Patriots Come Alive in Second Half to Defeat Dolphins in Divisional Battle

By halftime, it looked like everything was shifting towards another dismal trip down to South Florida for the New England Patriots. Like games of the past where the Patriots were the better team on paper, but the Miami Gardens heat, along with the motivation the Miami Dolphins have after their first win, would overpower Drake Maye and company for four quarters.

Through disciplined defense and a late second-quarter push, the Dolphins strung together a few drives to take a 13-3 lead into the locker room.

As for the Patriots, playing without A.J. Brown (knee/ankle) and TreyVeyon Henderson (illness), they got a jump on the scoreboard with a 3-0 lead after a 34-yard field goal after Maye was forced to throw it away on 3rd and five from the Dolphins' 16-yard line.

Later in the first quarter, a crucial Patriots turnover occurred when Efton Chism III caught a pass but was stripped by linebacker Jacob Rodriguez. Cornerback Julius Brents recovered the fumble at midfield, shifting momentum to the Dolphins and eventually helping them tie it up 3-3.

The second quarter saw the Patriots' injury woes get even more troublesome as tight end Hunter Henry exited the game with a foot injury and was ruled out for the remainder of the half but would end up not returning for the rest of the game.

The Dolphins orchestrated a 70-yard drive late in the second quarter after Patriots kicker Andy Borregales was sent out for a 40-yard field goal attempt, but it sailed wide right.

Malik Willis then found Malik Washington for a 1-yard touchdown pass. 13-3 Dolphins at halftime.

You have to wonder what Mike Vrabel said in the locker room. Because in the second half, the Patriots seemed to remember who they were.

Just as it looked like Maye wouldn't crack 150 yards passing in this game, he found wide receiver Kyle Williams on a beautiful touchdown catch from 48 yards away to get them within 3 points (10-13).

Later in the third quarter, near the goal line, Maye scored from two yards outside the end zone on a trick option play where he rushed in and gave the Patriots their first lead since the first quarter. Every Patriots fan in Miami Gardens made their voices heard in Hard Rock Stadium.

Maye would fake a pitch again at the top of the fourth quarter, finding DeMario Douglas for a 48-yard touchdown pass out to the other side, then the Williams catch earlier in the half.

The Patriots regained their stride with a 24-13 lead.

The Dolphins knocked on the door twice in the fourth quarter. Once, they burned over six minutes of game clock, only for Zane Gonzalez to miss a 43-yard field goal. However, the second time, Miami made things interesting when Willis found Kevin Coleman Jr. for a 35-yard touchdown after Charles Woods slipped while trying to stop the play from expanding. Making the score 24-19 after an unsuccessful 2-point attempt. 

Drake Maye proved his skill set, especially in the second half, as the Patriots managed to keep the ball in their hands in the final two minutes of the divisional matchup. Rhamondre Stevenson called the game with a five-yard rush on third down that tied the Dolphins' hands as the clock bled out. 

Maye capped off the late game surge 16 of 20 for 199 yards. 

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