Patriots

Matt Patricia, whose official title with the Patriots is senior football advisor, is expected to be their play-caller on offense against the Dolphins on ...

["We're not really big on titles and all that,"](https://www.nfl.com/news/bill-belichick-on-patriots-not-naming-offensive-coordinator-we-re-not-really-big) Belichick said in July. Instead of replacing McDaniels with another OC, Belichick left the job vacant. Rapoport added that longtime Patriots coach Bill Belichick will have a "heavy hand" on offense, as well.

When the New England Patriots defense and Miami Dolphins offense will take the field on Sunday afternoon, two units who have seen considerable change this ...

Off-ball linebackers Dont’a Hightower (54) and Ja’Whaun Bentley (8) were also quick to come down, while the impact of Matthew Judon (9) also cannot be underestimated. While known primarily for his pass rush, the Pro Bowl edge can also be a formidable run defender on the outside. If New England’s defense can successfully control its rush lanes and finish tackles, however, the threat of Tagovailoa as a rusher should be limited both in scramble drills and on option plays. Of course, the play could have ended a lot sooner had linebacker Kyle Van Noy (53) been able to finish the tackle. Changing up coverage and the pressure up front will be key to not just force him into an error, but also possibly take advantage of an offensive line that has seen some personnel movement during the offseason as well. Tackling and pass rush integrity will critical going up against him — two things the Patriots struggled with in January. When all was said and done, and the Patriots emerged to Super Bowl LIII, Jones had allowed zero catches on two targets. Tyreek Hill is one of the best wide receivers in football, and a viable deep threat due to his elite straight-line speed. These snaps largely took place on the boundary, but Hill bumped down to the slot in a few critical situations. So, you have to leave room for a little bit of the unknown, things that they’ve been working on that they haven’t shown. “They’ve had a lot of time to prepare for the game, several months, as have we. [New England Patriots](https://www.patspulpit.com/) defense and [Miami Dolphins](https://www.thephinsider.com/) offense will take the field on Sunday afternoon, two units who have seen considerable change this offseason will face off.

Taking a closer look at all of the connections between the Miami Dolphins and New England Patriots.

Patriots linebacker Raekwon McMillan (2014-2016), Patriots cornerback Shaun Wade (2017-2020), and Dolphins linebacker Jerome Baker (2015-2017) were teammates at At UCF, Patriots practice squad wide receiver Tre Nixon (2016-2017) and Dolphins tackle Greg Little (2016-2018) were teammates. And, Patriots defensive back Jabrill Peppers (2019-2021) and Miami defensive back Keion Crossen (2021) played together with the [New York Giants](https://www.bigblueview.com/). Patriots linebacker Matthew Judon (2016-2020) and Dolphins defensive tackle Zach Sieler (2018-2019) were teammates with the [Baltimore Ravens](https://www.baltimorebeatdown.com/). [Texas Tech](https://www.vivathematadors.com). Patriots defensive back Brenden Schooler (2016-2019) and Dolphins safety Jevon Holland (2018-2020) were teammates at Oregon. Other colleges with Patriots and Dolphins players having previously been teammates includes the University of Arkansas, where Patriots defensive lineman Deatrich Wise, Jr. New England defensive lineman Lawrence Guy (2013-2014), Patriots defensive back Adrian Phillips (2014-2019), and Miami linebacker Melvin Ingram (2012-2020) were all teammates with the San Diego/ [Los Angeles Chargers](https://www.boltsfromtheblue.com/). [Arizona Cardinals](https://www.revengeofthebirds.com/). In what should not come as a surprise to anyone, there are several players on both rosters who attended the University of Alabama at overlapping times: Patriots running back Damien Harris (2015-2018), Patriots linebacker Anfernee Jennings (2015-2019), Patriots linebacker Mack Wilson, Sr. New England linebacker Jahlani Tagalog (2019-2020) and Miami linebacker Trey Flowers (2019-2021) were teammates with the [Detroit Lions](https://www.prideofdetroit.com/). Assistant general manager Marvin Allen was a running back with the Patriots from 1988 through 1991, rushing 94 times for 378 yards and two touchdowns; he also was an area scout for the Patriots from 1993 through 2008.

On Sunday morning, it was reported by Ian Rapoport that Matt Patricia would take over the offensive play-calling duties for the New England Patriots.

[Mac Jones](https://musketfire.com/2022/09/10/patriots-quarterback-praise/) has put a ton of time and effort in during this offseason to take his game to the next level. Putting the play-calling in the hands of a defensive coach doesn’t seem ideal, but only time will tell. The Patriots do have some bodies on the offensive side that should create some mismatches for the Miami defense, but is Matt Patricia skilled enough as a play-caller to take advantage of them?

