Houston Texans (9-5) – Miami Dolphins (6-7): 20 – 12
This decisive meeting in the race for the playoffs was marred by the injury exit of Grant DuBose (Dolphins). The receiver was taken out on a stretcher and on a drip in the third quarter. The illegal contact to the head left him unconscious, causing concern to everyone present in the stadium. In shock, the players from Houston and Miami continued willy-nilly in a relatively messy game on both sides. The five turnovers (including 4 for Miami) and fifteen penalties did not contribute to smoothing out the game. Sluggish this season, the Texans once again did the minimum in attack. CJ Stroud (18/26, 131 yards, 2 TDs) finds Nico Collins twice (4 receptions 17 yards, 2 TDs).
It was rather thanks to its defense that Houston won. She forced Tua Tagovailoa to thwart (29/40, 196 yards, 1 TD, 2 interceptions). Key players have not been found. Jaylen Waddle was injured, Tyreek Hill (36 yards) and De'Von Achane (76 yards combined) had little impact on the game. Jonnu Smith (9 receptions, 48 yards, 1 TD) confirms his great form in recent weeks but it was too little. Miami sees its chances of the playoffs reduced to a fraction.
Scrambled Houston Texans dominate mediocre Dolphins
Both teams enter the match timidly. The defenses are there, unlike the attacks. That of the Texans forces Miami to punt twice. Houston scored three points on its first possession before the Florida defense got their hands on CJ Stroud, also causing a punt.
The second quarter is a festival of approximation. After equalizing, Tua Tagovailoa loses the ball on a strip sack by Will Anderson and CJ Stroud finds Nico Collins in the end zone. Miami avoided drama twice: a missed interception and a covered fumble but only got three points from its possession. Then on a bad throw, the Texans lose the lead. The Dolphins are in an ideal position to score but Tagovailoa is intercepted. Callen Bullock narrowly misses the touchdown and Ka'imi Fairbairn ends the half on foot: 13-6 Houston.
Houston ends the game after the shock
The Texans start the second half in spectacular fashion. At the edge of the sack, CJ Stroud finds Tank Dell for a first down. Then Dare Ogunbowale converted again on a fake punt and Nico Collins received his second touchdown of the game. However, one action darkens the match. After a big blow to the head, Grant DuBose remained on the ground for a long time, surrounded by Miami medical staff before being taken out on a stretcher. Tagovailoa still finds his tight end Jonnu Smith to stay in the game but Jason Sanders misses the conversion.
In a position to equalize on the edge of the decisive zone, Tagovailoa was intercepted a second time, Derek Stingley Jr in action. Houston scratches minutes off the clock but the opposing defense forces them to give the ball back. The defensive squad thinks it will bury Miami's last hopes. Danielle Hunter flattens Tagovailoa but Chop Robinson imitates her on CJ Stroud. With two minutes on the clock, the Florida quarterback looks for a big gain with Tyreek Hill but Derek Stingley grabs the ball. Houston wins and is now thinking about the playoffs.
