Instant Analysis: New England Patriots Lead Miami Dolphins 14-13 at Halftime

Dec 14, 2014; Foxborough, MA, USA; New England Patriots quarterback

(12) runs onto the field prior to the Patriots

The New England Patriots faced-off against the Miami Dolphins at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, MA in an AFC East match-up with serious playoff implications. For New England, they control their own destiny in the fight for the number one seed in the AFC and home-field advantage throughout the playoffs. For Miami, they need to win out their last three games and then get some help with the jumble of teams ahead of the Dolphins fighting for the Wild Card.

In the first thirty minutes the game was controlled by Miami as the road team came in and drove time and time again down the field, but had just six points to show for all their work. On the other side of the ball, the Dolphins’ pass rush made quarterback Tom Brady uncomfortable in the pocket and kept the New England offense from making any big plays. The Dolphins kept extra defenders on tight end Rob Gronkowski throughout the first half keeping him off the stat sheet. New England did not run the ball well or frequently despite the Miami problems in rush defense the past three weeks.

New England led 14-13 going into the half as the crowd greeted the players and coaches leaving the field to a chorus of well-deserved boos. The Patriots offense coaching staff embarrassed themselves at the end of the half as they took over with less than a minute and ran third down running back Shane Vereen three consecutive plays and punted the ball away giving the Dolphins not only a chance for a big return–which they got from Jarvis Landry running it back 32-yards–but a shot at the end zone with Mike Wallace in single coverage against cornerback Malcolm Butler. After review, it was a touchdown and the end of another half of football with the Patriots not playing well against Miami.

The Dolphins clearly targeted Butler as he was beat on the first play of the game and whenever he stepped foot on the field as Tannehill was looking to throw to whoever he had in coverage. Why New England kept Darrelle Revis on slot receiver Landry rather than Wallace at that point when the Dolphins best bet is taking a shot at the end zone was questionable at best. The New England offense continued to struggle in the first half as the defense and special team carried the Patriots keeping it close in the first half. Miami’s edge rushers again pressured the Patriots and disrupted the offense as they collapsed the pocket repeatedly and made quarterback Tom Brady uncomfortable

Brady was just 8 of 15 in the first half for 82 yards and an interception. LeGarrette Blount and Vereen had just 15 combined yards on 11 carries. Rob Gronkowski had no receptions in the first half as the Dolphins defense controlled New England. In contrast, Ryan Tannehill was 14 of 22 for 197 yards and a touchdown and interception. Lamar Miller rushed for 51 yards on 13 carries. Mike Wallace had 89 yards on three catches to pace the Dolphins big play passing attack.

The first half of the game featured big turnovers created by both teams. New England started the turnovers with linebacker Jamie Collins blocking the 41-yard field goal attempt of Caleb Sturgis. Kyle Arrington scooped up the ball and returned it 62 yards to give the Patriots a quick 7-0 lead. It was a great stop for the Patriots defense as Miami had exploited rookie cornerback Malcolm Butler in coverage on wide receiver Mike Wallace. Miami came into the game having completed just one 40+ pass all season and then hooked up for 50 yards on the first play of the game.

With a chance to go ahead 14-0 the Patriots shot themselves in the foot as they drove into Miami territory the first time the offense was on the field. Driving quickly into Miami territory, Brady had a pass tipped by linebacker Jason Trusnik to himself and intercepted. as Brady tried to find wide receiver Brandon LaFell inside. Miami drove inside the 10-yard line following the interception but had to settle for a 24-yard field goal (which was nearly blocked again as the Patriots special teams came screaming around the corner with multiple rushers).

Safety Duron Harmon created the third turnover of the first half early in the second quarter playing centerfield as part of the three safety dime defense. Tannehill was trying to hit Brandon Gibson on a crossing route while covered by Darrelle Revis. Pressure by the Patriots pass rush forced Tannehill to rush the throw and sailed it over a leaping Gibson. Harmon returned the ball 60 yards to the Miami 8-yard line. This set-up a three-yard run on third down by Shane Vereen to make it 14-3 New England midway through the second quarter.

It was curious play calling by Miami on their first drive as they tried to run the ball on third-and-six at the New England 26-yard line rather than throwing for the first down. Miami moved the ball consistently in the first quarter against the New England defense. New England was outgained in the first quarter 150 yards to 57 yards. Miami moved the ball as New England opened with different looks on defense including using Chandler Jones in pass rush situations.

New England also had Dont’a Hightower back after missing a game. He was caught inside at one point allowing a 15-yard scramble by quarterback Ryan Tannehill. Tight end Charles Clay was factor early in the game as the Dolphins focused on running the ball with running back Lamar Miller and short passes to tight end Charles Clay and third-down back Damien Williams. Miami slowed themselves with false starts and a costly face-mask penalty on their second drive which slowed their momentum as they got to mid-field.

A key injury to the Patriots secondary after the Vereen touchdown occurred on the Miami drive following as cornerback Kyle Arrington injured his hamstring taking away a key part of the secondary. Miami quickly moved downfield into New England territory aided by the third and most-costly penalty of the first half on cornerback Brandon Browner as he was called for a 25-yard pass interference penalty. The Patriots caught a break as Williams dropped a sure touchdown after getting open in single coverage on linebacker Jamie Collins. Miami was forced to settle for a 53-yard field goal and cut the lead to 14-6.