Game Recap: New Orleans 46 – Miami 34

Heading into the waning seconds of the first half of today’s contest against the Saints, the Dolphins were thinking victory was securely in their hands. And seeing as they were already up 24-3, with the ball and momentum on their side, not many could blame them.

But as in life, the NFL has a way of cruelly reversing a team’s fortunes in a heartbeat, and that’s exactly what happened earlier today in Miami. Following an ill-advised turnover in their own territory late in the 2nd quarter, New Orleans QB Drew Brees calmly led his team into the head zone with a leap, slicing the halftime deficit to just 14 points, and showing the Dolphins that they were in for a fight during the final 30 minutes of play.

The biggest play in the game though came courtesy of All-Pro safety Darren Sharper, who snatched a deflected pass from Dolphins QB Chad Henne and raced 42 yards for a pick six that firmly swung the momentum to the visitor’s side of the field. That made the score 24-17 less than a minute into the third quarter, and the air of invincibility Miami had through most of the first half was all but gone.

The teams traded several scores until the fourth quarter when the Saints drove into the end zone on the back of Brees once more for the lead at 37-34. With the comeback all but complete, New Orleans’ defense pinned their ears back and went after Henne at every opportunity, finally forcing another game changing interception late in the game, this one by CB Tracy Porter, who returned it 54 yards for a TD to clinch the victory.

Quick Hits:

• Allen will miss season with ACL injury – Miami Herald

• Sprained right knee for Ellis – Jeff Duncan (Times-Picayune)

• Rapid Reaction: Saints 46, Dolphins 34 – ESPN

• Phins lose another heartbreaker – Phin Phanatic

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