MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. _ Just as the Miami Dolphins' playoff hopes and season seemed to be slipping away, they came up with their biggest play of the season.
Ryan Tannehill threw a 14-yard pass to Kenny Stills, who lateraled the ball to DeVante Parker, who then passed it to Kenyan Drake, who found a seam and ran it 52 yards in the final 16 seconds for a game-winning touchdown against the New England Patriots.
Dolphins defeated the Patriots, 34-33, in front of an announced crowd of 66,087 people in the second-to-last home game at Hard Rock Stadium on Sunday.
And Miami's hopes to extend this season into the postseason overcame a near-disheartening blow against New England.
The Patriots extended their lead to, 33-28, with 16 seconds left after Patriots kicker Stephen Gostkowski kicked a 22-yard field goal with 17 seconds left.
Rookie Kalen Ballage returned the ensuing kickoff 16 yards, and the Dolphins pulled out a hook with two laterals to win the game.
The Dolphins had two pivotal opportunities to convert game-changing third downs that nearly put their playoff hopes on the brink.
Tannehill threw a high pass that was out of Stills' grasp on the second-to-last offensive drive for the Dolphins.
But it was an inopportune miscue by Stills, who slid one yard shy of the first down marker after a catch on 2nd and 16 earlier in the quarter that unquestionably altered Miami's momentum in the game.
Tannehill was sacked on the next play with 10 minutes left in the fourth quarter. The Dolphins held a 28-27 left over the Patriots at the time, supported by a critical sack by defensive back Bobby McCain at the end of the third quarter.
A score by the Dolphins could have been the difference in a victory or a loss for Miami.
Luckily Miami was able to convert on the final play to prevent the Patriots from clinching the AFC East on Sunday.
The Dolphins answered each of the Patriots' first three touchdowns with scores of their own. Their 21 halftime points were the most in a first half in three seasons.
Despite being hampered by four sacks, having two punts uncharacteristically blocked, and the Patriots converting 7 of 10 third downs in the first half, the Dolphins trailed by just 27-21 at halftime.
Miami was able to avoid a disastrous end to the first half when Tannehill left the game with a right foot injury with a minute remaining.
The Patriots blocked their second Dolphins punt of the game, and Brady overthrew Chris Hogan before being sacked on the final play of the half by defensive end Robert Quinn to keep the game close.
Miami's luck continued in the second half, too, when Gostkowski missed a 42-yard field goal, adding to his missed PAT on the first drive of the game.
Frank Gore had a 16-yard run, and a 24-yard catch and run to set up Tannehill's touchdown pass to Brice Butler with 3:58 left in the third quarter to take a 28-27 lead.
Dolphins rookie cornerback Minkah Fitzpatrick was called for pass interference on a deep pass from Tom Brady to Josh Gordon in the final minute, and Gostkowski's field goal nearly put the game away.
Instead, the Dolphins improve to 7-6, with a trip to Minnesota to face the Vikings next week.
