The Miami Dolphins won by a heel.
Mike McDaniel’s squad survived a late rally by literally inches to escape Foxboro with a 15-10 victory over the New England Patriots and snap a three-game losing streak Sunday.
With the win, the Dolphins improve to 2-3 and into a tie for second place in the AFC East. They’re just a game back of the first-place Buffalo Bills.
Miami Dolphins-New England Patriots Takeaways: Defense Bows Up
The Patriots (1-4) couldn’t have had a better look at it on their most important drive.
Down five with less than two minutes remaining, Jacoby Brissett found an open Ja’Lynn Polk in the back of the end zone, but the Patriots receiver could not keep his second foot inbounds.
Ja'Lynn Polk catches the TD for the #Patriots, but it is called an incomplete. pic.twitter.com/SfZ8NgOps4
— New England Sports Fellow (@NESportsFellow) October 6, 2024
The Patriots did get the ball back with one last gasp, but time expired before they could make one last throw to the end zone.
Anthony Weaver’s defense gave up a lot of yards in the fourth quarter, but most importantly, they gave up zero points.
A New Identity?
Forget that fancy stuff, Mike McDaniel.
Just run the ball.
He did just that with the game — and let’s be honest, their season — was on the line Sunday.
On the Dolphins’ 15-play, 80-yard touchdown drive, they ran on the final seven snaps, capped by a three-yard dive to the end zone by Alec Ingold.
Running back Raheem Mostert was supposed to have a limited role in his first game back from a chest injury. But when De’Von Achane left the game with a concussion, it became the Mostert Show.
He responded with 39 yards on 10 carries in the first half. Jaylen Wright was the change-of-pace back with Achane out and Jeff Wilson Jr. a healthy scratch.
The Mostert-Wright tandem was the Dolphins’ best weapon. They combined for 166 rushing yards on 32 snaps.
WYD Danny Crossman?
McDaniel threw special teams coordinator Danny Crossman a lifeline this offseason by bringing him back after the Dolphins’ kicking teams ranked 31st in 2023.
That was probably a mistake.
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The Dolphins are somehow even worse on special teams this year, and the first half Sunday was probably rock bottom.
The Dolphins went to halftime losing despite allowing just 98 yards of offense because Crossman’s unit: missed a 41-yard field goal attempt, had a punt blocked, committed a penalty on a would-be 46-yard field goal, and then on the ensuing play, botched the snap.
Embarrassing.
Odds and (Tight) Ends
It took five weeks, but the Dolphins have finally figured out how to best use Jonnu Smith.
After a quiet first month to the season for Smith, Huntley made an effort to feed him the ball, and the results came. He was the Dolphins’ clear No. 3 option in the passing game, particularly after Achane left the game. Smith finished with 62 yards on five catches.
But the Dolphins’ tight end play in general was bad. Durham Smythe continued to struggle at the point of attack, and Julian Hill continued to make mental errors. He committed his seventh penalty of the year during a key late drive.