Dolphins Defense Stifles Patriots in 10-3 Loss

MIAMI — Look at the bright side. Drew Bledsoe wasn’t sacked on the final play.

But the result remains the same, as the New England Patriots suffer their fourth agonizing defeat of this 2000 season in much the same way they have suffered their previous three. The stubborn Miami defense choked the Patriots all afternoon long, and walked off the sweltering ProPlayer Park field with a 10-3 win.

The game’s only touchdown came on a 53-yard pass from Jay Fiedler to Bert Emanuel, who beat Kato Serwanga deep down the right sideline. Emanuel fell down while making the grab, but got up untouched and stumbled into the end zone.

Miami was able to play a very conservative offense all day, because their defense allowed them to. The Patriots were able to get very little going all day, and the team didn’t help themselves much thanks to turnovers and penalties.

But the Dolphin defense carried the day, blanketing Patriot receivers and stifling Kevin Faulk for most of the day. Faulk averaged only 2.2 yards per carry, and was stuffed at two key juctures of the game.

In the second quarter, the Patriots had the ball at the Miami 35, fourth and 2. Bill Belichick decided to go for it and called Faulk on a run up the middle. But Sam Bowens stuffed the play in the backfield and dropped Faulk for a two-yard loss.

Then in the fourth quarter, the Patriots had the ball at their own 43, facing third down and 2. Faulk got the carry, but could only muster a one-yard pickup and the Pats had to punt.

Faulk also was involved in perhaps the most damaging play of the day for the Patriots. Following a Ty Law interception that put the ball at the Miami 21, the Patriots drove all the way to the 7. On second and goal, Faulk burst through the line and headed towards the end zone. But Faulk was crunched at the one by safety Brian Walker, and Faulk coughed the ball up. Zach Thomas recovered at the three for Miami.

Bledsoe was handcuffed most all day as well. Though sacked only twice, he had a sub-.500 pass completion day (16-33) and averaged only 4.9 yards per throw. On the game’s final drive, Bledsoe tried two timing tosses into the end zone, one to Terry Glenn and one to Eric Bjornson on the game’s final play. Both passes missed the mark.

About Bob George

Covering Boston Sports since 1997. Native of Worcester, Mass. Attended UMass and Univ of Michigan. Lives in California. Just recently retired after 40 years of public school teaching. Podcasts on YouTube at @thepic4139

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