Tag: Jason Sanders

Dolphins K Jason Sanders named AFC Special Teams Player of the Week

Of all the Miami Dolphins who are enjoying a strong start to the 2020 NFL season, you’d be hard-pressed to find one who is prospering more than kicker Jason Sanders.

Of all the Miami Dolphins who are enjoying a strong start to the 2020 NFL season, you’d be hard-pressed to find one who is prospering more than kicker Jason Sanders. Sanders has been an essential piece of the Dolphins’ offensive output over the past two weeks and he’s already set the franchise record for most consecutive field goals to open a season. He’s now 14/14 on the year after his second consecutive five field-goal performance of the season.

And now, Sanders is being recognized for his strong play to open the season — he was named the AFC Special Teams Player of the Week for Week 5 of the 2020 NFL season.

As Sanders and the Dolphins look to climb up the rankings and prove themselves to be a worthy contender in the AFC East, Sanders’ kicking prowess will be essential to the cause. The more possessions that Miami can end with a kick (either an extra point or a field goal), the more proficient this offense will be and the more successful the team will be by extension.

Miami should hope to lighten the field goal kicking load on Sanders to some degree; ideally, some of these field goals continue to evolve into touchdowns and Miami can continue to live up to their impressive scoring burst of the past four weeks. Since a slow start in Week 1 against the Patriots, Miami has averaged 31.3 points per game over their last four games. That’s a lot of kicks. Whether they’re of the three or one point variety, Sanders should have the Dolphins feeling good about their ability to convert those opportunities moving forward.

Dolphins’ Jason Sanders named AFC Special Teams Player of the Month

Miami Dolphins kicker Jason Sanders was named the AFC’s Special Teams Player of the Month for December.

The Miami Dolphins’ season hasn’t just ended with the bragging rights that come with knocking off the New England Patriots in Foxborough. Quite the contrary as a matter of fact. The Dolphins saw QB Ryan Fitzpatrick awarded for his Week 17 performance by being named the NFL’s Air Player of the Week and now Dolphins kicker Jason Sanders is bringing home some hardware of his own — he’s been named the AFC’s Special Teams Player of the Month for his performance in December.

Sanders accounted for 46 points as a kicker — but let’s not forget that Sanders also served as the recipient of a touchdown pass from holder Matt Haack in December against the Philadelphia Eagles courtesy of the “Mountaineer Shot”. So in total, Sanders booted 12 field goals, ten extra points and caught a touchdown passing, giving him a grand total of 52 total points accounted for throughout Miami’s 5 December contests.

That’s not a bad month at the office. Sanders’ month was also highlighted by a 7 field goal performance against the New York Jets back in Week 14, too — he’s been a busy Dolphin this month and the recognition is well deserved.

Sanders was drafted by the Dolphins in 2018 as the 229th overall pick in the NFL Draft and sports an 82% field goal percentage through his first two NFL seasons.

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Giants, Eli Manning snap historic losing streak, defeat Dolphins, 36-20

The New York Giants snapped their franchise-worst losing streak, getting Eli Manning a victory in what may be his final ever game.

The New York Giants and Miami Dolphins were hardly billed as must-watch football leading up to their Week 15 battle at MetLife Stadium, and they fully lived up down to those expectations on Sunday.

The first quarter was relatively tame, uneventful and, admittedly, downright boring at times. Neither offense could really get anything going, while sloppy play dominated throughout.

The Dolphins did have an opportunity to go up early, but kicker Jason Sanders was unable to connect on a 49-yard field goal in windy conditions.

Things picked up a bit in the second quarter as each team got their offense moving and the defenses began to get more physical. Still, the play was hardly anything to write home about.

Miami got on the board first, recovering from a failed fourth-down conversion on their previous series to drive the ball an impressive 89 yards on nine plays, capping things off with a 20-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick to wide receiver DeVante Parker.

The Giants immediately answered back in a big way, driving the ball 75 yards on just three plays, concluding with a 51-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Eli Manning to wide receiver Golden Tate, who did an excellent job fighting through a pass interference and staying with a ball that was bobbled.

After forcing the Dolphins to a quick punt, the Giants had an opportunity to execute a two-minute drive, but Manning inexplicably threw an interception into the waiting arms of linebacker Vince Biegel.

The Dolphins wouldn’t let that opportunity go to waste, connecting on a 24-yard field goal with just :44 remaining in the first half.

New York did little with what time remained, gaining short yardage on consecutive plays before Manning tossed a long pass incomplete along the sideline and then tossed another pick out of desperation, leaving the Giants with a 10-7 halftime deficit.

