MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — The Patriots squished the streak.
For the primary time since Tom Brady was beginning at quarterback approach again in 2013, the Patriots beat the Dolphins in Miami.
The Dolphins had been driving late whereas trailing 33-27 till Patriots high-priced free-agent defensive sort out Milton Williams sacked quarterback Tua Tagovailoa to win the sport. Drake Maye, in maybe his greatest professional begin, kneeled to expire the clock for a Patriots win.
The Patriots mentioned this week they wished to get out to a warmer begin. That, they did in Mike Vrabel’s first win as head coach.
Quarterback Drake Maye led his crew on a 10-play, 68-yard scoring drive to start the sport. The offensive sequence culminated with an 8-yard landing go on a bootleg rollout to huge receiver Mack Hollins, who discovered himself huge open working an out path to his proper from a flex place. Rookie kicker Andres Borregales missed his extra-point try.
After the Patriots’ protection pressured the Dolphins right into a three-and-out, the Patriots took over at their 30-yard line. They went on one other spectacular drive, spanning 70 yards on 11 performs earlier than Maye linked with huge receiver Kayshon Boutte for a 16-yard landing. Boutte hauled within the go one-handed over former Patriots cornerback Jack Jones whereas falling backwards ultimately zone for an unimaginable play. Borregales missed once more on the additional level, giving the Patriots a 12-0 lead.
The Patriots’ protection, led by head coach Mike Vrabel and inside linebackers coach Zak Kuhr with coordinator Terrell Williams out on a health-related go away, was a sieve on the Dolphins’ second drive. The Dolphins went 83 yards on eight performs. Cornerback Alex Austin, filling in for injured starter Christian Gonzalez, allowed an 18-yard landing catch to Jaylen Waddle. A made additional level minimize the Patriots’ result in 12-7.
The Patriots leaned on Borregales once more on their third drive, trusting him to kick a 28-yard subject objective, which he hit to increase the result in 15-7. The Patriots held onto the ball for 15 performs, choosing up 71 yards on the drive, however penalties pushed them again 10 yards, and the offense stalled within the crimson zone.
The Dolphins wanted only one minute and 23 seconds to drive 77 yards down the sector on six performs. Speedy working again De’Von Achane beat linebacker Robert Spillane for a landing on a 29-yard catch and run. QB Tua Tagovailoa additionally hit huge receiver Tyreek Hill for a giant play on the drive with Carlton Davis III in protection. After getting flagged for a false begin on a two-point try, the Dolphins settled for an additional level to chop the Patriots’ result in 15-14.
The Patriots allowed the Dolphins to take a 17-15 lead on the opening sequence out of the half. The Patriots had the Dolphins stalled earlier than Austin allowed a 47-yard deep reception to huge receiver Tyreek Hill. Security Craig Woodson was additionally across the ball on the underthrow from Tagovailoa. Kicker Riley Patterson hit a 40-yard subject objective to take the lead.
Maye put the crew on his shoulders to re-take a 23-20 lead. Evading strain from Dolphins edge defender Jaelan Phillips allowed by proper sort out Morgan Moses, Maye delivered a 55-yard go to Stevenson to get close to the crimson zone. It was the longest completion of Maye’s two-year profession. The younger QB capped off the drive with a 6-yard scramble for a landing. Stevenson rushed for a two-point conversion to increase the result in three factors.
Vrabel’s protection pressured a punt for simply the second time all sport, however the Patriots’ offense couldn’t do something to place the sport away. They managed simply 6 yards on six performs with 10 yards misplaced to penalties and 13 misplaced to a foul snap from heart Garrett Bradbury. To make issues worse, the Patriots allowed Malik Washington to attain on a 74-yard punt return with a number of missed tackles to provide the Dolphins a 27-23 lead.
The lead didn’t final lengthy. Antonio Gibson ripped off a 90-yard kick return for a landing on the following kickoff. Borregales hit the additional level to provide the Patriots a 30-27 lead.
Patriots linebacker Marte Mapu intercepted Tagovailoa on the Dolphins’ subsequent drive, organising a Patriots subject objective to increase their result in 33-27.
BEST
QB Drake Maye: This might need been one of the best sport of Maye’s younger profession. He was a particularly environment friendly 19-of-23 for 230 yards with two touchdowns and rushed eight instances for 33 yards with a landing.
WR Kayshon Boutte: The third-year professional made one of the spectacular catches of the season, hauling in a landing with one arm. It was a properly positioned go from Maye however an excellent higher catch from a large receiver who has garnered his quarterback’s belief.
RB Rhamondre Stevenson: The veteran working again regarded considerably improved from Week 1, when he gained simply 2.1 yards per carry. Stevenson rushed 11 instances for 54 yards and caught 5 passes for 88 yards.
WORST
Ok Andres Borregales: The Patriots may finally have a tricky resolution to make on Borregales, who missed two additional factors and was penalized for kicking in need of the touchdown zone on a kickoff. The College of Miami product ought to have been snug kicking at Laborious Rock Stadium, his residence faculty subject. He did hit two subject objectives and one additional level after the 2 misses.
CB Alex Austin: The Patriots missed Gonzalez on this one. Austin allowed an 18-yard landing to Waddle and a 47-yard deep reception to Hill. Austin is an honest backup cornerback, however he couldn’t sustain with Waddle pace. He misjudged the ball within the air on Hill’s lengthy catch.
RB TreVeyon Henderson: The rookie working again is an explosive participant, however he struggled in go safety Sunday, permitting two sacks. He was additionally flagged for holding twice in go safety and on a third-quarter kick return. The second-round choose did rush 3 times for 10 yards and caught two passes for 30 yards.
RT Morgan Moses: Moses was flagged for 3 false begins. He allowed a strain that was narrowly evaded by Maye on the lengthy completion to Stevenson.
WHAT WE LEARNED
- Kuhr referred to as defensive performs from the sideline on Sunday. Williams had beforehand been calling performs from the coaches’ sales space.
- Slot receiver DeMario Douglas took on a lesser function in Week 2 after struggling to attach with Maye in Week 1. The Patriots primarily used Boutte, Hollins and Stefon Diggs at huge receiver after they weren’t in two-running again or two-tight finish units.
- Cornerback/defensive captain Marcus Jones performed exterior in two-cornerback units and moved into the slot when Austin got here on the sector. That was a change from Week 1, when Austin and Davis had been on the sector for each defensive snap.
- The Patriots actually struggled to generate strain for many of the sport towards the Dolphins. The defensive efficiency usually was regarding. There’s solely a lot Gonzalez can do to assist. Veteran exterior linebacker Harold Landry III did provide you with a key sack on third down late within the fourth quarter, nevertheless, and Williams closed the sport out with large sack.
- Means, approach, approach, approach too many flags for the Patriots. They misplaced 75 yards on 12 penalties.
