MIAMI GARDENS –– Green Bay’s defense intercepted Tua Tagovailoa three moments in the fourth quarter to aid the Packers appear from powering to defeat the Miami Dolphins 26-20 and hold their playoff hopes alive.
Jim Rassol / AP
Aaron Rodgers threw for 238 yards and a touchdown and experienced 1 interception for the Packers (7-8), who have received their previous three game titles immediately after starting off the season 4-8.
>>>>>ANALYSIS: Steve Goldstein on Dolphins’ loss to Packers
Miami (8-7) lost its fourth straight match and need to acquire its ultimate two to make the postseason.
The Dolphins trailed by six points with a prospect to acquire the lead in the ultimate two minutes, but Tagovailoa threw his 3rd interception in 3 belongings to conclusion Miami’s comeback bid. He threw a decide with about six minutes remaining that set up a Packers discipline target to make it a six-place game.
Packers kicker Mason Crosby strike a go-ahead area goal early in the fourth right after back-to-back again turnovers by both offenses.
Undrafted Miami rookie Kader Kohou intercepted a go by Rodgers meant for Allen Lazard, but the Dolphins gave it right again when cornerback Jaire Alexander intercepted Tagovailoa on the extremely upcoming participate in.
Miami’s defense held the Packers to six details off turnovers in the second 50 % to continue to keep the Dolphins in it just after blowing a 20-10 first-50 percent lead.
The Dolphins held Environmentally friendly Bay to two scores in five journeys to the purple zone.
A.J. Dillon led the Packers with 36 yards dashing on 11 carries, and Allen Lazard experienced 61 yards acquiring on five catches.
Tyreek Hill experienced four catches for Miami to give him 113 for the season, placing a Dolphins’ solitary-time acquiring document. Jaylen Waddle included 5 receptions for 143 yards.
But Miami spoiled those significant obtaining days with turnovers.
Raheem Mostert fumbled in the very first half, major to a Environmentally friendly Bay industry intention. Tagovailoa’s a few interceptions ended up the most he has thrown all season.
Miami fully commited to the operate activity early, dashing for 82 yards in opposition to Inexperienced Bay right after a period-superior 188 yards hurrying towards Buffalo in 7 days 15.
The Dolphins ran four moments for 38 yards on their opening generate and took a 3- lead, and Green Bay countered with a discipline objective to tie it just after Keisean Nixon’s 93-garden kickoff return established up the Packers at the 9-lawn line.
Miami created a 20-13 halftime direct immediately after an 84-garden TD by Waddle and 1-garden TD operate by Jeff Wilson.
Dillon’s 1-lawn TD operate on Eco-friendly Bay’s very first possession of the 3rd quarter tied the recreation.
Restricted finish Marcedes Lewis also experienced a 1-property TD catch in the 1st quarter.
Much more TURNOVERS
Rodgers’ interception in the fourth quarter was his 11th select of the year, his highest complete due to the fact he had 11 in the course of Green Bay’s Super Bowl-successful year in 2010. Rodgers threw a profession-higher 13 interceptions in 2008.
Christmas CHILL
The temperature at Difficult Rock Stadium was 46 degrees Fahrenheit (8 degrees Celsius) at kickoff, which marked the next-coldest property recreation in Dolphins history. The coldest was performed on Christmas Eve in 1989 in opposition to Kansas Town in 40-degree temperature. The Chiefs gained that match 27-24.
Holiday Background
Tagovailoa’s 84-property TD move to Waddle was the longest offensive TD rating on Xmas day in NFL heritage, in accordance to NFL Exploration. It was athe fourth-longest TD in Dolphins historical past and the longest because Dan Marion’s 85-garden TD go to Mark Duper in 1986 vs. the Houston Oilers. It was also the longest TD catch of Waddle’s vocation.
Injuries
Packers: DE Dean Lowry wounded his calf in the next quarter. … Keisean Nixon remaining with a groin personal injury. … WR Christian Watson left with a hip personal injury.
Dolphins: LB Bradley Chubb (hand) remaining in the very first quarter and afterwards returned. … FB Alec Ingold hurt his thumb.
UP Following
Packers: Host Minnesota on Jan. 1.
Dolphins: Check out New England on Jan. 1.
