FOXBORO — The Patriots are driving excessive as they roll into the postseason.
Now driving a brand new three-game profitable streak, the Patriots demolished the Dolphins 38-10 in Sunday’s Week 18 regular-season finale. They’ve now outscored opponents 80-20 of their last two video games of the season.
Quarterback Drake Maye was environment friendly, however he performed second fiddle to working again Rhamondre Stevenson, who exploded out of the backfield, producing his first 100-yard dashing efficiency of the season.
The Patriots’ protection had some regarding moments early towards a Dolphins offense led by rookie quarterback Quinn Ewers and with out their high offensive playmakers, however general, they settled down within the second half and compelled two turnovers earlier than the sport really obtained out of hand and backups entered the competition.
“I attempted to ask them to copy these final two sequence (of the primary half) and that depth and that execution as we went into the second half, and I feel that’s what we noticed,” Vrabel stated.
The Patriots started the sport by grounding and pounding. Working again Rhamondre Stevenson ripped off a 56-yard run on the second play of the sport. TreVeyon Henderson obtained into the top zone from 5 yards out on the third play of the sport to offer the Patriots a 7-0 lead.
The Dolphins, with a whole lot of backups on the sphere, put collectively a formidable 12-play, 57-yard drive earlier than getting stymied within the crimson zone and turning the ball over on downs with an incompletion into the top zone on fourth-and-1 from the Patriots’ 8-yard line. Patriots linebacker Jack Gibbens was in protection on Dolphins wideout Cedrick Wilson on the incompletion.
The Patriots’ offense continued the place they left off in final week’s win over the Jets with one other scoring drive. They went 92 yards on eight performs, plus they obtained a free 8 yards on a face masks penalty. Stevenson scored from 2 yards out from the wildcat with Maye splitting off to broad receiver. The most important play of the drive got here when Maye hit rookie broad receiver Efton Chism for 35 yards on a flea flicker.
The Dolphins went on one other spectacular drive, going 65 yards on 10 performs. This time, they ended it ultimately zone on a 2-yard landing completion from Ewers to Malik Washington.
The Patriots, main 14-7, went three-and-out with three straight incompletions from Maye. The Dolphins then went three-and-out, themselves, with defensive deal with Cory Durden making a key run stuff on third-and-1. The Patriots then turned the ball over on downs, going for it on fourth-and-1 from their very own 40-yard line when Henderson was stuffed for no achieve.
The Dolphins’ possession was short-lived, nonetheless with Gibbens, together with assist from cornerback Christian Gonzalez, forcing a fumble and out of doors linebacker Elijah Ponder recovering for an 18-yard return. The ball was coughed up by Dolphins working again Jaylen Wright, and the Patriots took over possession on the Dolphins’ 37-yard line.
The Patriots went simply 17 yards after the turnover, with 15 yards subtracted by penalties. Andy Borregales’s 38-yard area objective was blocked by Dolphins defensive deal with Zach Sieler. The ball was recovered by Dolphins cornerback Jason Marshall Jr. and returned to the Patriots’ 40-yard line.
A sack from Christian Barmore helped put the Dolphins again, however they nonetheless scored on a 52-yard area objective from Riley Patterson to make the rating 14-10.
The Patriots took a 17-10 lead into the half with a 59-yard area objective from kicker Andy Borregales after a three-play, 27-yard drive that noticed Maye full a 13-yard move to Kayshon Boutte and scramble for 14 yards.
The Dolphins obtained contained in the crimson zone once more earlier than Ewers was picked off ultimately zone by Patriots security Jaylinn Hawkins, who now has a team-leading 4 interceptions.
The Patriots capitalized on the takeaway with a seven-play, 80-yard drive. Maye discovered Stevenson ultimately zone for a 15-yard landing move.
After a Dolphins punt, Stevenson scored on the Patriots’ subsequent offensive sequence, as effectively, dashing for a 35-yard landing, his third of the sport.
The Patriots pressured one other three-and-out, due to a third-down sack from Ponder. They responded with a five-play, 51-yard drive that ended with Henderson’s second dashing landing of the sport to offer them a 38-10 lead.
BEST
RB Rhamondre Stevenson: Stevenson has been wonderful for the ultimate quarter of the season. On Sunday, he carried the ball seven instances for 131 yards and two touchdowns and caught two passes for 22 yards and one other landing.
QB Drake Maye: Maye wasn’t fairly as prolific as he was in Week 17, when he threw for 5 touchdowns, however he ended Sunday’s win going 14-of-18 for 191 yards with a passing landing and 4 carries for 33 yards. Maye completed the common season with a 71.9% completion share, 4,394 passing yards, 450 dashing yards, 35 complete TDs, 8 INTs and a 113.48 passer ranking.
RB TreVeyon Henderson: Henderson wasn’t as explosive as Stevenson, however he obtained into the top zone twice and carried the ball 12 instances for 53 yards.
LB Jack Gibbens: Credit score Gibbens with a move breakup and compelled fumble. He made an influence, persevering with to fill in for starter Robert Spillane. Gonzalez was additionally in on Gibbens’ pressured fumble.
S Jaylinn Hawkins: It was a straightforward choose, however let’s give Hawkins a shout right here for his team-leading and career-high fourth interception.
WORST
Particular groups: Borregales had a 38-yard area objective blocked. It’s additionally not a superb signal that the Patriots appear to choose kicking touchbacks slightly than doubtlessly giving up lengthy returns.
First-half protection: Positive, the Dolphins solely scored 10 factors within the first half, however it was regarding to see how a lot floor the Patriots’ protection was giving up. They need to get some reinforcements for the playoffs with Spillane, Harold Landry and Khyiris Tonga all presently out of motion.
CB Carlton Davis: Davis was flagged for move interference within the third quarter. He additionally allowed two key receptions within the recreation.
WHAT ELSE WE LEARNED
• The Patriots started the sport in 12 jumbo personnel with RB Rhamondre Stevenson, WR Stefon Diggs, WR Efton Chism, TE Hunter Henry and jumbo TE Thayer Munford on the sphere. The primary play of the sport was a 9-yard run from Stevenson.
• The protection went heavy to start out the sport in base personnel with Barmore, Durden, Milton Williams, Anfernee Jennings, Jahlani Tavai, Christian Elliss and Gibbens making up the entrance seven. Ewers made them pay with a 9-yard scramble.
• The Patriots didn’t relaxation defensive starters till they’d taken a 38-10 lead within the fourth quarter. Earlier than that, as head coach Mike Vrabel stated earlier within the week, everybody who was wholesome performed and performed their regular set of snaps.
• Backup quarterback Josh Dobbs additionally entered the sport within the fourth quarter with a 38-10 lead. Left deal with Will Campbell, heart Garrett Bradbury and proper deal with Morgan Moses additionally left the sport with Maye.
