Miami Dolphins at Pats recap

This game provided an opportunity to break a trend going back to 2008. Going into the Pats home field and coming away with the win.

The game started with the defense holding the Pats to a three and out. And then the Pats faked the punt and got the first down. You can guess what followed. Two plays later they are first and goal, after a few more plays a TD.

After the first series shutting down the Pats to a three and out. The defense reverted quickly back to looking as horrific as they have shown their play the last three or four games getting pushed back and around from all aspects of the unit.

For the first series of the Miami Dolphins offense they did go three and out with no fancy fake punt to show for it, just laissez-faire play. Although coach Gase did show a new wrinkle with a two back set. He needed to do something along those lines when playing the Pats

The second series of the Pats looked like the first only longer. A nine play 88 yard drive for a TD. With the Miami Dolphins offense following suit dragging out their drive with a first down pickup from a Matt Moore run and the same from Damien Williams for a fourth down pickup before having to punt.

It took a bad snap from the Pats and Reshad Jones to pickup the loose ball and run it in for the first Dolphins TD score. On the next Pats drive and TD score you won’t believe how wide open WR Cooks was.

The first half ended with the play of a would be jump ball in the end zone to DeVante Parker that was picked off. Was the wind a factor placing the ball where Parker didn’t expect it? Because he never even looked back for the ball to jump for it as did his defender who came down with the ball. A missed opportunity to get within a score. The Pats would let time run out making it 21-10.

In interesting exchange as the fourth quarter started. The Pats failed on a fourth down attempt near the red zone then the Dolphins decide to go for it on 4th and 2 from their own 35 leading to a drive that ended in a Kenyan Drake TD off a short pass making it 28-17.

But the offensive line would cave on the following Dolphins drive after a defensive stop and fair field position resulting in a failed drive. The Pats would score putting the game from reach 35-17 late fourth quarter.

This is the only NFL twitter post I will add. The rest is all Brady/Gronk.

Missing in action

Officiating: Alterraun Verner trips over the WR he was covering after he fell and gets called for holding? This was on third and long. A few plays later Chase Allen gets called, he was a little hands on but nothing you don’t see happen many times without being called. Early second half Danny Amendola never called the fair catch the ball is taken from him but the Pats keep it.

Then Bobby McCain apparently threw a punch at Danny Amendola and immediately gets ejected even though word is they both were going at each other up until that point. The Pats somehow ran about a minute and a half off the clock late in the third quarter as they attempted their first punt getting called for delay of game. (the clock reset and a Dolphins player pointed it out)

The Patriots don’t need the extra help from the Refs. Not that this was any turning point in the game but it could have led to a closer more palatable game for the masses.

Kenyan Drake: fumbled and lost the ball after Damien Williams had to leave the game due to injury. This was a time to shine and be counted on, he failed miserably.

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As advertised

Matt Moore: under pressure he is still getting away extending plays as he showed greatly last game. At least he was early on, starting late in the third quarter not so much but the line needs to hold up somewhat as they allowed 7 sacks by the end of this game. Not to pick on the line because it is pretty patchwork at this point.

Jarvis Landry: when it’s clutch time he delivers, like he did getting a key first down as time was winding down in the first half. However the next play ended in an INT. He also had a similar play later on that was ruled not a catch but it was close and he wanted it challenged.

Pleasant surprises

Bobby McCain: gets an interception giving the ball back to the Miami Dolphins offense with two and a half minutes to play in the first half. The Pats were driving the field looking like they would score.

Defense: stopped a fourth down attempt near the Pats own red zone as the fourth quarter started. Brady didn’t try the sneak it was a run. The score was 28-10 at this point.

Pats center-QB exchange: lead to a recovered fumble for a TD and a Cameron Wake sack.

Phi-injury report: Terrence Fede was sidelined until Andre Branch got hurt, he then replaced Branch. Senorise Perry was hit in the head on a kick return then evaluated for a concussion and did not return. Damien Williams hurt his shoulder after a run. He tried to break his fall with his arm and was carted off the field-not good, he did not return to the game.

Phin-fact The Dolphins now have the 2nd worst +/- point differential in the league at -115. Only the winless Browns(-123) are worse.

The Pats have a knack of getting TD’s while holding their opponents to FG’s making it a hard task for any teams but the handful that are on or near their own level of play. “Any given Sunday” has been fading out and really shows it’s wear this season. The Miami Dolphins lose this one 35-17 being out gained 417-221. This loss makes the fifth straight and the Miami Dolphins are now 4-7.