Football is usually a game of inches. But on November 16, 2025, it was a game of passport stamps and jet lag. The Miami Dolphins vs Commanders matchup in Madrid, Spain, wasn't just another Sunday on the calendar. It was a bizarre, low-scoring defensive slugfest at the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium that left fans—and bettors—scratching their heads.
Miami won 16-13 in overtime. That's the score. But it doesn't even begin to tell the story of how ugly, and then suddenly electric, this game got.
Why the Miami Dolphins vs Commanders Game in Spain Was Weird
Honestly, most people expected a track meet. You've got Mike McDaniel's speed-demon offense going up against a Washington defense that has historically struggled with explosive plays. Instead, we got a "field goal fest" for about three and a half quarters.
Riley Patterson and Matt Gay were the busiest guys on the field.
The first half was basically a stalemate. Miami would march down, get stalled, and kick a field goal. Washington would respond with a 16-play drive that ate up eight minutes of clock just to settle for three points. By halftime, it was 6-6. If you bet the "over," you were probably already looking for the remote to change the channel.
✨ Don't miss: Nike Kobe Shoes Mens: Why the Hype Never Really Faded
The Marcus Mariota Factor
One of the biggest surprises was seeing Marcus Mariota under center for Washington in his 100th career game. Everyone was waiting for the Jayden Daniels magic we saw in the 2024 preseason, but this was a different kind of fight. Mariota played gritty. He took a nasty hit, went to the blue medical tent for a concussion evaluation, and then came back out to rip off a 44-yard run.
It was his longest rush since 2023.
The Commanders actually outgained the Dolphins in total yardage, 379 to 311. Chris Rodriguez Jr. was a human bowling ball, racking up 79 rushing yards. But yards don't win games in the NFL; points do. And Washington kept leaving them on the table.
The Overtime Interception That Ended It
The game finally found some life in the fourth quarter. Miami's O. Gordon punched in a 1-yard touchdown to tie it up at 13-13. Then, overtime.
NFL overtime is usually a "whoever wins the toss wins the game" situation. Not this time.
Washington had the ball. Marcus Mariota dropped back on the very first offensive play of the extra period. He looked for Zach Ertz. Instead, Jacoby Jones—the Dolphins' defender, not the retired return specialist—jumped the route. He picked it off and set Miami up in prime real estate.
Riley Patterson stepped up and nailed a 29-yarder.
Game over. Dolphins 16, Commanders 13.
Breaking Down the Stats
If you're a stat nerd, here’s how the numbers shook out:
- Tua Tagovailoa: 14/20 for 171 yards. No TDs, no picks. Efficient, but quiet.
- Marcus Mariota: 20/30 for 213 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT. He also added 49 yards on the ground.
- Deebo Samuel Sr.: 7 catches for 74 yards and a touchdown.
- Time of Possession: Washington dominated this at 32:36 to Miami's 29:51.
What Most People Get Wrong About This Matchup
There's a misconception that Miami just "owns" Washington because of that 45-15 blowout back in December 2023. That game was a nightmare for the Commanders. Tyreek Hill had 157 yards and two scores before most fans had finished their first beer.
But this 2025 Madrid game showed a different trend. Washington's defense, led by Mike Sainristil and Bobby Wagner, has become much harder to crack. They held Miami to just 142 net passing yards. That's the lowest the Dolphins had recorded all season up to that point.
The Dolphins didn't win because they were faster. They won because they were more disciplined in the "messy" moments.
Lessons from the 2024 Preseason
If we look back at the August 2024 preseason meeting, we saw the seeds of this defensive rivalry. Miami won that one 13-6. It’s weirdly consistent, right? When these two teams meet lately, the score stays low.
In that 2024 game, Jayden Daniels was the story. He completed 10 of 12 passes. He looked like the future. But the Dolphins' defense has a way of making young quarterbacks—and even veterans like Mariota—work for every single yard.
Actionable Takeaways for Football Fans
If you're looking at the Miami Dolphins vs Commanders rivalry for future matchups or fantasy purposes, keep these things in mind:
- Don't Bet the House on the Over: Unless Tyreek Hill is literally running uncontested down the sideline like it's 2023, these teams tend to play tight, ball-control football against each other.
- Watch the Rushing Totals: Both teams have transitioned into heavy run-schemes. Between Rodriguez for Washington and the committee Miami uses, the ground game usually dictates the clock.
- Defense Wins the Spread: Washington has actually been a solid "cover" team in these matchups recently, even when they lose the game straight up.
- International Travel is a Wildcard: If you ever see these teams scheduled for a London or Madrid game again, expect the unexpected. The travel fatigue clearly impacted the offensive timing for both squads in 2025.
The Madrid game wasn't pretty, but it was a masterclass in situational football. Miami proved they could win without a "track meet" performance, and Washington proved they can go toe-to-toe with the elite offenses of the AFC.
Next time these two meet, ignore the 2023 blowout. Look at the 2025 overtime thriller. That’s the real blueprint for this cross-conference rivalry. Keep an eye on the injury reports for the next meeting, specifically regarding the offensive line depth, as both teams struggled with protection in their last outing.