BY NICK ST. DENIS
Last Sunday, the Miami Dolphins blew a late fourth-quarter lead thanks to questionable play-calling and poor execution on the questionable plays that were called.
Dolphins offensive coordinator Mike Sherman opted to go to the air with under four minutes to go when all the Dolphins needed were a few running plays to, at worst, burn clock time, and at best, get a couple game-sealing first downs.
The result was a drop-back and fumble by quarterback Ryan Tannehill, which set up the Buffalo Bills' game-winning field goal.
Monday, Sherman defended his calls.
"I don’t think you can protect a 21-20 lead in this league," Sherman said Monday, via The Miami Herald. "I think you have to be fairly aggressive. I’ve been in situations myself trying to protect a 21-20 lead, and I’ve lost those games 27-21. We are going to be aggressive with a one-point lead in the fourth quarter. We aren’t going to sit on it.
". . . With a one point lead, my philosophy and Joe (Philbin’s) as well has been to be aggressive. If we got the first down, the game would have been won and we wouldn’t be having this discussion at this point."
Right.
But the Dolphins were gaining 4.8 yards a carry, and the majority of their passing plays in the fourth quarter went for either incomplete passes, sacks or completions of 2 yards or fewer. A drop back wasn't worth it, especially with the struggling Tyson Clabo matched up one-on-one with Mario Williams.
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