MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. _ Kenyan Drake sat on the Dolphins sideline, head sunk into his hands, inconsolable by teammates after the biggest play of the game.
He did not have to wake long to redeem himself.
Drake, shortly after fumbling a game-winning touchdown in overtime, had two short runs and a 15-yard reception in the flat. Quarterback Brock Osweiler, in his first start with the Dolphins, found Danny Amendola in the flat for a 6-yard gain, and rookie kicker Jason Sanders kicked a game-winning 47-yard field goal to give the Dolphins a 31-28 win on Sunday in Hard Rock Stadium.
The Dolphins nearly surrendered a comeback victory in overtime, led Osweiler and fueled by veteran offseason acquisitions like receiver Albert Wilson, Amendola and running back Frank Gore.
After winning the toss to start overtime, Osweiler scrambled to the right and threw a pass deflected off of Amendola into Kenny Stills' hands for a 35-yard gain. Gore broke free for a 32-yard run to get the Dolphins inside the 10-yard line, and the Dolphins reached the 1-yard line before Drake's miscue.
Drake took a handoff at the 1-yard line, was hit by Bears defensive tackle Akiem Hicks, and fumbled the football before crossing the plane for a debilitating Dolphins turnover on the first drive of overtime.
Former Dolphins kicker Cody Parkey, who was not re-signed at the end of last season, nearly had the last laugh, missing a game-winning 53-yard field goal for the Bears with two minutes left in overtime.
But the Dolphins prevailed to snap a two-game losing skid, and improve to 4-2 this season.
Osweiler, who took first team repetitions in Friday's practice, earned the start on Sunday morning after Tannehill was ruled inactive. Tannehill worked out before the game and received treatment with the intention of playing, but ultimately watched from the sidelines in street clothes.
Osweiler improves to 14-12 after his 26th career start, which resulted in a career high 380 yards passing with three touchdowns and two interceptions.
The Dolphins allowed the Bears to take a 21-10 lead in a matter of minutes in the beginning of the second half.
Bears second-year quarterback Mitchell Trubisky, the former No. 2 overall pick, took advantage of Dolphins second-year cornerbacks Torry McTyer and Cordrea Tankersley.
Bears speedster Tarik Cohen shredded the Dolphins' defense, too.
That's until the Dolphins mounted a comeback of their own.
Osweiler found Wilson on a short pass that saw him run past six defenders for a 75-yard touchdown to tie the game at 28 with 3:01 left.
The touchdown helped the Dolphins score on one play from scrimmage shortly after Trubisky found a wide open Anthony Miller in the middle of the field for a 29-yard touchdown to take a 28-21 lead with 3:17 left.
The Dolphins spoiled Chicago's final drive of regulation as linebacker Kiko Alonso forced a fumble by Cohen that was recovered by Xavien Howard near midfield.
But Miami was unable to take advantage of their third turnover of the game. Osweiler's screen pass to Wilson went for five yards near midfield. Instead of kicking a 59-yard field goal with 41 seconds left, the Dolphins punted inside the 10-yard line, and the Bears took a knee to force overtime.
The Dolphins took a 7-0 lead into halftime, but it took 1:42 of offensive plays on two drives for Chicago to take control of the game.
Trubisky opened a four-play drive with a 28-yard run, moved 32 yards up the field on a pass interference by Minkah Fitzpatrick, threw a 6-yard pass across his body to Cohen, and tossed an inside pitch to tight end Trey Burton for a 9-yard touchdown.
Osweiler threw his second interception of the game on the ensuing drive, a pass intended for Wilson that ended up at the 12-yard line thanks to Bears cornerback Kyle Fuller.
One play later, Trubisky threw a 12-yard touchdown pass to Allen Robinson to take a 14-7 lead less than five minutes into the second half.
Sanders kicked a 50-yard field goal to help the Dolphins cut the lead to 14-10.
But the Bears quickly answered again, as Cohen sped his way up the left side for a 21-yard touchdown to give Chicago a 24-10 lead with 6:50 left in the third quarter.
Osweiler drove the Dolphins down the field for 11 plays, but an untimely delay of game penalty at the 13-yard line ruined Miami's momentum, and the Dolphins settled on a 25-yard field goal by Sanders shortly before the fourth quarter, to make it 21-13.
The Bears threatened to score again, with Trusbisky finding Cohen in the end zone for a short touchdown, but the play was reversed thanks to a pass interference by Burton.
Dolphins safety T.J. McDonald intercepted Trubisky in the end zone on the next play, Miami's second turnover forced inside the red zone in the game to keep the score close.
The Dolphins quickly scored after the turnover, as Osweiler found Wilson for a screen pass that went 43 yards for a touchdown. Then, Osweiler found Stills in the back of the end zone to tie the game at 21 on the two-point conversion.
Osweiler was stellar, but not perfect.
On the Dolphins' second drive of the game, Osweiler threw a 5-yard touchdown pass to new tight end Nick O'Leary to capitalize on two penalties against the Bears, including a body slam of Amendola by Bears linebacker Leonard Floyd.
Miami was unable to take advantage of its first goal-line turnover of the game. Bears starting running back Jordan Howard ran into Burton, but defensive end Robert Quinn was credited with forced fumble, which was recovered by Alonso.
Osweiler converted two third down plays on the next drive, but he threw an interception on a pass intended for DeVante Parker near the goal line in the final minute of the first half.
It is unclear how long Tannehill will be sidelined, but Osweiler was more than serviceable in his first start for the Dolphins, who host the Lions next Sunday.
