What We Discovered from Sunday’s video games

FULL BOX SCORE

Michael Baca’s takeaways:

1. New England ends on excessive be aware after topsy-turvy day. The Patriots skilled a curler coaster of feelings when their protection and particular groups took the sector, however these models finally secured their first victory. Antonio Gibson‘s 90-yard kickoff return halfway via the fourth quarter, which was the following play after the punt group allowed a 65-yard TD return by Malik Washington, rapidly acquired the Patriots the go-ahead rating and Andres Borregales nailed a 53-yard area aim with below two minutes to play to offer a six-point cushion. Those two essential scores made up for earlier blunders from Gibson and Borregales, with the previous muffing an earlier return for unhealthy area place and the latter lacking two point-after makes an attempt after the Patriots scored touchdowns on their first two possessions. New England’s protection was leaky for a majority of the sport, permitting Miami to get into an offensive groove due largely to its poor tackling, however the fourth-quarter effort was phenomenal. Marte Mapu secured an interception that led to Borregales’ closing kick and the cross rush discovered two sacks on the Dolphins’ closing two offensive performs of the sport, which ended on a turnover on downs. 
2. Dolphins misplaced their groove late within the fourth quarter. Tua Tagovailoa‘s first cross of the day was a close to continuation of final week’s calamity (offsetting penalties negated the would-be interception), however the Dolphins’ QB would quickly orchestrate the high-octane offense that took the league by storm not that way back. Wideouts Tyreek Hill (six receptions, 109 yards) and Jaylen Waddle (5 receptions, 68 yards, TD) produced acquainted totals, and De’Von Achane (eight receptions, 92 yards, TD) offered an X-factor out of the backfield who actually gave the Patriots bother. Everything was going swell for Mike McDaniel’s offense till late within the closing body, when Tagovailoa misfired on a vital interception with just a little over two minutes to play. That decide took the air out of a Dolphins offense that appeared to search out its groove, and on its ensuing possession after New England cushioned its lead, the offensive line’s cross safety struggled to permit Tagovailoa the time wanted to search out his playmakers downfield on the final possession. Tagovailoa completed 26-of-32 passing for 315 yards with two TDs and the INT — an environment friendly stat line that when introduced Miami success. Perhaps it is a good signal for the Dolphins following final week’s crushing defeat within the season opener, however a profitable outcome must wait.
3. Maye, Stevenson lead environment friendly Patriots offense. New England got here out of the gate firing with three consecutive 10-plus play, 68-yard-plus scoring drives to start the sport. Drake Maye‘s passing and Rhamondre Stevenson‘s dashing led that cost, bringing a well-balanced assault that stored Miami trustworthy. Maye completed 19-of-23 passing for 230 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions whereas including 31 dashing yards and one other rating to his day. He completed with a career-best 137.3 passer ranking. Stevenson led the group in dashing and receiving to complete 132 scrimmage yards, with an excellent quantity of these touches transferring the chains for a New England offense that transformed 7 of 12 third-down conversions. 

Next Gen Stats Insight for Patriots-Dolphins (through NFL Pro): De’Von Achane compelled eight missed tackles towards the Patriots, tied for his third in a sport in his profession. The remainder of the Dolphins offense compelled 4 missed tackles mixed. Most of Achane’s manufacturing got here via the air, as Achane caught eight of his 10 targets for 92 yards and a landing, together with 101 yards after the catch, second-most in a sport in his profession.

NFL Research: Drake Maye is the primary Patriots quarterback with a number of passing touchdowns and a dashing landing in the identical sport since Tom Brady in Week 2, 2019.