Published: Sep. 11, 2022, 10:00 a.m.. New England Patriots quarterback Mac Jones calls signals. How to watch Sunday's game. (AP Photo) ...

xid:fr1662752735655gig), [DirecTV](https://www.directv.com/stream/) or [Paramount+](https://www.paramountplus.com/). [Paramount+](https://www.paramountplus.com/) [Sling](https://www.sling.com/) [NFL+](https://www.nfl.com/plus/learn-more) He joins Tom Brady (20), Steve Grogan (16), Troy Brown (15) and Julius Adams (15) as the only New England players to play in at least 15 seasons with the team. Dolphins Week 1 betting pick, prediction, odds](https://www.masslive.com/betting/2022/09/patriots-vs-dolphins-week-1-betting-pick-prediction-odds.html) [Mac Jones](https://www.masslive.com/mac-jones) leads the Patriots for a second season as starting quarterback as [Bill Belichick](https://www.masslive.com/patriots/2022/09/bill-belichick-new-football-plays-are-often-born-from-mistakes.html) looks to rebuild his team as a contender. Fans can also watch the [watch Patriots preseason games for free](https://www.masslive.com/patriots/2021/08/how-to-watch-patriots-vs-giants-preseason-game-free-live-stream-tv-start-time.html) with the [official Patriots app](https://www.patriots.com/fans/mobile) or by signing up for a free trial of [DirecTV](https://www.directv.com/stream/) or [Paramount+](https://www.paramountplus.com/). ... Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel is bidding to be the fifth coach to lead Miami to the postseason in his first year with the franchise, joining Don Shula, Dave Wannstedt, Tony Sparano and Adam Gase. [New England Patriots](https://www.masslive.com/patriots/) kickoff their campaign against the [Miami Dolphins](https://www.masslive.com/topic/miami-dolphins/) in Week 1. [fuboTV](https://www.fubo.tv/lp/football/?bgvideo=nflnetwork.mp4&subinfo=Live%20and%20DVR%20Access&title=Watch%20NFL%20Network&priceline=Mobile%20and%20Regional%20Restrictions%20Apply&irad=579310&irmp=1810038&subId3=xid:fr1659920910616jef [Patriots.com](http://patriots.com/) Tua Tagovailoa returns as the quarterback in Miami with a new head coach in Mike McDaniel and a new top receiver in [Tyreek Hill](https://www.masslive.com/patriots/2022/09/how-will-patriots-defend-tyreek-hill-in-star-wrs-dolphins-debut.html).

As the New England Patriots prepare to face the Miami Dolphins in their first regular season game of 2022 Patriots Country highlights three offensive ...

Wynn’s presence in the lineup would provide a notable boost to the Patriots ability to protect both the run and the pass. Whether it be his ability to power-sidestep his way into the end zone, or showcase his speed by breaking for a 91-year touchdown run, he clearly has the skill to be a big part of the Patriots offensive attack against Miami on Sunday. [Led by second-year quarterback (and first-time team captain) Mac Jones](https://www.si.com/nfl/patriots/news/new-england-named-captains-mac-jones-deatrich-wise-david-andrews-jawhaun-bentley-devin-mccourty-matthew-slater-bill-belichick-miami-dolphins-preview), the Patriots are hoping to show marked improvement on the offensive side of the ball in 2022. In fact, he has never averaged fewer than 11 yards-per-reception in any of his seven seasons in the league. In his stead, the Patriots have entrusted the offensive play calling duties to offensive line coach Matt Patricia, with an assist from quarterbacks coach Joe Judge. [New England Patriots will open the regular season this Sunday](https://www.si.com/nfl/patriots/news/new-england-miami-dolphins-tyreek-hill-mac-jones-bill-belichick-preview-odds-gameday), Sept.

“My understanding, Matt Patricia, the senior football advisor—also coaching the offensive line—is expected to be the Patriots' offensive play-calller, which ...

But so much could change if Patricia and company gets the job done in Miami. He did it a lot in practice, did it in the scrimmages, but he is expected to take over with a heavy hand from Bill Belichick.” “One of the biggest mysteries this offseason was who’s going to be the Patriots play-caller after Josh McDaniels left to be the head coach of the Las Vegas Raiders,” said Rapoport.

The Patriots kick off the 2022 season on Sunday in Miami and we'll have the latest news from Hard Rock Stadium plus commentary, photos, and more throughout ...

If you including playoff victories in the all-time, a victory today against Miami would put him two behind Halas (318 regular-season wins and six playoff wins), 324 to 322. • Sunday’s game against the Dolphins will mark the beginning of special teams specialist Matthew Slater’s 15th season in the NFL. He’s third on the all-time list for regular-season wins, behind Don Shula (328) and George Halas (318). As a backup, you always prepare as if you are going to play, but you really have to be mindful of that on a day like today. (If you are gambling on this year’s winner of the Shane Vereen/Trey Flowers/James White Redshirt Award, Strong might be your guy.) Notable that veteran Ty Montgomery is healthy and good to go. (The last Miami quarterback to get to four wins against Bill Belichick? Outside linebacker Anfernee Jennings: A healthy scratch — he wasn’t on the injury report all week. [#Patriots]and [#Dolphins]are putting on a show as the ball is soaring in the stifling heat. [Read more Patriots stories](https://globe.com/patriots) A lot of that comes down to the fact that it’s opening day. [Sign up for Point After, our Patriots newsletter](https://globe.com/pointafter) • He had plenty of good things to say about the Miami offensive skill position players, including Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle.

