New England Patriots @ Miami Dolphins
Final Score: Patriots 24, Dolphins 19
Writer: Steven Pintado (@coachstevenp)
Three Up
-
Malik Washington — The veteran receiver stepped up to lead a young group of pass catchers, finishing with 5 receptions, including a touchdown. Washington provided a reliable target in the passing game and made the most of his opportunities.
-
Rhamondre Stevenson — Stevenson was one of the most consistent players in the Patriots’ offense, providing a steady presence in the running game. He finished with 19 carries and added 3 targets in the passing game, continuing to serve as a reliable option for New England.
-
DeMario Douglas — Douglas led the Patriots in receiving yards with 76 and found the end zone for a touchdown. He was one of the bright spots in the passing attack, making several important plays to help move the offense down the field.
Three Down
-
Hunter Henry — Henry got off to a fast start but unfortunately suffered an injury that forced him to miss the majority of the game. His early departure was a disappointing development after showing promise in the opening stages.
-
Ollie Gordon — Gordon wasn’t the bruising running back we saw last week, struggling to consistently create yardage against the defense. He averaged just 3.6 yards per carry, failing to build on his impressive performance from the previous week.
-
Caleb Douglas — After scoring 2 impressive touchdowns in Week 7, Douglas came back down to earth with an average performance against a difficult matchup. He struggled to make the same explosive plays we saw the previous week, resulting in a disappointing follow-up performance.
New England Patriots
Quarterback
Drake Maye: 16/20, 199 Yards, 2 TDs | 8 Carries, 5 Yards, TD
Maye put together a solid performance despite playing without his top 4 pass catchers for the majority of the game. Maye relied heavily on short passes in the 1st half, moving around the pocket and taking what the defense gave him in a relatively vanilla offensive approach. However, the Patriots made some adjustments in the 2nd half, allowing Maye to push the ball downfield more aggressively. Those changes paid off as Maye connected on deep touchdown throws of 43 and 48 yards, providing a much-needed spark to the offense. Maye looked comfortable when given time in the pocket, showing his ability to extend plays and deliver accurate throws downfield. He also added a rushing touchdown on a quarterback sneak to round out his performance. Overall, Maye played well despite the lack of healthy weapons around him, showing his ability to make big plays when the offense opened up in the 2nd half.
Running Back
Rhamondre Stevenson: 19 Carries, 82 Yards | 3 Targets, 3 Receptions, 8 Yards
Stevenson was the driving force behind the Patriots’ rushing attack, helping keep the offense moving throughout the game. Stevenson handled the majority of the workload with 19 carries, consistently picking up 5 or 6 yards at a time to keep the offense ahead of the chains. While he didn’t break off many explosive runs, his ability to gain positive yardage helped the Patriots sustain drives and maintain offensive consistency. Stevenson’s involvement in the passing game was surprisingly limited, as he saw just 3 targets despite a favorable matchup against the Dolphins’ defense. Overall, Stevenson played well and provided a steady presence in the backfield, helping the Patriots move the football effectively throughout the game.
Corey Kiner: 7 Carries, 38 Yards
Kiner served as the backup running back in the Patriots’ backfield, primarily operating as a change-of-pace option while Stevenson handled the majority of the carries. Kiner showed some flashes of explosiveness, including an impressive 20-yard run early in the game. However, his opportunities remained limited as the Patriots continued to rely heavily on Stevenson to lead the rushing attack.
Lan Larison: 2 Carries, 6 Yards
Wide Receiver/Tight End
DeMario Douglas: 3 Targets, 3 Receptions, 76 Yards, TD
Douglas finished as the Patriots’ leading receiver with 76 yards, making some impressive plays throughout the game. Douglas got things started with a 26-yard reception on his first catch. His biggest highlight came on an incredible touchdown reception where he caught the ball at the 30-yard line before making several Dolphins defenders miss on his way to the end zone. Douglas showed off his elusiveness and ability to create yards after the catch, turning a short reception into an impressive 30-yard touchdown.
Kyle Williams: 1 Target, 1 Reception, 43 Yards, TD
The Patriots made some adjustments in the 2nd half that allowed Maye to start pushing the ball downfield, and Williams was one of the biggest beneficiaries. In the 3rd quarter, Williams used his speed to outrun his defender and get wide open for a deep touchdown reception. The play was challenged, but the ruling ultimately went in the Patriots’ favor, allowing the touchdown to stand.
Efton Chism III: 5 Targets, 5 Receptions, 37 Yards, Fumble (Lost)
Chism was forced into a larger role in the Patriots’ passing attack due to the lack of healthy receiving options. Chism overcame an early lost fumble and managed to put together a productive performance. Most of his receptions came on underneath and curl routes, where he served as a reliable short-yardage target to help move the chains. While he didn’t make many explosive plays, Chism took advantage of his increased opportunities and helped keep the Patriots’ offense moving.
