Falcons 17, Dolphins 12: Tagovailoa Comes Home, Miami Never Finds the End Zone

August 28, 2026 - Miami Gardens - The boos started when Tua Tagovailoa jogged out. Five months after Miami cut him, he was back inside Hard Rock Stadium in an Atlanta helmet.

He still led a touchdown drive. He still lost a fumble. The Atlanta Falcons beat the Miami Dolphins 17-12 anyway. Atlanta finished 2-1. Miami finished 0-3 and did not score a preseason touchdown after its opening drive against Washington on Aug. 14.

"There were mixed emotions being able to come back to play at Hard Rock, but then the perspective changes being on the opposite sideline," Tagovailoa said.

Three series, then Cooper Rush

Tagovailoa played three series and went 7 of 8 for 95 yards. The first one covered 60 yards. Kyle Pitts caught a 37-yarder to the Miami 13. Brian Robinson Jr. scored from 3. 7-0.

The second series started with a fumbled snap. Willie Gay Jr. recovered, per the Dolphins. The drive after that ended when Jackson Woodard recovered Robinson's fumble at the Miami 13. Atlanta finished with three turnovers. Kevin Stefanski said turning the ball over three times will be hard to win.

Michael Penix Jr. took part in warmups and did not play. He returned to practice Monday after a torn ACL in his left knee last November. The Falcons used a few starters in limited snaps. Miami went with reserves. Malik Willis sat for the second straight week. Jeff Hafley said injuries had the roster thin and that sitting the regulars was the best decision.

Cooper Rush replaced Tagovailoa and went 13 of 18 for 106 yards and a touchdown. After Riley Patterson's 46-yard field goal made it 7-3, Rush hit Jack Velling from 3. 14-3. Patterson and Nick Folk traded field goals late in the half. 17-6 Atlanta.

Pitts played the first quarter and caught three passes for 59 yards. "Practice you can try and replicate it but nothing compares to the game," he said.

Four field goals, zero Miami touchdowns

Cam Miller started for the second week and went 7 of 16 for 71 yards. Mark Gronowski took the second half: 4 of 8 for 97 yards, plus 28 rushing yards on four carries.

Miami reached the Atlanta 1 in the third. Theo Wease Jr. dropped a Gronowski pass in the end zone, per ESPN. Patterson kicked from 26. 17-9. Another long drive died on a fumbled snap Atlanta recovered. Miles Battle intercepted a pass, and Patterson made it 17-12 from 37.

Rookie Chris Bell, a third-round pick from Louisville, made his debut: two catches, 22 yards. Patterson finished with four field goals. A 56-yard try was blocked earlier.

Atlanta opens at Pittsburgh on Sept. 13. Miami opens at Las Vegas the same day.

AthX Engine, if this were a regular-season card

AthX Engine NFL scoring on Friday's verified lines:

Robinson's rushing touchdown is 6 fantasy points plus rush yards. Velling's 3-yard catch is a receiving score. Pitts' 59 yards and three catches pay Half-PPR plus the tight-end premium. Tagovailoa's lost fumble is a negative. Patterson's four makes sit on the kicker table. Preseason games are not stored as AthX Engine weekly lines yet.

Fantasy points measure the box. Price is what traders will pay when Tagovailoa and Penix are in a real Week 1 plan.

Track Tagovailoa, Penix, Pitts, and the Falcons and Dolphins on the marketplace.

*Sources: AP recap, Dolphins.com, ESPN, NFL.com schedules. Information only; not financial advice.*