Head Coach Adam Gase pulled out his bag of tricks Sunday, and it helped produce a thrilling comeback victory for the Dolphins.
Jakeem Grant scored two touchdowns in the fourth quarter off gadget plays and the Dolphins overcame a 17-7 deficit to defeat the Oakland Raiders 28-20 at Hard Rock Stadium and move to 3-0 on the season.
Grant gave the Dolphins the lead for good with 7:18 on a 52-yard pass from wide receiver Albert Wilson (a quarterback in high school) after quarterback Ryan Tannehill handed the ball to Frank Gore, who then flipped it to Wilson.
Grant earlier scored on a 16-yard reception when he took a flip from Tannehill as he was running across the line of scrimmage to the right with the quarterback in shotgun formation.
The Dolphins added to their lead when Wilson scored on a 74-yard reception on the final snap before the two-minute warning off the same play, except this one when he was running to the left.
Wilson's touchdown came two plays after cornerback Xavien Howard preserved the Dolphins' 21-17 lead when he came up with his second interception of the game, his third in two games. Howard picked off Derek Carr in the end zone after Oakland had a first-and-10 from the Miami 13-yard line.
Oakland kicked a field goal with 20 seconds left to the final points of the game before Wilson recovered the ensuing onside kick to clinch the victory.
Tannehill, who preceded Wilson's TD pass with an 18-yard scramble, earlier threw a 34-yard touchdown strike to Kenny Stills.
Oakland dominated the time of possession and had the advantage in yardage in a game that physically was difficult for the Dolphins.
The Dolphins lost defensive linemen William Hayes and Akeem Spence in the first half.
Hayes sustained a knee injury when he sacked Carr on third down, one play after he tackled running back Doug Martin for a loss.
Spence was ejected from the game in the second quarter when he was penalized after Cameron Wake had sacked Carr on third down. The penalty kept alive a drive that ate up 8:36 and ended with a short field goal by Mike Nugent.
Tight end A.J. Derby missed the second half after being sidelined by a foot injury, and defensive end Andre Branch didn't return after sustaining a knee injury in the third quarter.
The Oakland offense had big plays in each of its first two possessions, both of them completions from Carr to longtime Green Bay Packers wide receiver Jordy Nelson.
The first came on the second snap of the game and covered 61 yards, setting up Carr's 12-yard touchdown pass to Nelson.
The second was good for 66 yards, but the Dolphins were able to avoid any damage on the scoreboard thanks to a goal-line stand. Defensive tackle Davon Godchaux led the charge in helping stop fullback Keith Smith for no gain on fourth-and-goal from the 1-yard line.
The defense came up with another big play in the first half when cornerback Xavien Howard had his second interception in two weeks. He picked off a deep pass intended for Amari Cooper.
The takeaway didn't produce any points but affected the field position, and the Dolphins later took advantage when they began a drive at the Raiders 35-yard line following a short punt.
On third-and-9 from the 34, Tannehill threw a strike to Stills in the end zone to tie the score at 7.
The Dolphins had a chance to tie the score late in the first half after reaching the Oakland 25-yard line, but were moved out of field goal position after an offensive pass interference penalty and a sack of Tannehill.
Oakland extended its lead to 17-7 with a 15-play drive that ate up 9:44 of the third quarter. The Raiders converted three third downs on the drive, the last one coming when Marshawn Lynch dove in for a 1-yard touchdown on third-and-goal.
The Dolphins then went to work with their trickery.
