MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — Tua Tagovailoa had an impressive performance, throwing for 317 yards and four touchdowns as the Miami Dolphins defeated the New England Patriots with a score of 34-15 on Sunday. This victory improved the Dolphins’ record to 5-6, allowing them to maintain a slim chance for the postseason, bolstered by their current three-game winning streak. Notably, with their earlier win over New England in Week 5, the Dolphins have achieved consecutive sweeps of their division rivals for the first time since the 1999-2000 seasons.

Tagovailoa’s performance marked another milestone in his career, as he improved his record to 7-0 against the Patriots. Coming into the game with a league-leading completion rate of 73.4%, he completed 29 passes on 40 attempts. As the game seemed to be well in hand, backup quarterback Skylar Thompson replaced Tagovailoa with about 11 minutes remaining. However, Thompson’s first snap resulted in a mishandled handoff, leading to a fumble. Cornerback Christian Gonzalez recovered and returned it 63 yards for a touchdown, narrowing Miami’s lead to 31-15 before Tagovailoa re-entered.

Miami’s defense held strong, with linebacker Tyrel Dodson intercepting rookie quarterback Drake Maye during New England’s second-to-last drive. The Dolphins’ defense also successfully shut down the Patriots on fourth down in the ensuing drive. Wide receiver Jaylen Waddle had a standout game, catching eight passes for a season-high 144 yards, including a 23-yard touchdown that expanded Miami’s advantage to 31-0 by the start of the final quarter. Achane also had a remarkable game, scoring on a 9-yard screen pass and a subsequent 11-yard touchdown in the first half.

Jonnu Smith was notable on the receiving end for New England, finishing with 87 yards on nine receptions. After catching two touchdowns the previous week with over 100 yards, Smith found the end zone again with a 7-yard touchdown during Miami’s second offensive drive. Until the final quarter, New England struggled offensively and was kept scoreless. Tight end Austin Hooper finally got the Patriots on the board with a wide-open 38-yard touchdown catch from Maye, bringing the score to 31-7 with 13:43 left in the game.

Maye ended his day with 22 completed passes out of 37 attempts for 221 yards, adding another 26 yards on the ground. Unfortunately, he couldn’t spark a productive drive until late in the game, reflecting a generally disorganized performance from the Patriots. New England’s most promising drive in the first half was a lengthy 12-play series that covered 80 yards but included three offensive penalties, culminating in a missed 45-yard field goal attempt.

The Patriots managed to push into Dolphin territory again after forcing a punt, but their momentum waned. They attempted a trick play involving receiver Kendrick Bourne, who could not complete a pass to Rhamondre Stevenson on a crucial third down.

Injury concerns arose for the Dolphins as linebacker Anthony Walker Jr. sustained a non-contact hamstring injury in the second quarter and was unable to return. Looking ahead, the Patriots will host the Indianapolis Colts next Sunday, while the Dolphins are set to face the Green Bay Packers on Thursday.