"Miami Miracle" 2018
"Miami Miracle" 2018
December 9, 2018

"Miami Miracle" 2018

"What's Gronk doing out here?" - Kenyan Drake

Thirty-six years after their iconic “Hook and Lateral,” the Dolphins pulled off another long-shot play in Miami that stunned an opponent – only this time, they actually won the game. What would be described as the "Miami Miracle" took place on the afternoon December 9, 2018, in the fourth quarter of a game against the Patriots. Down 33-28 with seven seconds left and the ball on the New England 31, the contest appeared to be over for Miami. Dolphins QB Ryan Tannehill took the snap and threw a pass over the middle to receiver Kenny Stills, near midfield. Stills lateraled the ball to his right, to receiver DeVante Parker. Parker lateraled the ball to his right, to a streaking Kenyan Drake along the right sideline, who broke a tackle and found some open space inside the Patriot 40. Drake looked left and moved slowly, as if considering a lateral, then shifted into another gear, followed a perfect block and blasted upfield, with only two Patriots in front of him. Drake sprinted to the outside and won a foot race with the Patriots' Rob Gronkowski, into the end zone for a game-ending 69-yard touchdown and a 34-33 victory. The play had no bearing on the teams’ performances moving forward, though, as the Dolphins dropped their final three games, finishing 7-9, while the Patriots won Super Bowl 53.