New England Patriots 28 - Miami Dolphins 21
The Patriots traveled to Miami and won their first matchup of the season with the Dolphins in a see-saw battle which wasn't settled until the final seconds.
The Patriots defense got off to a hot start when Rahim Moore picked Newcomer off on the first Dolphins possession and took it back for 6. The Dolphins shook it off and drove the length of the field on the next drive, culminating with a Bolton TD run. On the Pats next drive, Brady was sacked (on a 2 step drop!) and fumbled, which the Dolphins recovered for 6 to give them a 14-7 lead after one.
Brady shook off the fumble and came out on the next drive and found Demaryius Thomas on a beautiful crossing route in double coverage, which Thomas then took 52 yards to the house, juking several defenders in the process. The Dolphins put together another nice drive close to the end zone with 8 seconds left, but Asante Samuel picked off Newcomer in the endzone to keep the score tied at the half.
After a Patriots punt to open the 3rd, the Dolphins struck first in the second half, with Newcomer connecting with Cousins to return the lead to the Dolphins as the 3rd expired.
Brady answered back quickly, finding Roddy White on a quick slant which he took 75 yards for a score. The Dolphins were then driving again when Samuel got his second pick of the day. The Patriots were in good position to drive it down and kick a winning FG, but Cobie Ross finally got loose on a 38 yard TD run with 1:11 remaining. The Dolphins got the ball back at the 14 with 86 yards to go and 1 timeout. They drove into Patriots territory, but Newcomer's 4th pick of the day, this time to Jonny Kohlhausen, sealed the victory for the Patriots.
Brady only threw the ball six times, but completed all six for 194 yards and 2 TDs, averaging 32.3 yards per completion.
Newcomer threw it TWENTY six times, completing 18 for 282 yards and 1 TD, but added the 4 brutal picks.
Cobie Ross continued his struggles. Though his final line was respectable: 11 for 58, 1 TD, most of that came on his 38 yard TD late. He was held to two ypc otherwise.
Leading NFL rusher Antavio Bolton was even worse though, carrying 14 times for 31 yards and a TD. Newcomer himself had 3 carries for 41 yards.
Roddy White's one 75 yard TD catch made him the Patriots leading receiver. Demaryius Thomas had 66 yards and the other TD, while Gronk (1 catch) and Welker (0 catches) were mostly quiet.
Khiry Cousins was the leading receiver for the Dolphins with 6 catches for 84 yards and a score. Marshall and Lofton each had 62 yards, while Hardaway had 71.
The Patriots D had the four huge picks, and also sacked Newcomer three times (including one where Cameron Wake
planted his former teammate for a huge loss).
Randy Starks got two more sacks, including a strip sack, to add to his NFL lead.
With the win, the Patriots move to 9-1 and put a stranglehold on the AFC East. The Dolphins fall to 6-4, but are still very much in the playoff hunt.
--
gg man! A fun one as always!
