Miami Gardens, Fla. - With backups getting most of the action Thursday night at Sun Life Stadium, the game between the New Orleans Saints and Miami Dolphins was your typical final preseason game filled with penalties and turnovers.
But Miami reserve quarterback Pat Devlin hit receiver Marvin Devlin with a 56-yard touchdown pass late in the fourth quarter to give the home team a 24-21 victory. The Dolphins iced the game when De'Andre Presley intercepted Saints quarterback Ryan Griffin with 59 seconds left.
The Saints finish the preseason 3-1 as they were denied a chance to finish 4-0 for the first time in franchise history. Next up for New Orleans is the season opener on Sept. 8 against the Atlanta Falcons at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. The Dolphins end the preseason 2-3.
The Dolphins led for most of the game thanks to three Caleb Sturgis field goals and a first quarter TD pass by Devlin. But in the fourth quarter Griffin led the Saints on two TD drives, one capped by offensive lineman Tim Lelito recovering a Khiry Robinson fumble in the end zone and the second coming on a 2-yard reception by fullback Austin Johnson. That score was set up by a 53-yard strike from Griffin to Saalim Hakim.
Few Saints starters played but running backs Mark Ingram (nine carries for 49 yards, one TD) and Pierre Thomas got some playing time as did starting receiver Marques Colston (one catch, 18 yards). Luke McCown started the game in place of Drew Brees.
Three Saints players left the game under their own power, receiver Nick Toon, cornerback Chris Carr and safety Isa Abdul-Quddus. Toon was shaken up after making a sensational diving catch that was wiped out by a penalty. Running back Travaris Cadet didn't see any action.
Griffin was 15 for 31 for 198 yards with a TD and an intercetion while Robinson had 22 carries for 115 yards and six receptions for 53 yards. He did have two fumbles, the one recovered by Lelito and then another in the fourth quarter that Miami got. Penalties were a problem for the Saints as they amassed 11 for 80 yards, most coming in the first half.
Devlin finished the game 22 of 38 for 259 yards and two TDs and two interceptions. McNutt finished with four receptions for 99 yards.
The Saints' defense made several big plays, including interceptions by safety Jeric Nelson and cornerback Korey Lindsey. They stopped the Dolphins on a fourth-and-goal from the 1 and held them to fewer than 300 yards of offense.
The Saints have until Saturday afternoon to set their 53-man roster.
