MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. _ Here's what you mercifully missed, or may have unfortunately witnessed, during the Miami Dolphins' final home game of the season against the Jacksonville Jaguars:
_Two of the NFL's most inept offenses scoring on their first drives of the game. Then, nothing else _ especially from the Dolphins _ until the fourth quarter.
_Dolphins mascot, TD, in the holiday spirit wearing a Santa Claus, looking depressed after a missed field goal.
_The Jaguars, after forcing a turnover and starting an offensive drive in the red zone, ending said drive at their own 46-yard line.
_Several serenades of boos from Dolphins fans, among an announced crowd of 65,798 people in Hard Rock Stadium.
_A go-ahead scoring drive in the fourth quarter, orchestrated by former Jaguars starting quarterback Blake Bortles, who was benched midway during the season.
_And a pick-six thrown by Dolphins quarterback Ryan Tannehill after the Jaguars scored that could alter the franchise.
The Dolphins lost their final home game of the season, a 17-7 loss to the Jaguars on Sunday that eliminated Miami from playoff contention with one game remaining this season.
The Dolphins (7-8) will finish their season in Buffalo against the Bills (5-10) next week. But the future of the franchise likely hangs in the balance once the season comes to an end.
Dolphins coach Adam Gase and defensive coordinator Matt Burke may have coached their final home game Sunday.
Tannehill and defensive end Cameron Wake may have played their final home game.
Vice president of football operations Mike Tannebaum and general manager Chris Grier could be out or have have different roles with the Dolphins next year.
Tannehill, with Jaguars defensive end Calais Campbell wrapped around his ankles, threw an interception to linebacker Telvin Smith, who scored a 33-yard touchdown with 9:34 remaining to seal Miami's fate.
That was the result of the Dolphins drive that tried to answer after Bortles led Jacksonville down the field, where Kai Forbath kicked a 26-yard field goal to take a 10-7 lead with 10:56 remaining.
Both teams scored on their first drive of the game in the first quarter. It was the fourth time the Dolphins scored on their first drive in the past five games. It was the second offensive touchdown in four games for the Jaguars, too.
But incompetent offense and penalties were the story of this game between the opening drives and the final ending.
Both teams had more penalty yards than rushing yards, until Jacksonville finished the game on the ground.
The Dolphins ran plays for running backs Kenyan Drake, Kalen Ballage and Brandon Bolden, ending with a 4-yard touchdown pass from Tannehill to Bolden to begin the game. The Jaguars answered with running back Leonard Fournette scoring on a 1-yard run.
Both teams had a chance to take a 10-7 lead into halftime, but to no avail.
Jason Sanders missed a 47-yard field goal after Jaguars quarterback Cody Kessler tried to throw a pass that ultimately slipped out of his hands and was recovered by Dolphins defensive end Andre Branch.
The Dolphins punted after their worst offensive drive of the game in the final seconds before halftime, and Jaguars receiver Dede Westbrook returned it into field goal range. But Forbath missed a 56-yard kick with four seconds remaining.
The Dolphins had a chance to extend their season, extending the life of their current regime under Gase, Tannebaum and Grier, and finish 7-1 at Hard Rock Stadium for the first time since 2002 win a win over the Jaguars.
Instead, Dolphins owner Steve Ross has an early start on trying to figure out the franchise's future before the season finale against the Bills next week.
