Jonnu Smith did a lot of cardio for four quarters on Sunday, seeing just one target with zero catches. Then overtime hit, and the Miami Dolphins tight end took off.
Smith caught three passes in OT for 44 yards, including the game-winning 10-yard score to keep Miami's playoff hopes alive.
"Individually, probably wasn't the game I've been having these past couple of weeks," Smith said, via the South Florida Sun-Sentinel. "When my time comes, just got to be there to make the play when it counts. Just extremely -- I love this team, man, the resolve we got, no blink, no flinching."
Smith has become one of Tua Tagovailoa's favorite targets of late. As defenses effort to slow Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle, the 29-year-old has feasted. Heading into Sunday, Smith had generated 87-plus yards in three consecutive games, with two outings over the century mark.
Given the run, it was surprising Tua didn't target Smith early, but his wideouts kept winning. Tagovailoa completed 33 of 47 passes for 331 yards and two touchdowns for a 104.1 passer rating. The QB went 6 of 7 for 67 pass yards and the score in OT. Hill led Miami with 10 catches for 115 yards with a TD, his first 100-plus receiving yard game since Week 1. Waddle added a season-high nine catches for 99 yards.
Tagovailoa said he knew that when he needed Smith, the tight end would deliver.
"Throughout the game, he never said anything," Tagovailoa said. "Not seeing the ball, that can be discouraging, but he never blinked and we gave him opportunities."
When Jason Sanders nailed a 52-yard field goal to force overtime, it allowed Smith a chance to be a difference-maker once again.
Smith's touchdown moved Miami to 6-7, keeping the Dolphins' playoff hopes alive. They currently sit in the No. 9 seed, two games back of Denver for the final seed in the AFC. Next Gen Stats places the Dolphins' playoff odds at 15% following the W.
"When we were trotting back on the field [trailing in the fourth quarter], everybody knew what was at stake at that moment," Hill said. "We know if we lose, it's over. Our season is over. Fortunately, we've got a lot of great guys on this team who don't want to end our season in January. ... We just played ball, man, when it mattered the most. We executed. Guys lined up in the right spot, guys played fast, got guys playing for each other, and that's what it's all about."