Here's what the Miami Dolphins look like when their rookie quarterback holds up his end:
They win exciting, cuticle-chewing, playoff-style games on the road against good teams.
Tua Tagovailoa ran threw for 248 yards and two touchdowns and, just as importantly, picked up a third-and-short with his legs here Sunday.
In all, it was good enough for a 34-31 Dolphins victory — their fifth win in six games, and second in as many start for Tagovailoa.
The win improved the Dolphins to 5-3 on the season. Miami finished the first half of the season as the AFC's seventh seed and have the league's eighth-easiest remaining schedule.
The Cardinals dropped to 5-3.
Tagoavailoa had never had the ball, trailing, in the fourth quarter — until Sunday.
How he responded on his first opportunity: By leading the Dolphins on a 10-play, 93-yard touchdown drive capped by an 11-yard scoring strike to Mack Hollins. On the drive, Tagovailoa completed all five of his passes for 53 yards and also scrambled for 23 more on two carries.
Then after a Dolphins' defensive stop — Zach Seiler blew up a running play on fourth-and-1, and Elandon Roberts cleaned up the tackle — they took over on their own 40.
The game was tied. Five and a quarter minutes remained on the clock.
Tagovailoa quickly moved the Dolphins from their own 40 to Arizona's 32. But instead of going for it on fourth and a couple of feet, Brian Flores sent out Jason Sanders for a 50-yard field goal attempt. Sanders made it, and in the process set a new franchise record by making 20 consecutive field goals.
Then Kliff Kingsbury got too cute for his own good.
He threw, incomplete, on third-and-1 from from Miami's 31 and despite converting on two fourth-and-shorts earlier in the game, sent in Zane Gonzalez for a 49-yard field goal attempt.
The kick was short.
