Atlanta, Fla. – The Atlanta Falcons secured a 17-12 preseason victory over the Miami Dolphins on Friday night, giving the team a 2-1 start to the preseason schedule. The game featured a dramatic opening drive by former Dolphin quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, followed by a costly fumble that helped the Falcons maintain the lead.
Tagovailoa’s brief spark and turnover
Tagovailoa, who was booed by the crowd as he entered the field at his former home in Miami Gardens, completed 7 of 8 passes for 95 yards in three series. On his first series he orchestrated a 60‑yard drive that culminated in a 3‑yard touchdown run by running back Brian Robinson Jr., giving Atlanta a 7‑0 advantage.
However, the momentum shifted when Tagovailoa fumbled the snap to start the Falcons’ second drive. Miami recovered the ball, and a subsequent Dolphins drive ended with linebacker Jackson Woodard recovering another fumble at the Miami 13‑yard line.
Cooper Rush steps in
Backup quarterback Cooper Rush replaced Tagovailoa and proved effective, completing 13 of 18 passes for 106 yards and a touchdown. Rush connected with Jack Velling on a 3‑yard pass after a 46‑yard field goal by Dolphins kicker Riley Patterson, extending the Falcons’ lead to 14‑3.
Both teams exchanged field goals in the latter part of the first half, with Falcons kicker Nick Folk and Patterson each adding two more points. The halftime score stood at 14‑6 in favor of Atlanta.
Second‑half action and missed opportunities
Miami’s offense struggled to find the end zone. Quarterback Malik Willis, who sat out the previous week, appeared only in the opening series against Washington. The Dolphins turned to Cam Miller, who completed 7 of 16 passes for 71 yards, and later to Mark Gronowski, who posted 4 of 8 for 97 yards and added 28 rushing yards on four carries.
Midway through the third quarter, the Dolphins had a chance to close the gap when Gronowski threw a pass into the end zone that was dropped by Theo Wease Jr. The drive stalled, and Patterson kicked a 26‑yard field goal to make the score 17‑12.
Looking ahead
The Falcons will open their regular season at home against Pittsburgh on September 13, while the Dolphins begin their campaign in Las Vegas on the same day. Both teams used a mix of starters and reserves in this preseason contest, giving coaches a chance to evaluate depth and talent ahead of the 2026 NFL season.
For local fans, the game offered a glimpse of how the Falcons’ offense might perform with a veteran quarterback under center and how the Dolphins will adjust after releasing Tagovailoa earlier this year.
Original reporting: WPBF West Palm Beach — read the source article.
