanders had a game for the ages after connecting on five field goals with three of them going through the uprights at 50 yards or more.
The Dolphins offense had a productive day against the Cowboys as Tua Tagovailoa threw for 293 yards and a touchdown for the AFC East-leading Dolphins (11-4), who beat a team with a winning record for the first time this season. He connected with Tyreek Hill twice on the decisive drive, which covered 64 yards and took the final 3:27 off the clock.
Hill, who leads the NFL in receiving yards, had nine catches for 99 yards after missing last week’s victory over the New York Jets with an ankle injury.
The Dolphins’ defense was also able to generate a ton of pressure on Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott after sacking him four times in the game.
Miami has the NFL’s top passing and scoring offense, as well as a top-five rushing attack and an ascending defense. However, all the Dolphins’ wins entering Week 16 came against teams that were .500 or worse.
“It’s always big when you do something that, internally, you know that you’re capable of,” Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel told reporters Sunday “When it comes to fruition, it’s pretty satisfying. Nobody on this team thought we were going to lose that game, and that’s pretty cool when everyone tells you that you can’t do X, Y or Z.”
Miami (11-4) was able to clinch a playoff berth for the second consecutive season and will now look to earn the top seed in the conference against the Baltimore Ravens at M&T Bank Stadium.
Kickoff for that game is set for 1 p.m.