New England Patriots at Miami Dolphins: Top 5 Takeaways From Week 17
By Hal Bent
2 – Edelman and Floyd Shine for Depleted Wide Receiver Group
The game plan for most teams when facing Miami is to run the ball. Despite solid players like Ndamukong Suh, Cameron Wake, Earl Mitchell, and exciting second-year player Jordan Phillips up-front, teams have been pounding the Dolphins all season. However, the Patriots were determined to attack the depleted secondary of the Dolphins and completed 25 passes to seven different receivers.
Of the receivers, Julian Edelman, recently claimed Michael Floyd, and Martellus Bennett all scored touchdowns. Edelman had a huge game with eight catches on 13 targets for a career-high 151 yards. He had four first down receptions to go with his touchdown and two-point conversion reception. Edelman had the dagger that broke the Dolphins with a 77-yard catch-and-run in the third quarter to quell a Miami comeback.
On Edelman’s touchdown reception his big play was the direct result of a key block downfield by Floyd. He lit-up Miami cornerback Tony Lippett with a legal block which temporary put Lippett into the concussion protocol on the sidelines. Claimed off waivers just a few weeks ago after Arizona released him, Floyd had three catches for 36 yards and a touchdown.
On his touchdown catch, Floyd caught the ball at the ten-yard line and ran into a quartet of Dolphins defenders around the four-yard line. The six-foot-two and 209 pounds wide receiver kept his legs churning and in a display of individual effort he pushed his way to the goal-line. Extending at the last moment as he fell, he stretched the ball enough to break the plane of the goal line.
While Arizona fans were wondering where THAT Michael Floyd was all season, the Patriots fans were excited to add their second big outside receiver (rookie Malcolm Mitchell has been excellent in that role as a rookie) after having searched for a consistent outside receiver since Randy Moss mouthed his way out of Foxboro. The Patriots tried to fill that role with Brandon Lloyd, Aaron Dobson, and Brandon LaFell since then but now have two intriguing options there going into the postseason.