Miami Dolphins tight end Mike Gesicki celebrates during Sunday’s game against the Tennessee Titans in Miami Gardens, Fla. The Dolphins won 27-20, but the game took 7 hours, 8 minutes of real time to play because of delays for lighting.MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. – Jakeem Grant won the longest game with the longest play.
Grant struck like lightning when he scored on a tiebreaking 102-yard kickoff return with 14 minutes to go, and the Miami Dolphins overcame two weather delays to win the longest game since the 1970 NFL-AFL merger, beating the Tennessee Titans 27-20 Sunday.
Delays for lightning lasted a total of 3 hours, 59 minutes, and the game took 7 hours, 8 minutes of real time to play. The previous longest game since 1970 was a Chicago Bears overtime victory against the Baltimore Ravens in 2013 that took 5 hours, 16 minutes.
Grant’s touchdown triggered a late flurry of big plays in a season opener that was lackluster for the first six hours.
After his score, the Dolphins’ Ryan Tannehill hit Kenny Stills deep for a 75-yard touchdown. Darius Jennings returned the ensuing kickoff 94 yards for a Titans score, and they were driving when Miami’s Reshad Jones helped clinch the win with a 54-yard return after he intercepted Blaine Gabbert.