It was a game so ugly that a touchdown that did not count was by far the most thrilling highlight.
Dolphins guard Robert Hunt took a screen pass from Tua Tagovailoa and dove into the end zone — with arms fully stretched — for what briefly looked like one of the most majestic touchdowns in the history of the NFL.
Fittingly, in this 22-10 slop-fest that the Dolphins won over the Ravens, Hunt was clearly an illegal receiver and the play was called back. The Dolphins fittingly settled for a field goal and a 9-3 lead in the third quarter.
It appears that running back Myles Gaskin was the intended receiver and Hunt was meant to be a blocker. But the ball was thrown directly to Hunt, and instincts seemingly took over for the 25-year-old.
“I saw the ball, I didn’t want it to get intercepted, I grabbed it and I took off running with it,” Hunt told NFL Network after the game.
It resulted in what Fox analyst Troy Aikman deemed was “the greatest thing I’ve ever seen.”
It left the NFL world equally excited and confounded.
Hunt said he was “kind of embarrassed” when he got back to the Dolphins side. The NFL Network analysts assured him there was no need.
If the Dolphins have a sense of humor — and let’s hope they do as the win only improved their record to 3-7 — they will allow Hunt to check in as an eligible receiver at least once this season and design a play for him that gives him a chance to score a touchdown that counts.