The Miami Dolphins secured a thrilling 16-13 overtime victory over the Washington Commanders in the first-ever NFL regular-season game held in Spain on November 16, 2025. This win maintained their momentum after a dominant performance against the Buffalo Bills at home the previous week. The game was a testament to the Dolphins' resilience, as they overcame several challenges, including being stopped on fourth-and-goal twice, including a crucial stop inside the final two minutes after recovering a muffed punt return by the Commanders.
The highlight of the game was a stellar defensive play by Jack Jones, who intercepted Marcus Mariota on the Commanders' first offensive play in overtime. Riley Patterson then sealed the victory with a 29-yard field goal. The Commanders had a chance to win with 15 seconds left in regulation, but Matt Gay's 56-yard field goal attempt missed, allowing the Dolphins to secure the win.
The game was played at Real Madrid's iconic Santiago Bernabeu Stadium, with a record-breaking crowd of 78,610 in attendance. The halftime show featured a performance by Puerto Rican superstar Daddy Yankee and Argentine producer Bizarrap, adding to the excitement of the event.
Mariota temporarily left the game near the end of the third quarter after suffering a concussion, but he eventually cleared concussion protocol and returned to the field. The Commanders, without their injured quarterback Jayden Daniels, have lost six straight games, including a 44-22 loss to the Detroit Lions at home last week. The Dolphins, on the other hand, were coming off a commanding 30-13 victory over the Bills.
Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa praised the team's victory, stating, 'All wins are good and we are going to carry this momentum along through our bye week and hopefully take it to our next game.' Tagovailoa completed 14 of 20 passes for 171 yards without any touchdowns or interceptions.
Mariota, despite the interception, had a solid performance with 20 of 30 passes for 213 yards, a touchdown, and 49 yards rushing, including a crucial 44-yard run after being evaluated for a concussion. Chris Rodríguez rushed for 49 yards for the Commanders, and Deebo Samuel had 74 yards receiving. De’Von Achane had a standout game for the Dolphins with 120 yards on 21 carries and 45 yards on five receptions.
The game saw a back-and-forth battle, with both teams exchanging field goals in the first half. The Commanders began the third quarter with a strong drive, scoring their first touchdown on a 20-yard reception by Samuel. The Dolphins responded with a drive to the Commanders' 2-yard line but failed to score due to an incomplete pass by Tagovailoa to Jaylen Waddle on fourth down.
After Mariota's injury, the Dolphins put together a strong possession, with Ollie Gordon scoring on a 1-yard run. Mariota led the Commanders to the 1-yard line after clearing concussion protocol, but he couldn't close the drive, throwing an incomplete pass on fourth-and-goal. The Dolphins were held on their next drive, but Mike Sainristil muffed the punt, leading to a Commanders recovery.
With time ticking away, the Commanders had one last chance, but Mariota couldn't convert, and the game ended with the Dolphins securing a hard-fought victory. The next games for both teams are a bye week followed by a match against New Orleans and Denver, respectively.
