It's rare to find a down moment in a game such as the one the New England Patriots had against the Miami Dolphins on Sunday. However, they found a way to win with a 33-27 victory at Hard Rock Stadium, their first in South Florida since 2019, and produced a lot of things to be happy about.
Quarterback Drake Maye was efficient and didn't turn the ball over, throwing for 231 yards and two touchdowns while rushing for 31 yards and a score. New England's defense got crucial stops in the fourth quarter, including Marte Mapu's interception.
Defensive tackle Milton Williams proved worthy of his hefty free-agent contract with the game-clinching sack. And how about Antonio Gibson's clutch kickoff return for a touchdown?
But that doesn't mean the Patriots aren't leaving Miami without many more questions to be answered.
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Andy Borregales did hit a clutch 53-yard field goal late in regulation to give the Patriots some breathing room. But his inconsistencies kept showing. The rookie out of Miami missed extra points on New England's first two touchdowns. You can't leave points on the field on the road. The Patriots may have had this game sealed sooner had Borregales connected on both of those PATs.
Bryce Baringer has been a great punter for the Patriots, but on Malik Washington's 74-yard return for a touchdown, he outkicked his coverage. Washington had plenty of time to set up his blocks, and once he got past Baringer, it was all over.
These guys need to be better if the Patriots are going to have any sort of shot to make a playoff run. Maybe Mike Vrabel needs to bring a kicker in for a workout this week to put some pressure on Borregales.
Where are the playmakers?
Maye deserves credit for making some good throws, but his only completion over 25 yards was the 55-yard catch-and-run to Rhamondre Stevenson, in which Stevenson snared a well-placed ball on a wheel route. Stevenson (five catches, 88 yards) was New England's leading receiver.
Stefon Diggs (four catches, 32 yards) was targeted just five times. Kayshon Boutte only had one reception - fortunately, it was a touchdown - after a monster Week One output against Las Vegas. DeMario Douglas (one catch, eight yards) was a non-factor.
Guys like Diggs and Douglas need to start producing. That's why Diggs was brought here. Maye can't rely on checkdowns to his running backs all season.
Penalties, penalties and more penalties
Vrabel has been hailed as a coach who preaches discipline, but the Patriots looked like the exact opposite at times on Sunday.
New England was flagged 12 times for 75 yards. Normally, that's a recipe for a loss in a division game on the road. Fortunately, Miami was just as flag-happy (10 accepted penalties, 65 yards). Going forward, that's something that needs to be fixed.