Opening the second half, the Giants came out on fire, taking the opening kickoff and driving the ball 70 yards and six incredibly effective plays, including a five-yard touchdown pass from Manning to rookie wide receiver Darius Slayton to give Big Blue a 14-10 lead.

On the ensuing series, linebacker Alec Ogletree and defensive lineman Leonard Williams went head-to-head with Fitzpatrick, who was attempting a third-down scramble for a first down, but the ball was punched loose and recovered by the Giants.

Not to be outdone, Manning promptly tossed his third interception of the day, immediately giving Miami the ball back and taking near-guaranteed points off the board.

Unlike the Giants, the Dolphins were able to capitalize on the turnover, connecting on a 47-yard Sanders field goal after 22 yards on five plays.

The Giants offense would again sputter after getting the ball back, but their special teams and defense apparently came to play. And following a beautiful booming punt by Riley Dixon and a series of penalties that downed the ball inside the one-yard-line, cornerback Sam Beal came up with a huge play, bringing running back Patrick Laird down in the endzone for a safety.

With yet another opportunity and solid field position following the post-safety drop-kick, the Giants offense would not be denied again. It took just three plays to drive 40 yards, highlighted by a 24-yard pass and catch from Manning to wide receiver Sterling Shepard, before running back Saquon Barkley plunged in for a touchdown from one-yard out, giving Big Blue a 23-13 lead.

After forcing Miami to a quick three-and-out, the Giants had the ball back and were in a position to put the game away — a precarious position for the team at other times in recent season. This time, however? The pedal went to the metal.

Turning the offense up to 100, Manning & Co. drove 66 yards on eight plays and made it look remarkably easier — easier than it’s been all season. That was additionally evident as Barkley casually walked in from 10 yards out to put the Giants up 30-13 in the fourth quarter.

After exchanging a series of punts and having the Dolphins turn the ball over on downs, the Giants put the icing on the cake with a five-play, 55-yard drive that culminated with a one-yard touchdown run courtesy of Buck Allen. However, kicker Aldrick Rosas missed the PAT, leaving the score at 36-13.

With under 2:00 remaining, Miami got back on the board with a 29-yard touchdown pass from Fitzpatrick to Parker, but by that time, it was too late to rally.

The game essentially came to a close with Eli Manning being removed from the field to a rousing standing ovation and chants of, “Eli Manning! Eli Manning!”

With the win, the Giants improve to 3-11 on the season. They will travel to D.C. to take on the Washington Redskins in Week 16.

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Dolphins kicker Jason Sanders sets team record in loss to Jets

Dolphins kicker Jason Sanders set a team record in loss to Jets.

Miami Dolphins second year kicker Jason Sanders has had quite a December. One week after Sanders scored 6 points via a touchdown reception in the Dolphins 37-31 upset win over the Philadelphia Eagles, Sanders once again commanded the headlines with his performance on the field. This time around? Sanders was responsible for every single one of the Dolphins’ 21 points in a 22-21 heartbreaking loss to the New York Jets.

Sanders finished the day 7 of 8 on field goal attempts, setting a team record for the most field goals kicked in a single game. Former Dolphins standout Olindo Mare owned the previous team record with 6. Mare’s performance in 1999 eventually led to him leading the league in kicks made (39) and attempted (46) that season en route to being named 1st-team All-Pro.

Sanders’ lone miss on the day against the Jets ended up being the difference in the football game, but it shouldn’t be held against Sanders that the kick was pushed to the right. Holder Matt Haack had issues with the snap and got the ball down late on Sanders’ missed kick, throwing off the timing and execution of the play.

In all, Sanders is proving to be quite the asset for the Dolphins just one year after they made him a 7th-round draft selection. He’s now tied his career best in field goals in a season with 18 on the year and is currently booting 83.7% of his career 43 kicks through the uprights.

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Dolphins K Jason Sanders wins AFC Special Teams Player of the Week

Miami Dolphins kicker Jason Sanders has secured the AFC Special Teams Player of the Week honors for Week 13.

When the Miami Dolphins successfully landed “Mountaineer Shot” against the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday, everyone knew the play would be turning some heads all week long. And sure enough, the play has developed quite the fanfare in less than 72 hours since Miami’s punter/kicker touchdown combination shocked the playoff-hopeful Eagles.

The NFL has recognized one half of the special teams combo — bestowing kicker Jason Sanders with the AFC Special Teams Player of the Week award for Week 13 of the NFL season.

It’s probably the only time you’re ever going to see a kicker with a missed extra point get recognized for the best performance of the week, so kudos to Sanders for helping the Dolphins to recover from his missed kick. Shoot — it was technically a net gain of 5 points when it was all said and done, nearly the entire winning margin in Miami’s 37-31 victory against the Eagles.

