The Dolphins hung on to beat the Patriots on Sunday Night Football. The Athletic has you covered with the latest news, reaction, analysis and more.
Chad Graff, Jeff Howe, Steve Buckley and The Athletic NFL Staff
September 18, 2023 at 12:07 PM EDT
Adam Glanzman / Getty Images
26 New Updates
Tagovailoa sacked for first time this season
Meanwhile, Matthew Judon gets to Tua Tagovailoa and takes him down, the first time the Dolphins quarterback has been sacked this season in six-plus quarters.
It forces a Miami punt.
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New England downgrades CB Marcus Jones to out
New England Patriots corner back Marcus Jones is out for the rest of this game due to a shoulder injury.
Their CB depth chart for the rest of this game:
- Christian Gonzalez
- Myles Bryant
- Shaun Wade
(Jalen Mills could probably move to CB)
Patriots must be far more efficient in second half
The New England Patriots' plan to shorten the game with longer offensive possessions makes sense. But it hasn't worked.
Tua Tagovailoa has methodically worked down the field, involved complementary pieces and scored on three of four drives. The Pats have two third-down stops. Now they're down 17-3 with the Miami Dolphins getting the ball to start the second.
The other problem is the offense isn't holding its end of the bargain. Protection issues killed three of their four possessions. The other was a turnover. And the crowd booed them off the field during the final kneel-down.
Gotta be far more efficient to keep it close into the fourth quarter.
Miami closes another half strong
Following the 2-yard touchdown pass from Tua Tagovailoa to Tyreek Hill, the Miami Dolphins have now outscored their opponents by 17 points in the final two minutes of either half this season.
Per TruMedia, that’s the best scoring margin in those situations in the NFL.
Dolphins slice through defense to take 17-3 halftime lead
Just when things were looking positive for the Patriots, the Dolphins offense returns to the field and returns to slicing through the New England defense like a hot knife through butter.
Tua Tagovailoa hits River Cracraft for two solid gains, passes complete to Braxton Berrios down to the Patriots' 2-yard line. Then, following a review, Tagovailoa finishes it off with a 2-yard scoring pass to Tyreek Hill.
The New England defenders might as well have been traffic cones on that drive. Eight plays and 75 yards in just 1:38, and Miami leads 17-3 heading to halftime.
Braxton Berrios burns Patriots defense
Tagovailoa finds Braxton Berrios once again to put the Miami Dolphins inside the New England 5-yard line.
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New England offense shows some life
The Patriots offense shows some life, moving 35 yards in 10 plays and getting on the scoreboard with a 49-yard field goal by rookie Chad Ryland, his first as a pro.
New England trails 10-3 with 1:49 remaining in the first half. It has not been the most sparkling of halves for the Patriots, but they're very much in this game as halftime approaches.
Hard to shut out Patriots in first half under Belichick
Entering tonight, the New England Patriots have been shut out in the first half fewer times since Bill Belichick's first season as head coach in 2000 than any other team in the NFL (16 times).
This would've been the second time in the Patriots' last three meetings with the Dolphins that it has happened.
Dolphins keeping pressure on Mac Jones
Miami Dolphins linebacker Andrew Van Ginkel nearly forced the the Patriots' second fumble of the night as Mac Jones just barely got the ball off in time.
Pats CB Marcus Jones questionable to return
New England Patriots corner back Marcus Jones is questionable to return to this game due to a shoulder injury.
Mostert finds end zone for second straight game
David Butler II / USA Today
The 8-yard touchdown rush by Dolphins RB Raheem Mostert was his second in as many games. Mostert had three touchdowns all of last season and none in the final six games of the regular season.
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Raheem Mostert extends Dolphins' lead
Again, the Patriots are trying to take away the Dolphins' big-play offense ... but they're not stopping much of anything.
For the second time, Miami matriculates the ball down the field with ease and a Raheem Mostert 8-yard run for a touchdown finishes off an 11-play, 73-yard drive that looked easy.
Through two drives, Tua Tagovailoa has completed 8 of 11 passes for 112 yards, and Mostert has 31 yards on seven carries.
Patriots' Marcus Jones down with apparent injury
Marcus Jones is down on the field with an apparent injury.
The Patriots are already thin at cornerback with Jack Jones on the injured reserve and Jonathan Jones (ankle) out this game.
Waddle nearly breaks loose
Tua Tagovailoa found one of his favorite targets for a gain of 28 yards. Jaylen Waddle nearly broke loose to the end zone but was tripped up.
Bradley Chubb notches first forced fumble of season
Miami Dolphins veteran defensive end Bradley Chubb knocked it away from rookie wide receiver Demario Douglas for his first forced fumble of the season.
The forced fumble was the Dolphins’ first takeaway as a team this season and just their 15th since the start of last season (second fewest in NFL).
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New England bends but doesn't break
Bill Belichick's New England Patriots defense started off with a bend-but-don't-break approach.
Three-high safeties were sitting back and forcing the Miami Dolphins to run the ball or throw it short. The Dolphins did just that on their first possession, nickel-and-diming the Patriots down the field. But the New England defense held in the red zone, and the Dolphins walked away with a Jason Sanders field goal to take an early 3-0 advantage.
Belichick's approach seems sound on the surface, but will his defense be able to keep Tua Tagovailoa, Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle under wraps for 60 minutes?
I wouldn't count on it.
No TD on this goal-to-go drive
After forcing the New England Patriots to punt on their opening drive, the Miami Dolphins marched down the field and moved inside the Patriots’ 5-yard line, but had to settle for a field goal.
Last season, Miami scored touchdowns on 83 percent of their goal-to-go drives, fourth best in the NFL.
Following that drive, the Dolphins have punched it in three times in six such drives this season (50 percent).
Patriots committed to taking away deep ball
The New England Patriots are betting that if they take away the deep ball, the Miami Dolphins won't be able to sustain long, touchdown drives.
On the Dolphins' opening possession, the Pats were right even if it yielded a Miami field goal. We'll see if that holds up all game.
Miami takes an early 3-0 lead.
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