BSJ Game Report: Patriots 24, Dolphins 19 - NE wakes up to dominate after taking 1st half off

Everything you need to know from the Patriots’ win over the Dolphins in quickie form, with BSJ insight and analysis:

HEADLINES

Patriots didn't show up in the first half: The Patriots almost completely took the first half off, trailing 13-3 at the break. They turned the ball over (Efton Chism), couldn't block, missed a field goal and were outplayed on special teams, and made Malik Willis look good with soft defense. In the first half, the Dolphins outgained the Patriots 123 to 97 as Willis posted a 120 passer rating. The Dolphins converted 50% of their third downs.

Maye leads second-half turnaround: Drake Maye (7 of 10, 53 yards, 2 sacks) didn't really do anything wrong in the first half, the Patriots just stunk out loud and the blocking wasn't any good (Walter Rouse was benched for Ben Brown at halftime). In the second half, it was a completely different story. Maye, who did get some good run contributions from Rhamondre Stevenson after the break, basically put the team on his back as the Patriots outscored the Dolphins 21-0 to take control of the game.

First half:

Second half:

Maye hit Kyle Williams for a 43-yard touchdown, then had his own touchdown on an RPO fake that went untouched, and capped it off with a rollout to the right and then hit Pop Douglas, who ran about 30 yards for a 48-yard touchdown.

TURNING POINT

MIA-2-10-MIA 35 (9:10) O.Gordon left end to MIA 40 for 5 yards (R.Spillane). PENALTY on MIA-O.Gordon, Unsportsmanlike Conduct, 15 yards, enforced at MIA 40.

What happened was probably inevitable, but this definitely helped. The Dolphins were leading 13-10 in the middle of the third quarter when Ollie Gordon rushed for 5 yards to set up 3rd and 5 at the Miami 40. But Gordon, for some reason, decided to get the face of Robert Spillane to draw a personal foul penalty. After 3rd and 20, the Dolphins punted and then the Patriots went up for good

SECOND GUESS

NE-4-2-MIA 23 (4:50) (Shotgun) D.Maye pass short right to D.Douglas to MIA 22 for 1 yard (C.Johnson). The Replay Official reviewed the short of the line to gain ruling, and the play was REVERSED. (Shotgun) D.Maye pass short right to D.Douglas to MIA 21 for 2 yards (C.Johnson).

It ended up working out for the Patriots when the play was reviewed, and it was determined that Douglas got to the line gain. But this was pretty dicey. A field goal would have tied the game and the Patriots would have kept the momentum. If Douglas came up short, it could have been a different ballgame.

THREE UP

QB Drake Maye: With injuries ravaging the offense, the Patriots were going to need their QB to carry them to a victory, and he did just that.

LB Christian Elliss: He was all over the place again with four pressures, a half sack and six solo tackles.

DT Cory Durden: Dominated, especially early, with 1.5 sacks and two run stuffs.

THREE DOWN

TE Eli Raridon: Even with Henry out, Raridon didn't do anything and had two false start penalties (3 in the past two games).

K Andy Borregales: Had another miss (40 yards) on his college home field.

WR Efton Chism: Had a big fumble in Miami territory that led to a field goal.

INJURIES

TE Hunter Henry (foot): Left in the first quarter and was questionable to return. Went to the locker room in the second half.

OLB Gabe Jacas (knee): Questionable to return.

TOP PLAYS

TWO TAKES BEDARD WILL PROBABLY REGRET LATER

Let's not do that again: Hopefully the Patriots learned a lesson in this one that you actually need to show up before the second half in order to win an NFL game against anyone, because that was a pretty pathetic effort in the first half. The entire team looked like they didn't want to be there, and that's on Mike Vrabel for not having them ready to go.

Yes, the Patriots were shorthanded on offense ...: but that's what happens to every team in the NFL at some point, and you have to figure out a way to get it done (especially when the schedule works out and you play the Dolphins). I saw a lot of complaining about how Maye wasn't surrounded by anything in the first half. Yes, that's absolutely true. But they are supposed to get AJ Brown and Romeo Doubs — your top two receivers — back at some point, along with LG Alijah Vera-Tucker. Yes, it wasn't a good situation, but a team as good as the Patriots should be able to survive something like that against a team like the Dolphins, and they did. Survive and advance at 5-3.