Miami began the day jumping out to a lead -- which included a pick-six by cornerback Xavien Howard -- and were able to stay in front of New England for the entire game. That initial scoring run proved to be enough of a cushion for the Dolphins even as the Patriots began to claw back into the game. In the second half, New England did cut the lead to a field goal, but Miami was able to run down enough clock in the fourth quarter to make a comeback unattainable.
Tagovailoa finished his day completing 15 of his 22 passes for yards and a touchdown. Meanwhile, the Dolphins ground game led by Duke Johnson was what truly moved the offense throughout the day. They totaled yards as a team with Johnson accounting for of those yards on a 4. On the Patriots side, Jones completed 20 of 30 passes for yards, a touchdown and a pick. Brandon Bolden led the team in rushing and had two total touchdown on the day.
This loss did prove to be moot point in the Patriots, who had already clinched a playoff spot entering Week 18, hopes of winning the AFC East as the Buffalo Bills were able to beat the New York Jets at home. To see a more in-depth breakdown of how this game unfolded, check out our takeaways below.
The Dolphins had an impressive opening drive where Tua Tagovailoa and the offense marched 77 yards down the field to quickly take the lead. The quarterback completed all seven of his passes on the drive for 54 yards, which included a 7-yard touchdown pass to Jaylen Waddle in the left corner of the end zone where the rookie receiver was able to sneak behind the New England secondary.
That opening touchdown drive and the pick-six by Xavien Howard allowed Miami to play with a lead throughout the day and their success running the football kept the ball out of the Patriots hands to further prevent a possible comeback.
While that final fumble recovery as time expired was inconsequential to the outcome, the Dolphins did score 16 points off turnovers 10 points during competitive action. That's enough to put you in the driver's seat in any game.
Bill Belichick highlighted this week that the Patriots have come into games flat this season and this game was no exception. They were shutout in the first quarter and allowed the Dolphins to jump out to a leading before they were able to get on the board. At one point, the Dolphins had 10 first downs already under their belt with the Patriots only registering eight plays on offense.
Even as the defense started to force a pair of three and outs in the first half following that initial scoring blitz, complimentary football was nonexistent as the offense also punted the ball away following those stops. With tensions at a season high for New England, Kyle Dugger and Michael Pittman Jr got into it, with both players being disqualified for throwing punches that eventually led to a ref being sent to the ground.
The Patriots were ultimately able to force a field goal attempt following the ejections, where Michael Badgley missed from 49 yards out. If there was ever a chance for New England to get back into it, it would be now.
Jones and the Patriots offense took over at their own yard line with just over left in the third quarter. Jones hit Henry for a gain of 14 yards before Nelson Agholor made a great catch for 10 yards and another first down. Jones hit Henry again, moving the Patriots inside the red zone. One play later, they were outside the red zone as Jakobi Meyers was called for holding on a could have been touchdown. Before the next play, Isaiah Wynn was called for a false start.
On 1st-and from the Indy yard line, Brandon Bolden took a screen for 13 yards and ultimately bringing an end to the third quarter.
On the first play of the fourth quarter, Jones hit his favorite target Hunter Henry for a 12 yard touchdown. The Patriots have a glimmer of hope. Back on offense, Indianapolis looked to pick things back up after a few slow drives prior. Hilton picked up 19 yards and a first down, but Devin McCourty was able to intercept Wentz on a tipped pass by Jamie Collins.
The Patriots are back in business. Tip drill. Devin McCourty gets the pick and the Patriots are back in business. The Patriots were unable to complete anything on first or second down on their ensuing drive, leading to a 3rd-and from their own yard line. Jones felt pressure and hit Brandon Bolden on a swing pass, who took it for 12 yards and a first down. New England looked to get tricky on the next play, but a slow developing flea flicker lead to a rushed throw by Jones that fell incomplete.
On their first attempt, Stevenson was stopped short of the line of scrimmage. On 4th-and-1, Jones hit Meyers for a first down to move the Patriots into the extended red area. Kendrick Bourne took a reverse to the Indianapolis 4-yard line on the next play, before the Patriots would be forced into another third down situation, where Michael Onwenu would be called for a false start. On 3rd-and-goal from the 7-yard line, Jones was flushed out of the pocket and forced to throw it away.
