Dolphins Rally Late And Survive Final Seconds Over Patriots

Foxborough, MA – This contest was the opposite of a shootout. The Miami Dolphins had to rally and survive a comeback in the final seconds by the New England Patriots in a 15-10 win, snapping a three-game losing streak.

As underwhelming as both offenses looked in the first half, it was a close contest. It stayed that way until the Dolphins scored a touchdown with five minutes to go. It turned out to be just enough as Miami turned away the Patriots on their next two drives to close the game.

Are We In The Regular Season?

Both offenses entered this game scoring the least amount of points per game, and they stuck to the script. With eight combined punts, two missed field goals, four sacks, and eight penalties, it felt more like a preseason game as far as intensity went. The Dolphins and their inability to stop the pre-snap penalties – false starts and illegal motions – have plagued them this season.

Miami opened up the scoring with a Jason Sanders field goal. This finally broke the drought of not having at least a second of a lead so far this season – a grim milestone for one of the better offenses in the NFL in 2023. New England countered, capitalizing on a Tyler Huntley pick-six in the waning minutes of the first quarter.

MONDRE makes people MISS!!@dreeday32 | #NEPats

📺: FOX pic.twitter.com/KCRJjzyqNq

— New England Patriots (@Patriots) October 6, 2024

The second quarter went by quickly. Despite Miami fumbling the ball and failing to convert on a fourth down, their defense covered for them, and no points were scored.

It did, however, feature some special teams miscues that set Miami back. The first was a missed 41-yard field goal by Sanders, who has been on and off with long-range kicks this season. The second was a blocked punt from Jake Bailey that was recovered at the 23-yard line. Shockingly, New England did not convert either of these opportunities into points.

New England capped off their opening drive in the second half with a field goal. This was their final scoring drive, as the Dolphins’ defensive coordinator, Anthony Weaver had the unit ready to play. It was clear they made adjustments at halftime, focusing more on pressuring (former Dolphin) Jacoby Brissett and limiting his time to throw. Plain and simple, they denied any points in the fourth quarter.

The Miami Missile Strikes Again

Huntley did not have a great game passing-wise, going 18/31 with 194 yards and no touchdowns. Tyreek Hill and Jonnu Smith were serviceable receivers with over 60 yards each. However, it was clear the Patriots’ secondary had Miami locked down. It doesn’t feel like Huntley has improved in this offensive system yet with inaccurate passes and uneventful QB draws.

As a result, Miami went to their running game and established it with minutes to go. De’Von Achane was injured and exited the game early, so Raheem Mostert stepped in and was solid. He and rookie Jaylen Wright shouldered most of their 15-play scoring drive. Head Coach Mike McDaniel didn’t give up on the rush, forcing it down New England’s throats, especially up the middle instead of to the sides. This was a welcomed change that benefitted Miami in the long run.

.@AI_XLV does it all 😤 pic.twitter.com/XTezIhSmhV

— Miami Dolphins (@MiamiDolphins) October 6, 2024

Both Wright and Mostert racked up at least 80 yards on the day. Also, fullback Alec Ingold got the chance to cash in for a touchdown with four minutes to go, giving Miami a lead that they held on to.

A Game Of ‘Who Was Worse?’

Overall, this was a sloppy game that showcased some bad offense and plenty of penalties from Miami and New England. But the Dolphins adjusted and were able to rally as the game progressed, and the Patriots cracked in the final seconds. A win is a win, though it feels like they won because their opponent was New England, and not, well, any other team in the NFL.

The Dolphins now have a 2-3 record and were the only AFC East team to win today. They’ll have the upcoming week off, which might be beneficial considering the deep number of injuries they’ve sustained already, including to De’Von Achane and Jevon Holland. Miami will travel to Indiana to take on the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday, October 20th at 1 pm.