The New England Patriots found the win column in Miami for the first time since 2019 on Sunday, outlasting the Dolphins 33-27 in an eventful Week 2 showdown.
Led by a strong performance by Drake Maye, New England also saw keys plays on a 90-yard kickoff return by Antonio Gibson and sack by Milton Williams to close things out.
Here’s everything that went down throughout Sunday’s game.
Final score: Patriots 33 : 27 Dolphins
Sunday, Sept. 14, 1 p.m. ET | Hard Rock Stadium, Miami, FL | Broadcast information | Inactives | Game day roster
The Dolphins won the coin toss and deferred, putting Drake Maye and the Patriots offense up first. Three straight runs for Rhamondre Stevenson moved the chains and the unit to midfield before Maye found Stefon Diggs over the middle to convert a fourth-down attempt. Inside the red area after a 22-yard completion to Austin Hooper, a bootleg concept led to Maye finding Mack Hollins for a touchdown. Andy Borregales, however, missed the extra point. [Patriots 6 : 0 Dolphins]
Miami’s first drive nearly ended with an interception as Jaylinn Hawkins’ pick was negated by K’Lavon Chaisson lining up in the neutral zone. New England still got off the field quickly as Tua’s third-down attempt was incomplete.
A 15-yard completion downfield to TreVeyon Henderson converted New England’s first third-down — and helped overcome a false start by Will Campbell. Maye’s legs then became a factor picking up 13 yards on third-and-six, before the following third-down ended with a beautiful touchdown connection between Maye and Kayshon Boutte. [Patriots 12 : 0 Dolphins]
Miami’s offense got on the move on their next possession behind De’Von Achane and Tyreek Hill before a handoff to Malik Washington went for 18 yards. Inside the 20, Tua found Jaylen Waddle in the end zone for an 18-yard touchdown. [Patriots 12 : 7 Dolphins]
Back-to-back completions to Austin Hooper started New England’s next drive before Stevenson powered up the middle for 23 yards over midfield. A sack and holding penalty on Henderson moved the offense backwards, however an illegal contact penalty in Miami’s secondary gifted New England a fresh set of downs. A screen to the rookie back went for 15 yards before Stevenson continued to find room on the ground as he worked the unit into the red zone. Set up inside the five-yard line facing third-and-goal, Maye’s pass was deflected at the line which led to a 22-yard field goal by Borregales. [Patriots 15 : 7 Dolphins]
Following the two-minute warning, the Dolphins started their end-of-half drive with a 22-yard completion to Tyreek Hill before completions to Waddle and Achane moved the ball into New England territory. With less than a minute to go, a pass to Achane over the middle saw the back easily get by Robert Spillane and take it 29 yards for a touchdown. [Patriots 15 : 14 Dolphins]
A muff on the kick return by Antonio Gibson set up New England’s offense at the four-yard line, which led to a kneel down with 31 seconds left in the half.
Two holding penalties (one declined after an incomplete pass) set Miami up with an opening third-and-13, where Tagovailoa uncorked one downfield to Tyreek Hill who adjusted back to the ball to haul it in for 47 yards. Then set up in another third-and-long, a pass to Achane was complete but short of the sticks. A 40-yard field goal was good giving Miami the lead. [Patriots 15 : 17 Dolphins]
Facing a third-and-seven on their first drive of the second half, Maye was sacked to force a quick punt.
Miami continued to move the ball as Tua connected with Waddle for 23 yards near the left sideline — which was upheld after a challenge from Mike Vrabel. Backed up after Christian Barmore drew a holding call, the Patriots pass rush finally got home on third-down for a sack. Miami’s 44-yard field goal was good. [Patriots 15 : 20 Dolphins]
New England was again set up with an opening third-down, where Maye stepped up in the pocket and lofted one down the right sideline to Stevenson who hauled it in and ran for a 55-yard gain. Antonio Gibson then went right through Miami’s defense for a 15-yard gain to move to the six-yard line — where Maye outran Matthew Judon outside the pocket and found the end zone with his legs. The two-point conversion was good. [Patriots 23 : 20 Dolphins]
A 15-yard gain over the middle started Miami’s next possession, but New England’s defense held strong afterwards forcing a punt.
Morgan Moses’ second false start of the game and a blown up screen to Stevenson set New England’s offense up in a third-and-12 situation, where a screen back to Stevenson beat a Dolphins blitz for 14 yards. A penalty then on Hunter Henry and bad snap by Garrett Bradbury put the unit back in another third-and-long, where a screen led to a punt.
Miami’s offense never saw the field, as Malik Washington broke a handful of tackles to return the punt 71 yards for a score. [Patriots 23 : 27 Dolphins]
New England’s special teams made up for the return, as Antonio Gibson broke free on the following kick return for a 90-yard touchdown. [Patriots 30 : 27 Dolphins
Back trailing, Miami’s offense picked up two quick first downs before Tua again moved the chains on a third-and-seven completion near midfield. Penalties on the Dolphins helped set up another third-and-seven, in which Harold Landry got home for a sack. Staying on the field on fourth-down with under three minutes remaining, Tua’s pass was intercepted by Marte Mapu.
An incompletion following the two-minute warning stopped the clock and set up a third-and-eight, where Maye found Stefon Diggs for just six yards. On fourth-and-two with the offense on the field, a false start instead led to a field goal which Andy Borregales split the uprights from 53 yards out. [Patriots 33 : 27 Dolphins
A kickoff short of the landing zone started the Dolphins offense at the 40 with 1:47 remaining. Miami appeared to find the end zone just four plays later, but Achane stepped out of bounds at the 29-yard line. Then facing a fourth-and-12 with the game on the line, Milton Williams got home for a sack.
Drake Maye took a knee to end the game.
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