The Miami Dolphins lost six of their final nine games, but they were in the playoff race until the final week of the season. A few more breaks and this team could have landed in the postseason. Instead, Miami tied a franchise record with a fourth-straight losing season. Here's a look at the highs and lows of 2012.

Highlights:

  • Bouncing the Bengals in Week 5 -- The Dolphins used a dominant defensive effort to upset the playoff-bound Bengals, 17-13. Miami held Cincinnati to 298 total yards, forced three turnovers and sacked Bengals QB Andy Dalton three times. The Bengals were just 2 of 14 on third downs.

     
  • Grounding the rival Jets in Week 9 -- Star rookie QB Ryan Tannehill was knocked out of the game early, but backup QB Matt Moore was more than capable in leading the Dolphins to a dominant 30-9 win. Moore completed 11 of 19 passes for 131 yards and a touchdown, and rookie DE Olivier Vernon recovered a blocked punt for a touchdown and blocked a field goal.

     
  • Caging the Seahawks in Week 12 -- The last team to defeat the Seahawks? Why that would be the boys from South Beach. Miami posted a 24-21 win as Tannehill threw a game-tying 29-yard touchdown pass to TE Charles Clay with 5:13 remaining, then led a game-winning field-goal drive at the end of regulation. Dan Carpenter’s 43-yard boot sealed the win as time expired.

Lowlights:

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  • Getting blown out by lowly Tennessee in Week 10 -- It’s not often that you see a team favored by Las Vegas get blown out by nearly five touchdowns at home, but that’s exactly what happened in a 37-3 loss. Turnovers -- three interceptions and a fumble -- doomed the Dolphins as they laid an egg at Sun Life Stadium. The Titans finished with only 38 more yards of offense than Miami.

     
  • Shutout by the Patriots in Week 17 -- The Dolphins gave the defending AFC champions all they wanted in a narrow defeat earlier in the month, but Miami players looked more interested in a Monday tee time than a Sunday kickoff as they were dominated, 28-0. The Dolphins finished with 256 total yards and turned the ball over twice, and Tannehill was sacked seven times.

     
  • Falling in overtime to the Jets in Week 3 -- This is the one that got away. Miami squandered an early double-digit lead. Tannehill threw an interception that was returned for a touchdown in the first half. A missed 48-yard field goal in overtime by Carpenter set the stage for New York to drive for its game-winning kick in a 23-20 loss.

For more up-to-the-minute news and analysis on the Miami Dolphins from blogger Dave Carey, follow @CBSDolphins.