New England chose to take three points and cut the lead to ten. Indianapolis would take over at the yard line on their ensuing possession. Through seven drives, Mac Jones has one pass attempt. A 39 yard Jake Bailey punt into the wind set Buffalo up with the ball at their own yard line. With left with the wind to their backs, they came out throwing.
Josh Allen hit Emmanuel Sanders for 19 yards, before taking a shot into the end zone to Stefon Diggs, who dropped a surefire touchdown. On 2nd-and, Zach Moss gained three yards and set Buffalo up with a 3rd-and Josh Allen escaped the pocket and almost picked up the first down, but was forced out by Myles Bryant.
In a four point ball game, Myles Bryant was called for a late hit despite the fact that Allen was still in bounds. That gifted Buffalo the first down and moved them into the Patriots red zone. From 35 yards out, Tyler Bass connected to bring the Bills within one. Tyler Bass sailed another kick into the stands, this time through the uprights, for a touchback. At the yard line, Damien Harris picked up 22 yards but slowed up towards the end as his hamstring was clearly bothering him.
That led to the Rhamondre Stevenson and Mac Jones show, as the rookies picked up 21 yards on five straight carries, good enough for a pair of first downs. The last carry in that sequence belonged to Jones who picked up one yard.
That ruling was challenged by Buffalo head coach Sean McDermott, but the refs could not find conclusive evidence to overturn the call. First down New England. From the Buffalo yard line, the Patriots continued to feed Stevenson. He would pick up gains of one, 10, five, and six. On 1st-and from the Buffalo yard line, the Bills started to attack, dropping Stevenson for losses of three and five yards.
That forced a 3rd-and where Brandon Bolden would pick up just three yards, leading to a 34 yard attempt by Nick Folk that eventually fell through the uprights for three points. Following a short kickoff, the Buffalo Bills would start at their own yard line. A short pass to Dawson Knox went for seven yards, before Devin Singletary picked up two more on the ground.
On 3rd-and-1, Allen hit Stefon Diggs for 10 yards and a fresh set of downs. The Bills continued to attack through the air. Allen would miss Emmanuel Sanders on first down, but gain 21 yards on a broken play on second down. The Bills were moving, before 1st-and-goal from the Patriots 6-yard line quickly turned into 3rd-and-goal from the New England yard line following a Matthew Judon sack.
A missed shot to Knox in the end zone led to a field goal attempt by Bass to cut the lead to one. After running the ball on 42 of their 43 offensive plays, from their own yard line, with left in regulation, the Patriots threw the ball.
On 3rd-and, Brandon Bolden took a screen for seven yards which was not enough. Jake Bailey would punt the ball 72 yards into the back of the end zone for yet another touchback. From their yard line, Josh Allen hit Stefon Diggs on a back shoulder ball for 26 yards to breathe some life into the Buffalo offense.
Bolden rushed in for the 2-point conversion and put New England up with around five minutes remaining in the first quarter. Although Allen lost a fumble that allowed the Patriots to capitalize, he completed 15 of 30 passes for yards with a touchdown in the harsh Buffalo weather conditions.
Allen also led the Bills with six carries for 39 rushing yards. He connected with wide receivers Stefon Diggs for 51 yards and Gabriel Davis for 30 yards, plus a touchdown. Meanwhile, the Bills will look to stay in the playoff race as they prepare to face the Buccaneers , who sit atop the NFC South.
Sporting News tracked updates and highlights from Bills vs. Patriots on "Monday Night Football. Bills live with fuboTV 7-day trial. The Bills will resume from the New England 18 after the two-minute warning. Allen keeps on the following play and rushes out of bounds at the Diggs working the sideline like only he does.
Bailey punts 72 yards into the end zone and gives the Bills possession at the A horse collar tackle penalty against Hightower gives the Bills a first down at the New England 6. Buffalo takes a time-out with remaining. Biggest play of the night for the BuffaloBills offense.
Folk makes a yard attempt after Bolden falls short on third-and-long. Patriots stay on top with remaining. Stevenson rushes loses 5-yds Patriots 11 Bills 10 Q4 pic. He rushes for 5 yards on the following play to position the Patriots at the Jones keeps it on fourth down and picks up a first at the Buffalo After McDermott decides to challenge the play, the call stands and the Bills are charged with a time-out.
Bass makes a yard attempt that puts the Bills behind the Patriots A personal foul penalty against Bentley gives the Bills a first down at the Patriots'
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