MIAMI GARDENS — The New Orleans Saints were on the verge of erasing a 16-point deficit against the Miami Dolphins with a 2-point conversion, but as Tyler Shough targeted wide receiver Devaughn Vele on a shallow crosser, Dolphins safety Minkah Fitzpatrick was there to save the day.
Fitzpatrick undercut the route as he ran with Vele, who had just scored a 15-yard touchdown in the back of the end zone. But it wasn’t just that he prevented the Saints from tying the Dolphins with the 2-point try. He ran the ball back to New Orleans’ end zone for 2 points Miami’s way.
Those points proved vital. The Saints recovered an onside kick right after, and since the swing put the Dolphins ahead by 4, New Orleans had to try for a fourth-down conversion instead of kicking what would’ve been a go-ahead field goal. The Saints were stopped on a quarterback sneak, and Miami pulled off the 21-17 win.
“Big-time players make big-time plays for your team, and he came through for us,” said Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel, adding it was the second time he had been a part of a game with a pick-2 and first time it worked in his favor.
“It was gigantic, especially after he took an unbelievable undercut angle. He was doing it from the slot position, where nickels usually play. So it kind of speaks to who he is — competitive greatness, being your best when your best is required.
Said Fitzpatrick: “My guy ran the shallow, (I) slipped in and caught the ball.”
After that, it was time to go the other way.
Speedy running back De’Von Achane said he approved of Fitzpatrick’s speed going the other way, especially after cornerback Rasul Douglas was caught on his first-half interception with a chance to score a touchdown.
“Oh, not fast. I was tired. I was hurting,” Fitzpatrick said of how he was running. “I looked at the jumbotron, and I didn’t see nobody behind me, so I just cruised into the end zone.”
The play was made despite the Dolphins basically playing backyard football defensively due to headset failure getting the call in from defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver to linebacker Tyrel Dodson. Dodson said he had everyone just pick up a man. McDaniel said he was about to call a timeout, but then players were under the impression Dodson had received the communication.
Fitzpatrick was in on another takeaway in the first half. He had a strip-sack against Shough that defensive tackle Zach Sieler recovered. It was actually Fitzpatrick’s first NFL sack, coming in his eighth season.
“I didn’t blitz a lot in Pittsburgh,” said Fitzpatrick of his six seasons with the Steelers. “Then, I had one, and I got called for unnecessary roughness. So it is what it is.”
Returning from injury
Douglas made his return from a foot and ankle injury in Sunday’s game against the Saints, as did tight end Darren Waller and right tackle Austin Jackson.
Waller and Jackson were activated off injured reserve Saturday ahead of Sunday’s game. As Douglas started defensively on the boundary, Jackson and Waller were both in as starters offensively.
Dolphins defensive tackle Benito Jones, who entered Sunday questionable with an ankle injury, was also active.
For the Saints, who were without running back Alvin Kamara (knee), standout wide receiver Chris Olave (back) played after entering questionable.
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Douglas, who had missed two games with his lower-leg ailment and had the bye week for additional recovery, was involved in a couple of big plays with Olave.
Late in the first half, he intercepted a Shough throw to Olave from his zone on the boundary as Olave broke out from the slot and had his route undercut by Douglas.
In the third quarter, Olave, who had four catches for 47 yards, beat Douglas on a double move for a touchdown.
Waller was back after missing four games on injured reserve with a pectoral injury and finished with 47 yards on two catches.
Jackson played and started for the first time since the Sept. 7 opener against the Colts in Indianapolis, when he suffered a significant toe injury. He was an announced starter for the first time all season at Hard Rock Stadium before kickoff.
Healthy Dolphins inactives were wide receiver Tahj Washington, defensive tackle Matthew Butler, cornerback A.J. Green III, outside linebacker Andre Carter II and quarterback Quinn Ewers, who is available as an emergency third quarterback.
During the game, fullback Alec Ingold sustained a stinger.
Achane cracks 1,000
Dolphins running back De’Von Achane surpassed 1,000 rushing yards in a season for the first time in his three-year career.
Achane entered Sunday with 900 yards on the season, and he eclipsed 100 for the game to put him over 1,000 for the season with 9-yard gain early in the fourth quarter. His 134 yards Sunday put him at 1,034 on the season.
“It means a lot,” Achane said. “It just shows the hard work that I put in, that me and my team put in. It’s just a stepping stone of mine, and we’ve got to keep moving forward.”
Achane became the fourth Dolphins rusher to reach 1,000 yards on the ground in the first 12 games of a season, joining Larry Csonka in 1972, Delvin Williams in 1978 and Ricky Williams in 2002 and 2003.
With five games left, Achane could be on track to break Williams’ mark of the second-highest rushing total in Dolphins history (1,372, 2003). In 2002, Williams set the franchise record with 1,853 rushing yards.
Achane had 800 rushing yards as a rookie and 907 in his second season in 2024.
Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa (1) lines up a play pre-snap against the New Orleans Saints Sunday, at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens. (Joe Cavaretta/South Florida Sun Sentinel)
Miami Dolphins linebacker Bradley Chubb (2) celebrates a sack against the New Orleans Saints Sunday, Nov. 30, 2025, at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens. (Joe Cavaretta/South Florida Sun Sentinel)
Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa (1) leaves the field after the win over the New Orleans Saints Sunday, Nov. 30, 2025, at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens. (Joe Cavaretta/South Florida Sun Sentinel)
Miami Dolphins owner Stephen Ross and GM Champ Kelly celebrate the win over the New Orleans Saints Sunday, Nov. 30, 2025, at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens. (Joe Cavaretta/South Florida Sun Sentinel)
Miami Dolphins safety Ifeatu Melifonwu (9) and Miami Dolphins safety Minkah Fitzpatrick (29) celebrate Fitzpatrick’s interception at the end of the game against the New Orleans Saints Sunday, Nov. 30, 2025, at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens. (Joe Cavaretta/South Florida Sun Sentinel)
Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel congratulates safety Minkah Fitzpatrick after his interception of a 2-point conversion attempt by the Saints on Sunday at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens. (Joe Cavaretta/South Florida Sun Sentinel)
Miami Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel runs off the field after the win over the New Orleans Saints Sunday, Nov. 30, 2025, at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens. (Joe Cavaretta/South Florida Sun Sentinel)
Miami Dolphins owner Stephen Ross, left, and CEO Tom Garfinkel celebrate a interception in the closing minute against the New Orleans Saints Sunday, Nov. 30, 2025, at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens. (Joe Cavaretta/South Florida Sun Sentinel)
Miami Dolphins safety Minkah Fitzpatrick (29) runs back an interception on a New Orleans Saints two-point conversion attempt at the end of the game Sunday, Nov. 30, 2025, at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens. (Joe Cavaretta/South Florida Sun Sentinel)
Miami Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel takes the field for the game against the New Orleans Saints Sunday, Nov. 30, 2025, at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens. (Joe Cavaretta/South Florida Sun Sentinel)
Miami Dolphins running back De’Von Achane (28) runs in a touchdown against the New Orleans Saints Sunday, Nov. 30, 2025, at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens. (Joe Cavaretta/South Florida Sun Sentinel)
Miami Dolphins tight end Darren Waller indicates a first down against the New Orleans Saints Sunday, Nov. 30, 2025, at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens. (Joe Cavaretta/South Florida Sun Sentinel)
Miami Dolphins cornerback Rasul Douglas (26) intercepts a pass against the New Orleans Saints Sunday, Nov. 30, 2025, at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens. (Joe Cavaretta/South Florida Sun Sentinel)
Miami Dolphins defensive tackle Zeek Biggers (93) celebrates a sack of New Orleans Saints quarterback Tyler Shough (6) Sunday, Nov. 30, 2025, at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens. (Joe Cavaretta/South Florida Sun Sentinel)
Miami Dolphins tight end Darren Waller catches a pass for a first down against New Orleans Saints safety Jonas Sanker on Sunday, Nov. 30, 2025, at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens. (Joe Cavaretta/South Florida Sun Sentinel)
Miami Dolphins defense celebrates a fumble recovery by defensive tackle Zach Sieler (92) Sunday, Nov. 30, 2025, at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens. (Joe Cavaretta/South Florida Sun Sentinel)
Miami Dolphins running back De’Von Achane (28) runs in a touchdown against the New Orleans Saints Sunday, Nov. 30, 2025, at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens. (Joe Cavaretta/South Florida Sun Sentinel)
Miami Dolphins cornerback Rasul Douglas (26) celebrates a second quarter interception against the New Orleans Saints Sunday, Nov. 30, 2025, at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens. (Joe Cavaretta/South Florida Sun Sentinel)
Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa (1) is seen before the game against the New Orleans Saints Sunday, Nov. 30, 2025, at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens. (Joe Cavaretta/South Florida Sun Sentinel)
Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa (1) warms up before the game against the New Orleans Saints Sunday, Nov. 30, 2025, at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens. (Joe Cavaretta/South Florida Sun Sentinel)
Miami Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel meets with officials before the game against the New Orleans Saints Sunday, Nov. 30, 2025, at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens. (Joe Cavaretta/South Florida Sun Sentinel)
Miami Dolphins running back Ollie Gordon II (31) signs for fans before the game against the New Orleans Saints Sunday, Nov. 30, 2025, at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens. (Joe Cavaretta/South Florida Sun Sentinel)
Miami Dolphins wide receiver Jaylen Waddle (17) warms up before the game against the New Orleans Saints Sunday, Nov. 30, 2025, at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens. (Joe Cavaretta/South Florida Sun Sentinel)
Miami Dolphins fans in rain gear ask for autographs before the game against the New Orleans Saints Sunday, Nov. 30, 2025, at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens. (Joe Cavaretta/South Florida Sun Sentinel)
Miami Dolphins tight end Darren Waller stretches in the rain before the game against the New Orleans Saints Sunday, Nov. 30, 2025, at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens. (Joe Cavaretta/South Florida Sun Sentinel)
Miami Dolphins defensive tackle Zach Sieler (92) works out in the rain before the game against the New Orleans Saints Sunday, Nov. 30, 2025, at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens. (Joe Cavaretta/South Florida Sun Sentinel)
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Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa (1) lines up a play pre-snap against the New Orleans Saints Sunday, at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens. (Joe Cavaretta/South Florida Sun Sentinel)