The New England Patriots approached their clash with the Miami Dolphins on Sunday with optimism, hoping to turn a challenging season around. Unfortunately for them, a disappointing 34-15 defeat in Miami illustrated that much work remains if they aspire to realize that turnaround.
Rookie quarterback Drake Maye faced challenges in the aftermath of the game, yet he delivered a message of resilience to his teammates. “I told some guys, just remember this feeling of really getting our butts whooped today, and it’s only up from here,” Maye expressed. This loss marked the Patriots’ third in their last four games, leaving them with a record of 3-9. They had much to consider, particularly their numerous self-inflicted wounds, as they accumulated 10 penalties costing them 75 yards, forcing them to constantly play catch-up.
While Maye managed to complete 22 of 37 passes for 221 yards and added 26 rushing yards, he also suffered a critical strip sack in the third quarter that led to a score for Miami. This was the seventh turnover he has committed over the past three games. The Patriots’ defense also faced significant scrutiny, as they allowed Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa to complete 29 out of 40 passes, accumulating 317 yards and throwing for four touchdowns. Head coach Jerod Mayo noted that the team would enter the upcoming week prepared for difficult review sessions, with only one more game against Indianapolis scheduled before their bye week. “Those are those hard meetings where you have to address the elephant in the room, but it’s no secret,” he stated. “The good thing about the sport, it’s all recorded. You can go back and forth on it, but the film doesn’t lie.”
Amid the struggles, there were some positive takeaways for the Patriots. Though it may seem trivial following such a heavy loss, Maye concluded the game positively, connecting on several deep passes after the Dolphins surged to a commanding 31-0 lead. He linked up with Demario Douglas and Hunter Henry, eventually finishing the drive with a 38-yard touchdown pass to Austin Hooper.
On the other hand, the offensive line faced setbacks. After demonstrating some stability with Ben Brown (center), Vederian Lowe (left tackle), Michael Jordan (left guard), Mike Onwenu (right guard), and Demontrey Jacobs (right tackle) starting in consecutive games, their performance deteriorated against the Dolphins. They allowed four sacks on Maye and were responsible for seven of the team’s 10 penalties throughout the matchup.
In terms of individual performances, defensive end Christian Barmore stood out. Playing in his second game of the season, Barmore recorded his first sack, bringing down Tagovailoa for a 2-yard loss in the third quarter. This was a significant achievement following his concerning health issues at the start of the training camp, where he was diagnosed with blood clots. Conversely, Lowe’s performance dipped, as he incurred four penalties in the first half alone, which included three false starts and a holding call. He also gave up a critical strip-sack on Maye late in the third period that directly contributed to the Dolphins scoring their last touchdown.
Despite no injuries being officially reported on Sunday, Lowe appeared to be struggling with a shoulder issue that had limited his practice participation prior to the game. One key statistic that stood out was that the Dolphins executed seven offensive plays that gained 15 or more yards against New England.
Looking ahead, the Patriots will host the Indianapolis Colts next Sunday, aiming to bounce back from their current challenges.