Hunter Henry: 3 Targets, 3 Receptions, 30 Yards
Henry got off to a quick start with an impressive 20-yard catch-and-run on the Patriots’ opening drive. He followed that up with a few more receptions in the short passing game, providing a reliable target for the offense. However, after his third reception in the second quarter, Henry exited the game with a foot injury and did not return. There wasn’t an obvious moment where Henry appeared to suffer the injury, although he did slide awkwardly on his final reception, which could have contributed to the issue. It was an unfortunate ending to what looked like a promising performance for the veteran tight end.
Eli Raridon: 4 Targets, 1 Reception, 5 Yards
Miami Dolphins
Quarterback
Malik Willis: 21/32, 211 Yards, 2 TDs, INT | 1 carry, 2 Yards
Willis failed to live up to the standard he set in Week 7, struggling to find consistency throughout this matchup. Willis got off to a rough start as the Dolphins’ offensive line had difficulty containing the Patriots’ pass rush, putting him under constant pressure early in the game. His pocket awareness was questionable at times, as he struggled to recognize pressure and make quick decisions. However, Willis eventually settled down and found a better rhythm in the passing game, throwing two touchdowns, including an impressive 35-yard strike. He also threw an interception that came off an unfortunate deflection, making it difficult to place the blame entirely on him. Later in the game, Willis nearly threw another interception, but a penalty wiped out the turnover and gave him a fortunate break. One of the more disappointing aspects of his performance was his lack of rushing production. After showing off his mobility in Week 7, Willis rarely looked to use his legs despite having the athleticism to extend plays and create opportunities on the ground. Overall, Willis showed flashes of solid quarterback play but struggled with consistency, pocket awareness, and decision-making against a tough Patriots defense.
Running Back
Ollie Gordon II: 19 Carries, 69 Yards | 1 Target
Gordon continued to lead the Dolphins’ backfield, handling 19 carries in this matchup. However, Gordon couldn’t replicate the success he enjoyed the previous week, as the Patriots’ defense consistently stuffed him at the line of scrimmage and limited his opportunities to break off big runs. His best play came on a 13-yard run. Gordon also received a few opportunities near the goal line but was unable to find enough running room to reach the end zone. While his workload remained encouraging, his overall efficiency was disappointing as the Patriots did an excellent job containing the Dolphins’ rushing attack.
Jaylen Wright: 2 Carries, 5 Yards | 1 Target
Wide Receiver/Tight End
Greg Dulcich: 6 Targets, 4 Receptions, 43 Yards
The tight end saw a solid amount of involvement in the passing game, finishing tied for the team lead in targets. Dulcich was primarily utilized in the short areas of the field, serving as a reliable underneath option when nothing was available downfield. While he didn’t provide many explosive plays, his ability to find openings in the defense helped the offense pick up positive yardage and keep drives moving.
Caleb Douglas: 6 Targets, 4 Receptions, 43 Yards
The rookie faced a difficult matchup against Christian Gonzalez but still managed to put together a decent performance. Douglas primarily ran deep out routes, looking to create separation along the sidelines against a tough Patriots secondary. It took some time for Douglas to get involved in the passing game, as his targets were limited early on. However, he eventually became a consistent option for Willis, making the most of his opportunities despite the challenging matchup. While he didn’t replicate his explosive performance from Week 7, Douglas still provided a reliable target in the passing attack.
Malik Washington: 6 Targets, 5 Receptions, 40 Yards, TD
Veteran receiver Malik Washington did most of his damage in the second quarter, including one drive where he recorded 3 receptions. Washington was heavily involved in the short passing game, catching several wide receiver screens and finding the end zone on a short catch-and-run play. While he showed flashes of production and helped move the Dolphins’ offense down the field, his involvement was inconsistent throughout the game. Washington was productive in spurts but largely disappeared in the 2nd half as the Dolphins’ passing attack struggled to get him involved.
Chris Bell: 5 Targets, 4 Receptions, 31 Yards | 1 Carry, -2 Yards
Bell was primarily utilized in the short areas of the field, whether it was on wide receiver screens or short curl routes. Bell made the most of his opportunities, catching 4 of his 5 targets and showing his ability to create yards after the catch. He consistently made moves after securing the football to pick up additional yardage and help keep the offense moving. While he wasn’t heavily involved downfield, Bell provided a reliable option in the short passing game throughout the matchup.
Kevin Coleman Jr. : 3 Targets, 3 Receptions, 46 Yards, TD
Coleman made his biggest impact late in the game, shaking off his defender to create separation and get wide open for a touchdown reception. Coleman also made an impressive 15-yard catch to pick up a first down, once again showing his ability to separate from defenders. While his opportunities were limited, Coleman made the most of his targets and showed flashes of his playmaking ability in the passing game.
Jalen Tolbert: 1 Target
Will Kacmarek: 1 Target