MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. _ Miami Dolphins quarterback Ryan Tannehill just keep getting better. And Sunday, that was even in spite of playing behind an offensive line that was missing three starters.
Tannehill, whose role has increased each of the last three games as opponents have loaded up against the run, was dazzling Sunday, leading the Dolphins to a 31-24 victory. Tannehill ended 20 of 30 for 285 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions.
The Dolphins (7-4) extended their winning streak to six games, their longest since 2005. The Dolphins haven't won seven straight games since 1985.
The Dolphins had to endure a bit of an adventurous finish. Protecting a 31-24 lead with less than two minutes remaining they had to fend off 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick and his offense.
San Francisco had two plays from the 6-yard line with five seconds left. The first was an incomplete pass in the end zone. That left two seconds on the clock. Kaepernick tries to run it in but defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh and linebacker Kiko Alonso, who also had a fumble recovery and an interception, made the stop around the 2-yard line with no time left.
Running back Jay Ajayi, the workhorse of the current winning streak through the first three games, was limited to 45 yards rushing on 18 carries against San Francisco, which entered as the NFL's worst rushing defense.
No problem. Tannehill threw touchdown passes of 16, 43 and 15 yards to give the Dolphins mobility. Now, the Dolphins seem to be a dual threat offensively. During the first three games of the winning streak they totaled 615 rushing yards and six rushing touchdowns, but during the last three games they've totaled 69 yards passing and seven passing touchdowns.
Tannehill, whose status as the Dolphins quarterback of the future was being questioned when the team stumbled to a 1-4 start, originally took a back seat while Ajayi fueled the offense.
But in the last three games Ajayi has rushed for 79, 77 and 45 yards, so Tannehill has taken charge, and it's worked out well as wide receivers Jarvis Landry, DeVante Parker and Kenny Stills have all sprung to life.
Tight ends Dion Sims and MarQueis Gray have also had their roles increase in the passing game recently.
All of this is because Tannehill, despite being without left tackle Laremy Tunsil (shoulder), left tackle Branden Albert (wrist) and center Mike Puuncey (hip), has led the offense to good things.
Tannehill was 24 of 34 for 172 yards, two touchdowns and one interception in last week's 14-10 victory at Los Angeles. He led the Dolphins to a pair of fourth-quarter touchdown drives in the final 6:40 for the victory and ended with a modest 89.3 passer rating.
Tannehill was 17 of 24 for 240 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions in the 31-24 victory at San Diego. He had a sparkling 130.6 passer rating, the second-best of his career after the perfect 158.3 he had against Houston last season.
Prior to that, Tannehill was so-so. He was 17 of 28 for 149 yards, one touchdown and no interceptions in the 27-23 victory over the New York Jets. He had a lukewarm 86.8 passer rating.
Tannehill was 15 of 25 for 204 yards, one touchdown and no interceptions in the 28-25 victory over Buffalo. He had a respectable 99.4 passer rating. He was 24 of 32 for 252 yards no touchdowns and no interceptions for a 97.4 passer rating. Tannehill began the day Sunday 97 of 133 for 1,107 yards, five touchdowns and one interception with a passer rating of 100.7 during the winning streak.
Tannehill, who also had five carries for 32 yards against the 49ers, was as accurate as he's been all season Sunday. His passes seemed to have purpose and precision despite being sacked twice and being under a decent amount of pressure.
This is a game that featured two of the NFL's worst rushing defenses. San Francisco entered dead last in the NFL at 179 yards per game while the Dolphins were 30th at 128 yards per game.
So it figured one running back would likely have a big day. As it turned out, both defenses sold out to stop the run and dared the quarterbacks to win the game.
It was a challenge both quarterbacks accepted early.
San Francisco scored first on an 11-yard run by running back Carlos Hyde (13 carries, 65 yards). Ajayi had 11 carries for 25 yards (2.3 yards per carry) at halftime. Hyde had six carries for 29 yards (4.8 yards per carry).
Tannehill was 12 of 17 for 154 yards, one touchdown and no interceptions at halftime while Kaepernick was 9 of 14 for 63 yards, one touchdown and no interceptions.
Kaepernick added four rushes for 62 yards including a gain of 30 in the first half; Tannehill had three carries for 24 yards, including a gain of 17.
San Francisco entered the game on a nine-game losing streak. The Dolphins visit Baltimore next week.
