The Patriots won in Miami and they beat Tua Tagovailoa for the first time. Despite the heat in Miami, they didn’t wilt down the stretch. I never expected a shootout in Miami, but the Patriots kept their poise and closed out the game 33-27. This was their 1st win in Miami since 2019 when Tom Brady defeated the Dolphins.
The Good
I criticized Drake Maye for his poor play last week. On Sunday, he was spectacular, going 19 of 23, two passing TDs, and a Rushing TD. No turnovers for a 137.3 QB Rating. Maye made several plays coming after team penalties that would have ended drives in the past.
Rhamondre Stevenson looked like the player we remembered. His 142 total yards were another outstanding effort. He had 11 rushes for 54 yards (4.9 YPC) and 8 catches for 88 yards. His spectacular catch on a wheel route (actually a rub route by Hunter Henry that freed him up for a 55-yard catch) helped set up Maye’s 6-yard rushing touchdown, which at the time put the Patriots back up 23-20 late in the third quarter. Maye targeted him 5 times, and he caught them all. A screen pass for 12 yards was another big play by Stephenson when they were backed up by a penalty.
Will Campbell had clean sheet Pass Blocking and I can’t wait to see what his Run Blocking grade from PFF will be on Monday.
The Offensive Line blocked well in the run game as they ran the ball 29 times for 122 yards and a 4.2 YPC.
Kayshon Boutte was only targeted once but it was a big one for a 16-yard TD. Boutte beat Jack Jones, and he was able to stack him and shield him off for a one-handed catch and TD. Boutte is really starting to look like a #1 receiver. Maye dropped the pass perfectly like he was throwing a ball into a barrel in Training Camp.
The Defense had 5 sacks of Tua Tagovailoa, which was very impressive. Tagovailoa was getting the passes off in under 2 seconds, and when it counted, they sacked him to end the game. Milton Williams, the highly paid Free Agent signing, had 2 sacks, including the game-saving sack. They took advantage of the backup right side of the Miami line and also wreaked havoc on the rookie LG and an inexperienced 2nd-year LT.
Bryce Barringer had two big punts when the Patriots were backed up near their own goal line. He averaged 68 yards per punt. However, on the 2nd kick, he outkicked his coverage and poor tackling led to the 68-yard Punt Return for a TD.
Antonio Gibson’s 90-yard Kickoff return for a TD turned the game around for the Patriots after they had just given up the long Punt Return for a TD. Gibson was asked if he saw HC Mike Vrabel running with him down the sideline, and Gibson said, “ If he is running step for step with me, then I need to run faster”.
Marte Mapu had a big Interception and also had a Pass Breakup.
Austin Hooper had 3 catches on 3 targets for 38-yards including a big 22-yard catch.
Christian Elliss and Jaylinn Hawkins led the team with 8 tackles apiece
It was pretty gutsy of Mike Vrabel to go for it on 4th down and 3 with 11:30 left in the 1st quarter on Miami’s 43. Maye completed a pass to Stefon Diggs for 10 yards to keep the drive alive.
I think Mike Vrabel could still go out and play. I loved seeing him run down the sideline, cheering on Antonio Gibson’s kickoff Return. I wish we could have the Next Gen stats on how fast he was running.
No Patriot turnovers.
Craig Woodson was injured with a hit to the head, Carlton Davis was dinged up, and Christian Barmore got a knock, and all three players were out. They all returned to the game and were in there at the end of the game. They didn’t quit and played it to the end.
The Bad
Andy Borregales had a rough day, missing two extra points. I was very surprised that Mike Vrabel had faith in him to nail a 53-yard FG late in the game to force Miami to have to go for a TD rather than a FG to tie the game. That kick would have been good from 60 yards as it hit halfway up the net. He followed that FG by kicking off short of the landing zone and gave the Dolphins great field position at the 40-yard line.
Special Teams had two more penalties but redeemed themselves with the Kickoff Return for a TD.
The Patriots’ overall tackling needs to be better.
The Patriots held a 22-minute to 7-minute Time of Possession advantage in the First Half and only led 15-14. The Dolphins had given up 13 consecutive scoring possessions by their opponents until the Patriots kneeled down to end the 1st
The Ugly
Mike Vrabel and Josh McDaniels should be criticized for passing after the two-minute timeout. I think that was a very stupid play. It stopped the clock, and Miami didn’t have to use its last timeout.
Garrett Bradbury rolling a shotgun snap past Maye is inexcusable.
The Patriots had 12 accepted Penalties for 75 yards. The rookies had a tough day.
Elijah Ponder got called for lining up in the neutral zone, which nullified an Interception by Jaylinn Hawkins. I didn’t think that Ponder was lined up in the neutral zone. K’Lavon Chaisson was also called for being in the neutral zone. Harold Landry was called for jumping the snap. I think he was timing the snap against the 25-second play clock, and that call may have been a little questionable.
TreVeyon Henderson had 3 penalties including a hold on pass protection.
Morgan Moses had 3 false starts. I thought the Officials were a little touchy on the false start calls. Campbell was called for a false start when he pointed out the pass protection. This crew, with a new Referee, called a total of 22 penalties.
De’Von Archane steps out of bounds at the 26th instead of scoring a TD. If he had scored, the Pats would have had to move the ball downfield for a field goal with under a minute left in the game.
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Merrimack Valley native and lifelong fan of the New England Patriots. My earliest memories of the Patriots were attending as a child with my dad, the off-season practice at Phillips Academy. I was at the Patriots game at Harvard Stadium in 1970 where Bob “Harpo” Gladieux was called out of the stands by the stadium announcer over the PA to play in the game. Analyzing the draft since ESPN first started to televise it in 1980 and former writer for the Lowell Sun Newspaper.
Given the pats squandered an early lead and trailed in the 4th Qtr, it was notable in the heat on the road that they made plays on both offense and D to garner that win. I saw the coaches rotated the D line a lot, and that seemingly paid off. Great win to bouy the team and hopefully build on.
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Given the pats squandered an early lead and trailed in the 4th Qtr, it was notable in the heat on the road that they made plays on both offense and D to garner that win. I saw the coaches rotated the D line a lot, and that seemingly paid off. Great win to bouy the team and hopefully build on.