Miami Dolphins head coach Brian Flores made it very easy to see what side of the “tanking” debate he stood on in 2019. Despite the narrative that the team was looking to flush games down the toilet and secure themselves the No. 1 overall selection in the 2019 NFL Draft, Flores’ play-calling and overall approach to coaching the Dolphins was designed to accomplish one goal: win.
And, in the second half of the Dolphins’ season, they actually won a fair amount. The Dolphins went 5-11 in the entirety of the 2019 NFL season but that record came despite starting the season 0-7. Flores’ aggressiveness in some cases directly contributed to a loss — such as the failed 2-point conversion in the final seconds against the Washington Redskins in the first half of the season.
But Miami was attempting to win the football game, period.
While the aggressiveness against Washington did not pay off, there were plenty of risks that did for Flores and the Dolphins. Playing with nothing to lose, Miami was free to fake punts, surprise onside kick and extend drives on 4th-down all throughout the season.
Two of Miami’s 4th-down attempts made the NFL’s highlight reel of the best 4th-down conversions in all of football last season. You’ll definitely remember one — the ‘Mountaineer Shot’ trick play between punter Matt Haack and kicker Jason Sanders against the Philadelphia Eagles. That play won the NFL’s ‘Play of the Year’ award in 2019. The other conversion to make the list? That one also came against the Philadelphia Eagles — as Ryan Fitzpatrick and DeVante Parker hooked up for a long touchdown on 4th and long to help kickstart Miami’s comeback from a 10-0 deficit en route to a victory at home against the Eagles.
What other big plays made the list? See for yourselves — the full slate of 4th-down conversions from 2019 is available to watch here:
Fourth down? No pressure.
The best fourth-down conversions from 2019! pic.twitter.com/KLajobKf2w
— NFL (@NFL) July 9, 2020