Pats at Miami Dolphins recap

Like a Phoenix rising from the ashes this Miami Dolphins team still has life.

Riding the momentum from the last victory over the Broncos where they played a full game from all units. It carried over into this victory over the Pats.

Spoiler alert: Dolphins only won the game by seven but it was one-sided most of the game with an eerie feeling that at any moment the Pats would start to dominate and or Jay Cutler would throw interceptions (OK he almost did a few times).

The game started with the Dolphins getting the ball and on the first play a crossing route to DeVante Parker he dropped it. But Kenyan Drake ran it next for 26 yards and the offensive started moving well. Parker would make up for it catching short passes and getting the first down on a 4th down attempt. This drive stalled in the red zone having to settle for a FG although Jay Cutler did look sharp in the completions and attempts this drive however he may have hurt his throwing hand possibly hitting it on an opponent’s helmet.

On the Pats so-called drive the defense showed up stopping the run and pass in succession. Then Brady on 3rd and 10 with time to pass came up short as Xavien Howard jumped the receivers route getting his third interception in the past two weeks.

This next Dolphins drive featured Jakeem Grant for 17 yards on a pass to the left that may have been the longest play of the drive which stalled giving Cody Parkey enough room for a 44-yard field goal making it 6 – 0.

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Miami Dolphins defense held Brady stout on the next drive forcing a punt, something unheard of lately this soon in the game being just the first quarter and especially against the Pats.

And it actually happened a second time on the next Pats would be drive and rather quickly as well giving the Dolphins better field position after the punt. But the Pats must have had a heck of a punt as they were backed up and then had to punt themselves.

The Pats got a short field for their drive and the defense started to get spotty allowing a first down of about twenty yards with Brady under duress then Xavien Howard had PI allowing about the same yardage. The next play was run in for the TD 7 – 6. Those two FG’s went by the wayside.

Interesting Miami Dolphins 80-yard drive as the second quarter wound down: first Anthony Fasano sat down in the seam picking up 17 yards, then Kenyan Drake sneaked deep downfield picking up a long 47-yard reception. Jay Cutler evaded a free defender completing a pass that put them at first and goal. Jarvis Landry got open on the right and Cutler rolled that way connecting with him as Landry then bullied his way into the end zone making it 7 – 13. The Pats were able to get a FG as the first half was ending leaving 2 seconds that the Dolphins took a knee with, score 10 – 13 at the half.

Second half-opened with the Pats still struggling on offense after Brady got sacked by Jordan Phillips and Cameron Wake he then threw an Int picked off by Xavien Howard who returned it about twenty yards.

Cutler then connect to Kenny Stills for 11 yards, had a mix up with Julius Thomas on the throwing shoulder for the catch. Then Jakeem Grant got into the left side of the end zone for a TD of 25 yards he jumped up to grab the pass as his defender fell down. The Pats would then have to punt yet again score is 10 – 20.

The Miami Dolphins drove the field with runs and short passes to score yet another TD (pass to Landry) making it 10 – 27.

Pats answered on a drive that ran through the end of the third quarter to score a TD which had a lot of drop off passes making it 17-27.

Dolphins found themselves backed up for the next series after a short kickoff return and Cutler nearly had a pick six on second down, then on third down he could have run for the first down but elected to throw it incomplete. The ensuing punt would have given the Pats good field position if not for a few fouls they committed. After a Ndamukong Suh sack the Pats punted and it was the Dolphins foul that kept them from good field position.

Feed Drake and run the clock is what took place next as the middle of the fourth quarter drew near. On 2nd and six Cutler threw it deep to Grant who had it go off his outstretched fingers, then after failing to get the first down they had to punt.

With just under eight minutes to play Brady starts his drive but it never went past the twenty yard line from where it started. This marks the ninth time the Pats failed on third downs for the game. After the return by Landry and good field position the Dolphins couldn’t run the clock and punted again. The Pats would get backed up to the ten yard line and failed to convert third down for a tenth time.

Back to trying to run the clock. This time Parker gets short passes again to aid runs from Drake with just under three minutes left to play. These short passes to run clock are hairy to say the least. Cutler threaded one to Landry that went under his defenders arm. After a long pass incompletion the Dolphins punted leaving the Pats with just under two and a half minutes to play.

Brady finally connects with Cooks who he had targeted throughout the game and it made the pairs first completion of the game with just under two minutes left. Then a quick pass near the goal line made it first and goal near the one yard line. Brady could have run it in they were so close. But the Pats got moved back from their own foul and some good Miami Dolphins defense. The Pats ended up behind the twenty failing on third down and converting the FG with just under one minute left making it 20 – 27.

The Pats tried and failed an onside kick Dolphins took the knee to end the game.

Look at all the highlights. This was the epic underdog comeback game of the ages.

Missing in action

Mike Pouncey: got the first penalty of the game, a holding call that negated a run of about three yards it also set them back ten extra yards for the third drive of the game. The last game the call looked iffy, didn’t see this one. But to beat the Pats it takes as few mistakes as possible.

Julius Thomas: made the first blunder by dropping then recovering a pass that then became short of making a first down resulting in having to punt.

Laremy Tunsil: got called for holding downfield blocking for Jarvis Landry negating a TD. This play was a no huddle quick pass to Landry late in the second quarter.

Alterraun Verner: late in the third quarter he got PI when the defense was holding the Pats deep allowing them to get near midfield.

As advertised

Adam Gase: called a near perfect game.

Pleasant surprises

Jakeem Grant: got 17 yards on a well designed pass play down the left side. Then scored a TD.

Kenyan Drake: became a deep threat downfield this game after sneaking out deep and coming down with one that went for 47-yards. I feel the need to add my obligatory “speed kills” motto here.

DeVante Parker: was relegated to short drag passes. And after an early drop he became sure handed.

Phi- injury report: Kenyan Drake went down but came back just a play later he must have just had the wind knocked out of him fighting and almost getting a first down. Jordan Phillips got tackled by his ankle by a Pats offensive lineman and hurt it but did return for the next series.

Phin facts: Drake becomes the first Dolphins’ RB with at least 100 yards rushing and at least 75 receiving in one game since Ronnie Brown back in 2007.

This game marks the first time the Pats failed to get a third down conversion going back to 1991 playing the Cards. They failed eleven times getting only one by way of penalty.

Game observations

– The offense was getting first downs with ease against the Pats of all teams.
– TE MarQueis Gray lined up as a FB and got some carries to mixed results.
– The Miami Dolphins outgained the Patriots 123-2 in the first quarter.
– Failure to run the clock late in a game with the lead is still a historically long project.

Final: NE 20 MIA 27. Can the Miami Dolphins do the seemingly impossible and run the table winning all the rest of their games?