New England Patriots (0-2) – Miami Dolphins (2-0): 17-24
The Patriots tried everything to stay alive at the end of the game. Even the riskiest. On 4th&4, Mike Gesicki caught the ball a few centimeters from the first down line, before attempting a lateral pass for lineman Cole Strange, ultimately stopped too short. With just under a minute to play, New England’s last hopes are gone.
New England was credited with staying in the game after trailing 17-3 late in the third, limiting Miami’s explosive aerial attack. Boiling in the first week with more than 200 yards, Tyreek Hill was generally contained (5 rec, 40 yards, 1 TD). With a blocked field goal and an interception, the defense and special teams did their part of the job. But the Mac Jones-led offense didn’t do enough.
While Tua Tagovailoa (21/30, 249 yards, 1 TD, 1 int) and his teammates failed to kill the game in the third quarter, it was Raheem Mostert who found the fault on a 43-yard run for the touchdown of 24-10 at 8mn45 from the end.
Mac Jones and the Valiant Patriots
But as when they were trailing 17-3, Mac Jones (31/42, 231 yards, 1 TD, 1 int) and his teammates did not let Mostert’s touchdown bring them down. Jones and Rhamondre Stevenson (15 races, 50 yards, 1 TD) responded immediately with a 75-yard offensive completed by the runner in the end zone. The Patriots come back within shooting range, and Miami wastes the opportunity to kill the game, when Jason Sanders misses a 55-yard kick. There are 2mn19 left to play when Mac Jones and his squad attack one last time. They are on the opposing 33 yards when the desperate attempt by Gesicki and Strange fails.
In the end, the logic is respected. Miami has a bit more resources and depth than New England right now. Especially since the Patriots were not helped by injuries at the cornerback position. The good news is the good game of Christian Gonzalez, great hope of the defense, author of an interception.
With a second victory in as many games, the Dolphins are alone at the top of the AFC East division. The Patriots, conversely, are last. This is the first time since 2001 that New England has started a campaign with two defeats. The good news is that they won the Super Bowl that year.
