Miami Dolphins Season Review: December
By Brian Miller
December 14th
Ryan Tannehill
(17) reacts to a missed pass during the second half against the New England Patriots at Gillette Stadium. The Patriots won 41-13. Mandatory Credit: Winslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports” width=”300″ height=”218″ /> Dec 14, 2014; Foxborough, MA, USA; Miami Dolphins quarterback Ryan Tannehill (17) reacts to a missed pass during the second half against the New England Patriots at Gillette Stadium. The Patriots won 41-13. Mandatory Credit: Winslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports
It was supposed to be a playoff game with a playoff feel. The Dolphins were supposed to be ready. Instead the game opened with a block punt returned for a touchdown against the Dolphins. The first quarter would end in a 7-3 lead for the Patriots as the Dolphins defense held the Patriots offense down but the first possession of the 2nd quarter would see Ryan Tannehill’s pass to Brandon Gibson intercepted and returned to the Dolphins 8 yard line. Miami would surrender a quick touchdown to Tom Brady and then bring the score to within one with 5 seconds left in the half on a 30 yard touchdown pass to Mike Wallace. The Dolphins would come out of the locker room flat once again and give up 24 points in the 3rd quarter on while finishing the 2nd half scoreless themselves.
The game against New England was the culmination of a long season of second half mistakes and miscues. The loss did not mathematically eliminate the team from playoff contention but stacked the odds against them pretty high.