MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — Green Bay’s defense intercepted Tua Tagovailoa three times in the fourth quarter to help the Packers come from behind to defeat the Miami Dolphins 26-20 and keep their playoff hopes alive.
Aaron Rodgers threw for 238 yards and a touchdown and had one interception for the Packers (7-8), who have won their last three games after starting the season 4-8.
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The Dolphins (8-7) lost their fourth straight game and must win their final two to make the postseason.
The Dolphins trailed by six with a chance to take the lead in the final two minutes, but Tagovailoa threw his third interception in three possessions to end the comeback bid. He threw a pick with about six minutes left that set up a Packers field goal to make it a six-point game.
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Packers kicker Mason Crosby hit a go-ahead field goal early in the fourth after back-to-back turnovers by both offenses.
Undrafted Dolphins rookie Kader Kohou intercepted a pass by Rodgers intended for Allen Lazard, but the Dolphins gave it right back when cornerback Jaire Alexander intercepted Tagovailoa on the next play.
Miami’s defense held the Packers to six points off turnovers in the second half to keep the Dolphins in it after blowing a 20-10 first-half lead.
The Dolphins held the Packers to two scores in five trips to the red zone.
A.J. Dillon led the Packers with 36 rushing yards on 11 carries, and Allen Lazard had 61 receiving yards on five catches.
Tyreek Hill had four catches for the Dolphins to give him 113 for the season, setting a single-season franchise record. Jaylen Waddle added five receptions for 143 yards.
But the Dolphins spoiled those big receiving days with turnovers.
Raheem Mostert fumbled in the first half, leading to a Packers field goal. Tagovailoa’s three interceptions were the most he has thrown all season.
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The Dolphins committed to the running game early, rushing for 82 yards after a season-high 188 against the Buffalo Bills in Week 15.
The Dolphins ran four times for 38 yards on their opening drive and took a 3-0 lead, and the Packers countered with a field goal to tie it after Keisean Nixon’s 93-yard kickoff return set them up at the 9-yard line.
The Dolphins built a 20-13 halftime lead after an 84-yard touchdown by Waddle and a 1-yard TD run by Jeff Wilson.
Dillon’s 1-yard TD run on Green Bay’s first possession of the third quarter tied the game.
Tight end Marcedes Lewis also had a 1-yard TD catch in the first quarter.
Rodgers’ interception in the fourth quarter was his 11th pick of the season, his highest total since he had 11 during the Packers’ Super Bowl-winning season in 2010. Rodgers threw a career-high 13 interceptions in 2008.
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The temperature at Hard Rock Stadium was 46 degrees at kickoff, which marked the second-coldest home game in Dolphins history. The coldest was played on Christmas Eve in 1989 against the Kansas City Chiefs in 40-degree weather. The Chiefs won that game 27-24.
Tagovailoa’s 84-yard TD pass to Waddle was the longest offensive score on Christmas day in NFL history, according to NFL Research. It was the fourth-longest touchdown in Dolphins history and the longest since Dan Marino’s 85-yard TD pass to Mark Duper in 1986 versus the Houston Oilers. It was also the longest TD catch of Waddle’s career.
Packers: DE Dean Lowry injured his calf in the second quarter. … Keisean Nixon left with a groin injury. … WR Christian Watson left with a hip injury.
Dolphins: LB Bradley Chubb (hand) left in the first quarter and later returned. … FB Alec Ingold injured his thumb.
Packers: Host the Minnesota Vikings on Jan. 1.
Dolphins: Visit the New England Patriots on Jan. 1.
