6 winners (and many losers) from Patriots’ satisfying win over Dolphins

Mike Vrabel’s first win as head coach of the New England Patriots was exactly how he drew it up, right? 

The Patriots won a wild Week 2 game in the South Florida heat, somehow surviving 12 accepted penalties and another abysmal showing on special teams that nearly cost them the game late.

There were definitely too many problem areas in this one for the now 1-1 Patriots. The good news? Some of New England’s most important players came up huge in a win that could end up being a turning point for this 2025 season.

The best (and worst) of the New England Patriots’ 33-27 win over the Miami Dolphins in Week 2

Winner: OC Josh McDaniels 

There was plenty of chatter this week about McDaniels, his complicated offense, and whether he’s the right fit for 22-year-old quarterback Drake Maye.

What a difference a week can make in the NFL.

The Patriots were balanced (122 rushing yards), protected the QB, and converted at a high rate both on third down (7-for-12) and in the red zone (three TDs in four trips). This was the response New England’s offense needed after its Week 1 collapse at home against the Las Vegas Raiders, and McDaniels deserves some flowers. 

Winner: QB Drake Maye 

This was a monumental performance from the Patriots’ young QB. He only threw four incomplete passes, never put the ball in harm’s way, and delivered the best throw of his young career on a 55-yard dime to running back Rhamondre Stevenson late in the third quarter. He finished with a 137.3 passer rating, a career high. 

Maye worked the pocket well, played in rhythm, and was smart with his legs. It was an all-around good performance for New England’s most important player.

Winner: Offensive line

Per Patriots reporter Evan Lazar, Maye only faced pressure in the pocket on six of his 31 drop-backs against the Dolphins. That’s huge for an offensive line that features two rookies on the left side in Will Campbell and Jared Wilson. New England has to clean up the pre-snap penalties (ahem, Morgan Moses), but this was a major step in the right direction for the boys up front.

Loser: K Andy Borregales

Are we really going to do this all season?

Borregales was nearly the goat of this game (and not the kind Patriots fans are typically fond of). His two missed extra points at the beginning of the game were momentum killers. At the end of the game, he was flagged for missing the new kickoff landing zone, gifting Miami critical field position for its potential game-winning final drive.

That Borregales made a critical 53-yard kick in the second half is irrelevant. The Patriots, at the very least, should bring in some veteran options this week and take a hard look at their kicker situation.

Loser: Kick coverage 

Speaking of special teams, gunners Brenden Schooler and Charles Woods owe teammate Antonio Gibson a nice dinner this week.

Schooler, the Patriots’ All-Pro special teams ace, makes his money in punt return coverage. He had a brutal missed tackle, however, on Malik Washington’s 74-yard touchdown return midway through the fourth quarter. The play turned a three-point Patriots lead into a 27-23 deficit. This could have been the story of the game, had Gibson not rumbled 90 yards for a matching score on the ensuing kickoff.

Winner: Free agent pass rusher additions

Vrabel went out and recruited (and paid) a pair of pass rushers this offseason in outside linebacker Harold Landry II and defensive end Milton Williams. The pair made their presence felt for the second time in as many games.

Laundry and Williams have already combined for 19 total quarterback pressures, per Pro Football Focus. Williams put the final dagger in the Dolphins' Sunday with a sack of Tua Tagovailoa on fourth down. So far, these two game-wrecking talents have been money well spent.

Winner: RB Rhamondre Stevenson 

Wasn’t this supposed to be rookie TreVeyon Henderson’s coming-out party? To Stevenson’s credit, he was too good against Miami to come off the field.

Stevenson operated as the Patriots’ clear No. 1 running back, averaged 4.9 yards per carry, and surprisingly led all New England receivers with five catches for 88 yards. He was the best Patriot on the field not named Drake Maye on Sunday.

Loser: RB TreVeyon Henderson

Speaking of Henderson, this was a step in the wrong direction for the No. 38 overall draft pick.

Henderson surprisingly struggled in pass protection, which was one of his strengths coming out of Ohio State. He allowed two sacks in the game, per PFF's metrics, and also had a rough holding penalty on special teams. It was a poor showing for Henderson, who wound up getting just five total touches in 19 offensive snaps against the Dolphins.

Winner: LB Marte Mapu 

The Patriots mixed and matched on defense late, including subbing Mapu in on dime packages. Mapu came up with one of the plays of the game with his fourth-quarter interception of Tagovailoa; his 20-yard INT return led to a field goal that made it a two-score game with 1:47 remaining.

Mapu also took a terrible angle on De’Von Achane on Miami’s ensuing drive that nearly went for a 44-yard, go-ahead touchdown. Luckily for the Patriots, Achane stepped out of bounds as he made a cut near the 25 yard line, allowing Mapu to survive as one of New England’s heroes. 

Loser: Inside linebackers

It’s one thing for the Dolphins to pick on a player like Alex Austin, given who the Patriots were missing in their secondary on Sunday. Miami’s success targeting middle linebackers Robert Spillane and Christian Elliss was more concerning, as those are New England’s main guys in the middle of the defense.

Achane had a field day with eight receptions for 92 yards. His touchdown catch and run through the heart of New England’s defense was jarring at the end of the first half, with Spillane lumbering behind in coverage and Elliss also missing a tackle on the play.

Spillane and Elliss were the Patriots’ lowest-graded defensive players from the game, according to PFF's metrics, and change could be in order if their struggles in coverage continue.

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