The Dolphins beat the Titans 27-20 yesterday at Hard Rock Stadium in the "longest game in NFL history," featuring "three hours and 59 minutes' worth of stoppage because of lightning in the area." The first lightning delay began with 1:11 left in the second quarter, and after an "abbreviated halftime break," there was another delay "halfway through the third quarter." Restart plans "were agreed upon" by Dolphins coach Adam Gase and Titans coach Mike Vrabel "during the stoppages" (PALMBEACHPOST.com, 9/9). Instead of the teams "heading into the locker rooms for halftime, they went to their respective benches for a 3 1/2-minute 'halftime' that essentially was a standard commercial break" (PALM BEACH POST, 9/10).
The initial crowd of 65,184 "had dwindled to maybe 7,000 by the end" of the game, which came more than seven hours after the 1:00pm ET start (MIAMI HERALD, 9/10). The Dolphins "rewarded those who stuck it out by inviting all fans to move into the lower bowl, which had been vacated by many departed fans" (ESPN.com, 9/9).
