Enter Calvin Pace.
Down went Ryan Tannehill, as the 10th year linebacker out of Wake Forest came unblocked off the left side, sacking him in such a way that left the rookie QB with a hyperextended knee, a deep thigh bruise, and an early exit from his first division road game. All of sudden that momentum was gone, leaving a cloud of uncertainty surrounding the QB position for the first time in weeks.
Tannehill limped over to the sideline, collapsed in pain, and looked straight at backup QB Matt Moore, needing not to say a word as his eyes said it all. And just like that, if even for just four quarters, the wily veteran was thrusted back into the role that he played so brilliantly for nine games last year.
And how ironic that it happened on the same field where it all began.
Jump back to October 17th of last year, week six in the NFL for the 2011 Miami Dolphins, who were, at this point in the season, a dismal 0-4 and coming off a beat down in San Diego that saw then starting QB Chad Henne suffer a season ending shoulder injury.
Next in line? Matt Moore, and the 28 year old was, much like yesterday, propelled to the starters role for the teams' next game- a Monday night showdown in the Meadowlands. However, unlike yesterday, that game was anything but memorable for the Fins.
The Jets would win 24-6, and Moore looked anything but the part, completing less than 50% of his passes and throwing two interceptions, one of which was a 100 yard pick-six for CB Darrell Revis.
Yikes.
Moore, as we all know, would rebound nicely, leading Miami to a 6-3 record down the stretch and looking like a legitimate NFL starter along the way. However, when training camp came around this past July, the one time MVP of the 2011 Dolphins looked lost in Joe Philbin's new West Coast offense, and, if not for an injury to David Garrard, probably wouldn't of made it past cuts.
Despite his shaky preseason, Moore remained with the team, serving as a veteran presence to backup rookie QB Ryan Tannehill, and spending the first eight weeks of the year mentoring the fan-proclaimed "savior."
Yesterday, however, in the first quarter of an AFC divisional game silly with storylines, it was Moore who played the part of savior, showing such poise and leadership that made you remember just why he was the teams' MVP of a year ago.
And wouldn't you know that it took place on the very same field where it all began.
This time, Moore righted the ship, leading the Fins to a 30-9 victory, a 4-3 record, and, most importantly, a firm spot in the AFC playoff picture.
And he was brilliant along the way, going 11-19, for 131 yards, one perfectly thrown touchdown to Anthony Fasano, and a 96.6 QB rating. He was accurate, smart, took the shots when he needed to, and, above all, displayed the veteran leadership that he lacked so much in his first start here twelve months prior. It was as if Moore picked up right where he left off in last start, a 19-17 win in the 2011 season finale against, who else, the Jets.
Who knows when the next time we see Matt Moore will be. Maybe it'll be this weekend against the Colts, maybe it'll come a ways down the road, maybe it'll come in next August's first preseason game, who knows? But for three hours yesterday afternoon, when Moore's replacement went down, the veteran picked up the pieces, took command of an offense that made him look so bad in training camp, and reprised the role that he so magnificently played last season.
Ryan Tannehill is the quarterback of the future, there's no disputing that. But for one Sunday in late October, when the face of the franchise hobbled over to the sideline, Matt Moore looked him in the eye, buckled up his chinstrap, and got back to work.
And it all took place in the same venue where it all began so many months ago.
A fitting twist to such a special season.
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