When the Miami Dolphins lined up in a trick formation with their punter at quarterback, the play seemed to have the potential to be a disaster.
The Dolphins are having a tough season, and this formation looked a lot like the swinging-gate formation that produced the worst play of the decade for the Indianapolis Colts. This Dolphins’ play looked poised to upstage that one. Those watching Miami’s game against the Philadelphia were probably thinking: Oh boy, Not this again.
But we saw something entirely unlike that Colts’ play on the Dolphins’ fourth-and-goal from the 1-yard line on Sunday. We saw something beautiful. Punter Matt Haack took the snap. That, in itself, seemed like a mistake. He then started running directly at a wall of three unblocked Eagles defenders. What could go wrong? But then Haack flipped the ball over the defenders to a wide open Jason Sanders, the placekicker.
What? How? Touchdown? TOUCHDOWN!
Philadelphia will always have The Philly Special (a.k.a. “Philly Philly”). That play was of greater consequence in the annals of NFL history. But from a schematic standpoint, I can’t help but say that this was a far more exciting and creative play than what the Eagles made famous in Super Bowl LII. Dolphins coach Brian Flores and offensive coordinator Chad O’Shea put together something special.
Twitter had a predictably amazed reaction to the beauty of a play. (A few folks poked fun at Alabama coach Nick Saban, who fell prey to a trick formation on Saturday against the Auburn Tigers on Saturday.)
