Atlanta Falcons defeat Miami Dolphins 17-12 in preseason finale

The Atlanta Falcons defeated the Miami Dolphins 17-12 in their preseason finale at Hard Rock Stadium. The game featured a highly anticipated return for Falcons quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, who played against his former team for the first time since being released by Miami. Tagovailoa was met with significant booing from the home crowd but led an initial 60-yard touchdown drive capped by a Brian Robinson Jr. run. However, his performance was marred by turnovers, including a fumbled snap and a subsequent turnover on his third drive.

Following Tagovailoa, Cooper Rush took over for Atlanta, completing 13 of 18 passes for 106 yards and a touchdown to Jack Velling. The Dolphins struggled to find the end zone, relying on four field goals from Riley Patterson to secure their points. The game served as a critical evaluation period for both teams as they approach the NFL roster cut deadline, where teams must reduce their 90-man rosters to the final 53-man limit.

In Miami, head coach Jeff Hafley has emphasized player development over win-loss records for the upcoming season, a stance that has drawn mixed reactions from fans. Meanwhile, the Falcons continue to monitor depth at various positions, including quarterback and defensive line, as they finalize their roster for the regular season.