Tua Tagovailoa leads TD drive and loses fumble in Falcons' 17-12 preseason win over Dolphins

Tua Tagovailoa led a touchdown drive but lost a fumble while playing the first quarter for Atlanta against his former team, and the Falcons beat the Miami Dolphins 17-12

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. -- Tua Tagovailoa tried to keep his emotions in check. His bid to earn a starting job with a new team took priority over his return to face his former club.

Five months after being released by the Dolphins and landing with the Falcons, Tagovailoa was back inside Hard Rock Stadium. He led a touchdown drive but lost a fumble while playing the first quarter, and Atlanta went on to beat Miami 17-12 on Friday night.

“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. “You have to go out there, drive the offense and ... put points on the board. That’s all what I was thinking of.”

Tagovailoa was booed as he took the field and finished 7 of 8 for 95 yards while playing three series. The 28-year-old spent his first six seasons with Miami.

On his first series, Tagovailoa led a 60-yard drive, capped by Brian Robinson Jr.’s 3-yard touchdown run for a 7-0 lead.

“Regardless of the reaction, I love the city,” Tagovailoa said. “It was really cool to see a lot of the guys there and talk to some of the guys after the game.”

Tagovailoa fumbled the snap to start Atlanta’s second drive and Miami recovered. His third drive also ended in a turnover when Dolphins linebacker Jackson Woodard recovered Robinson’s fumble at the Miami 13.

“There is plenty to clean up, turning the ball over three times will be hard to win,” Falcons coach Kevin Stefanski said.

Tagovailoa was replaced by Cooper Rush, who went 13 of 18 for 106 yards and a touchdown.

Michael Penix Jr., the Falcons’ starter for nine games last season who returned to practice Monday , participated in warmups but didn’t play. He had been sidelined since last November with a torn ACL in his left knee.

Riley Patterson kicked four field goals for the Dolphins, who didn’t score a preseason touchdown after their opening drive against Washington on Aug. 14.

The Falcons (2-1) used a smattering of starters for limited plays while the Dolphins (0-3) went with reserves.

Starting tight end Kyle Pitts also played the first quarter, catching three passes for 59 yards for Atlanta.