New England Patriots (1-4) – Miami Dolphins (2-3): 10-15
Duel between two teams who have three consecutive defeats and it showed. Lots of errors and penalties which show a lack of confidence whether for Miami or New England.
Jacoby Brissett (18/34, 160 yards) is still struggling to get his team moving forward. However, the Patriots were stubborn in the air even though things worked better on the ground.
On the Miami side, it was necessary to wait for the decisive possession 5 minutes from the end of the match to see them significantly advance. Tyler Huntley (18/31, 194 yards, 1int) does not, at the moment, look like a quarterback who can positively change the destiny of his franchise.
Miami in reverse
This year, nothing is working offensively for the Dolphins. Interception, missed field goal, blocked punt, missed game launch which loses a potential field goal position, McDaniels' men can no longer achieve anything. As if that wasn't enough, De'Von Achane went out with an injury on the first possession.
However, it started well for Miami. For the first time this season, Miami led in the score. A field goal from Jason Sanders which allows them to open the scoring. But New England will take advantage of Christian Gonzales' interception to respond. On a 33-yard run, Rhamondre Stevenson (12 races, 89 yards, 1TD) scored the first touchdown of the game, 7-3.
This is the only time that the locals will take advantage of opposing errors in this first half.
Miami's last offensive action before halftime is a symbol of the current setbacks that the Florida franchise is experiencing. Jason Sanders can bring his team to 1 point. He succeeds in his kick, but is canceled for a false start. On the new attempt, the center misses his transmission and Sanders will never see the ball offered to him. We therefore remain at 7 to 3 for New England at halftime.
For a handful of centimeters and seconds
The second half is just as complicated for both attacks. Two field goals for Miami, one for New England, the score is 10 to 9 for the locals with five minutes remaining.
This is the moment chosen by the Dolphins to accelerate on the ground. 25 yards for Raheem Mostert, 58 for Jaylen Wright and Alec Ingold ends the possession with a 2-yard run. The 2-point conversion is missed but Miami regains the advantage, 10-15.
Forced to respond, Jacoby Brissett carries New England to the redzone. Deprived of Stevenson, injured at the start of this possession, the quarterback believes he finds Jal'ynn Polk in the endzone. But the young receiver has a heel out of bounds and the pass is ruled incomplete. The next two passes are missed and we think the match is over.
Except that Miami does not succeed in running the clock sufficiently and returns the ball to Brissett on these 43 yards and 29 seconds to play. A pass of 21 yards, another of 25, New England is back on the edge of the endzone. But each reception took place on the field and the clock ran out without giving the locals a last chance. Final score, 15 to 10 for the Dolphins.
After three consecutive defeats, Miami is relaunching but is not reassuring.