Sanders’ touchdown reception as a kicker was the first time the league had seen such a feat since 1977.

Sanders’ workload is a bit lighter this year, as the Dolphins have elected to play more aggressive on the offensive side of the ball and forego field goals for touchdowns on numerous occasions this year. But Sanders, aside of a blip from beyond 40 yards earlier this year, has been a promising piece of Miami’s special teams success after Miami made him a 7th round draft selection in 2018.

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Dolphins’ trickery results in unbelievable touchdown vs. Eagles

The Dolphins dug deep into the playbook to pull out a 4th down touchdown in the 2nd quarter against the Philadelphia Eagles.

What is it about the Dolphins and December home games in retro uniforms?! The last time Miami suited up in their sweet throwbacks, they walked off the field as winners in the Miami Miracle. This time around, the Dolphins have scored one of the more unbelievable trick plays you’ll ever witness.

No, really. You have to see this one to believe it.

The Dolphins’ decision to go for it on 4th and goal from the one yard line hit the jackpot as punter Matt Haack took the direct snap, rolled to his left and shoved a ball to kicker Jason Sanders in the end zone — just as Sanders slipped past the defense to uncover all alone for six.

The continued fearlessness of Brian Flores and company has the Dolphins right in the thick of things in Week 13, they currently trail the Eagles by a score of 21-14 at the half.

For Sanders, he’s scored himself a piece of NFL history. He’s the first kicker to log a receiving touchdown in an NFL game since Jim Turner in 1977.

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WATCH: Dolphins score touchdown on the season’s most unusual play

The Dolphins went rogue on a field goal “attempt,” and came away with the season’s most improbable touchdown.

If anyone is still telling you that the 2019 Dolphins are tanking, don’t believe them. Because teams that are tanking don’t run plays like this.

With 4:40 left in the first half of their game against the Eagles, and down 13-7, Miami lined up on fourth down from the Philadelphia one-yard line in a field goal formation, but went to something that looked like a combination between the old Emory-and-Henry formation and the Redskins’ doomed Swinging Gate.

Here, the Dolphins found a much better result, as punter/holder Matt Haack took the snap, rolled left, and threw a shovel pass touchdown to kicker Jason Sanders.

And here’s the Next Gen Stats moving playbook version…

Kudos to head coach Brian Flores and his staff for catching the Eagles off guard, and making Week 13 a bit more interesting.

Watch: Eagles fall victim to trick play that led to a TD pass from Dolphins punter to kicker Jason Sanders

Dolphins punter Matt Haack throws a TD pass to the kicker Jason Sanders on trick play vs. Eagles

Sometimes you have to give credit when credit is due. The Philadelphia Eagles love to run a lot of tricks plays, so it’s shocking that this team constantly falls victim to them as well.

With the Dolphins fighting hard and looking to close out the season on a high note, Miami just took the lead over the Eagles, on a trick play that saw the team’s punter throw a touchdown pass to the kicker, Jason Sanders.

The odd formation saw Miami punter Matt Haack lined up behind the center in a super spread formation. After taking the snap, Haack rolled left before flipping the ball to kicker Jason Sanders in the end zone to give Miami a 14-13 lead after an extra point.

The formation was one that the Eagles clearly weren’t prepared for.

Dolphins K Jason Sanders named AFC special teams player of the week

Miami Dolphins K Jason Sanders has been named the AFC Special Teams Player of the Week after his kicks propelled Miami to a win in Indy.

The margin for error in football games is quite small — the difference between a win and a loss might be something as little as a single penalty, catch or, as was the case for the Dolphins this past weekend, a kick. The Dolphins’ offense fell stagnant in the second half of their 16-12 win over the Indianapolis Colts, it was kicker Jason Sanders who elevated the offense with two 48-yard kicks in the 4th quarter to bail out the Dolphins and keep the score at a place where the Colts needed to go for a touchdown in the final possession.

Conversely, Colts kicker Adam Vinatieri provided the Colts with a costly miss of an extra point — which ended up being the difference in Indianapolis going for it on 4th and 10 with just second left deep in Dolphins territory versus being able to kick a field goal for a tie game.

Sanders has been rewarded for his big kicking performance and his role in Miami’s win — he’s been named the AFC Special Teams Player of the Week for Week 10!

The pair of 48-yard kicks were notable for Sanders, mainly because he’s struggled greatly from outside of 40-yards thus far this season. Sanders entered the 4th quarter just 2 of 6 from 40+ yards on the year — before a pair of kicks that split the uprights down the middle to help Miami lock in the win. Sanders, who was a 2018 draft selection for the Dolphins, will look to build on the momentum of making two big kicks late in the game against Indy and start hitting his long shots with more consistency.

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