Our Opinion: America’s National Parks Celebrate A Centennial

MIAMI GARDENS — If five consecutive wins is what the Miami Dolphins need to pull off to get into the playoffs, consider the mission one-fifth done. Quarterback Tua Tagovailoa capped a 70-yard drive with a walk-off touchdown pass to tight end Jonnu Smith, and the Dolphins took down the New York Jets, 32-26, in overtime on Sunday afternoon at Hard Rock Stadium. Miami (6-7) bounced back from its Thanksgiving night loss to the Packers in Green Bay and gained a half a game on a series of AFC playoff hopefuls ahead of the Dolphins who were on bye this weekend: the Indianapolis Colts (6-7), Denver Broncos (8-5), Baltimore Ravens (8-5) and Houston Texans (8-5). With the Dolphins still ninth in the AFC, due to the Colts’ head-to-head tiebreaker over them, they need to leapfrog two of the above teams in the standings over the final four weeks of the regular season.

Quick thoughts from South Florida Sun Sentinel staffers on the Miami Dolphins’ 32-26 overtime win over the New York Jets at Hard Rock Stadium on Sunday: Chris Perkins, Dolphins Columnist No one expected this game to go to overtime, but pretty much everyone expected the Dolphins to win. So, I guess, no big deal.

GAINESVILLE — Florida’s November turnaround earned the Gators a bowl bid at a familiar spot close to home. Billy Napier’s squad is bound for the Gasparilla Bowl, scheduled for Dec. 20 at 3:30 p.m. in Tampa against Tulane. The Gators (7-5) won’t have much time to prepare for the Green Wave (9-4), but will be home for the holidays. Florida returns to the postseason after missing out in 2023 following a 5-7 finish and seek to end a three-game losing streak in bowls that started after a 36-28 win against Virginia in the 2019 Orange Bowl.

A fight at a public park in Sunrise on Sunday ended with a victim being shot in the face with a BB gun. Sunrise police officers responded to calls at 11:37 a.m. regarding a fight at Flamingo Park, at 12855 NW 8 St., in Sunrise. They found the victim near a basketball court with a wound to his cheek. According to police, the victim was conscious and breathing and was taken to a hospital. Sunrise police said the incident is being investigated. Anyone with information about the incident is asked to call Broward County Crime Stoppers at 954-493-8477.

Two more Miami Hurricanes entered the transfer portal on Sunday: twin brothers Bobby and Robby Washington. The pair of Miami natives, who spent two seasons with the Hurricanes, are the fourth and fifth UM players known to enter the portal this offseason, according to On3. “Business decision,” Robby wrote on social media.

The Miami Hurricanes had a brief glimmer of hope that they could slip into the College Football Playoff on Saturday night. Georgia’s starting quarterback, Carson Beck, suffered an injury that kept him out of most of the second half of the SEC championship game. The selection committee pushed an undefeated FSU out of the playoffs last year after starter Jordan Travis suffered a season-ending injury.