Ryan Tannehill will be at quarterback for the Tennessee Titans against the New England Patriots on Saturday. The former Miami Dolphins first-round pick out of Texas A&M has faced the Super Bowl champs numerous times when they were AFC East combatants.
Tannehill had success against New England. In the four Miami home games he faced the Patriots in 2013, ’14, and ’15, and ’18 Tannehill was 4-0 with 10 TD passes and one pick. He missed the ’16 and ’17 home games due to injuries and lost to them as a rookie
Of all the victories, the one on Dec. 9, 2018, is memorable for its incredible finish.
The Patriots’ Stephen Gostkowski kicked a 22-yard field goal in the closing seconds. Miami trailed 33-28 and returned the ensuing kickoff to the 31. Seven seconds from defeat, Tannehill called “Boise” because it was borrowed from the Boise State playbook.
Tannehill threw a 14-yard pass to Kenny Stills, who lateraled to DeVante Parker, who quickly lateraled to Drake along the sideline. He cut toward the middle and found a seam, helped by a block from guard Ted Larsen at the 30.
Drake beat defensive back J.C. Jackson and tight end Rob Gronkowski, who was on the field as part of New England’s prevent defense, to the end zone for the victory 34-33.
“Drake runs a 4.3, and Gronk probably runs a 4.6 or 4.7, so you feel good about that matchup,” Tannehill said after the 69-yard miracle.
“I collapsed — just the emotion of the whole thing,”
If Tannehill can pull off another upset — miracle — Saturday, this time at Foxboro, he have the same feeling.