The New England Patriots and Miami Dolphins announce the following inactives ahead of their Week 1 game on Sunday, September 11, 2022.

Joining Rowe on this list are cornerback Noah Igbinoghene, wide receiver Erik Ezukanma, quarterback Skylar Thompson, running back Salvon Ahmed, tight end Tanner ...

The Dolphins and Patriots will kick off at 1:00 p.m. For the matchup, the Dolphins have listed seven players as inactive, including defensive back Eric Rowe. The Miami Dolphins are set to play in their first regular season game under new head coach Mike McDaniel, as they’re hosting the New England Patriots in Week 1.

Anfernee Jennings is a surprising addition to the New England Patriots' list of seven inactive players for Sunday's season-opener.

His absence could be missed against a Dolphins offense with a lot of speed on the field. However, the good news is that starting offensive tackle Isaiah Wynn will play against the Dolphins. The New England Patriots have released their list of inactive players ahead of their Week 1 matchup with the Miami Dolphins, and one of the names on there was a bit of a surprise.

The Patriots announced the following seven inactive players ahead of Sunday's season-opener against the Miami Dolphins. New England's seven inactives for ...

The 2020 third-round pick was rotating in the starting defense in an edge-setting role and received praise from the coaching staff for his breakout camp, but it wasn't enough to earn a spot on the game-day roster. Wynn was questionable for today's game due to a back injury but told reporters he would play in the season-opener on Friday. But that's not the case, which is a huge boost to the Pats offense as Montgomery's burst into his routes and versatility stood out all summer long.

Andrew Van Ginkel and Raekwon Davis will be available for the Miami Dolphins in Week 1, but CB Noah Igbinoghene is among the inactives.

Igbinoghene was not on the injury report all week, so this decision was not injury-related barring an issue that surfaced either Saturday night or Sunday morning. Rowe, Ahmed and Conner all were listed as questionable on the final injury report of the week, while Flowers is a recent addition to the roster. The most surprising name on the inactive list is that of third-year cornerback Noah Igbinoghene, who had been listed as a second-team cornerback on the depth chart.

The New England Patriots and Miami Dolphins open the 2022 NFL season Sunday in Miami Gardens. Get updates from the game on Boston.com.

1:10 p.m.: Mac Jones has a pass intended for former Dolphin DeVante Parker batted in the air by Xavien Howard and picked off by Jevon Holland. It’s the Patriots’ first game without offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels, who left to become head coach of the Raiders, in over a decade. — Sunday’s game will mark Belichick’s 434th game as a head coach, while it will be the first for Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel. The temperature in Miami could reach a high of 92 degrees, around 12 degrees hotter than Boston’s expected high according to the Weather Channel. 1:19 p.m.: A third-down play-fake results in a pass that floats just past the outstretched arm of fullback Alec Ingold. 1:22 p.m.: Dietrich Wise gets a big third-down sack and forces a fumble, which Miami recovers. 1:20 p.m: Tagovailoa hits an open Tyreek Hill for a 23-yard completion. It’s the biggest difference in experience between a coach in his first game and an opposing coach in NFL history, according to ESPN Stats and Information. Miami leads 17-0 heading into the half. 1:33 p.m.: Patriots punt after Mac Jones is sacked and a short pass to Hunter Henry isn’t enough to convert the first down. 2:14 p.m.: Patriots punt, Matthew Judon gets his first sack of the game forcing a third and 19 that slowed Miami’s offense down. 2:19 p.m.: Tagovailoa hits Jaylen Waddle over the middle on a slant route, and Waddle slips past three New England defenders for a touchdown.

The Patriots open the 2022 NFL season on the road in Miami against a familiar foe.

[Click Here](https://www.si.com/nfl/patriots/news) The tandem is thought by many to become one of the better pass-catch duos in the league. [and](https://mobile.twitter.com/ramdigestsi)and [SI SportsBook](https://www.sisportsbook.com/football/usa/nfl-preseason/new-england-patriots-las-vegas-raiders-e-472408/) It's the third straight time the two teams have met in a season opener. [try it free](https://www.fubo.tv/lp/football/?bgvideo=nfl.mp4&title=Live%20Football.%20Stream%20and%20DVR.&priceline=*Regional%20and%20mobile%20restrictions%20apply&cta=Get%207-Day%20Free%20Trial%20Now&irad=356362&irmp=1205322&sharedID=USATwire-Patriots))

Matt Patricia will call the Patriots' offensive plays during Sunday's season opener against Miami, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.

The Patriots have depth at receiver with DeVante Parker, Jakobi Meyers, Nelson Agholor, and Kendrick Bourne all showing varying levels of production. They’ve also had issues running the ball to the outside as they implement a zone blocking scheme. Both Judge and Patricia are former NFL head coaches.

The recent skid, particularly in Florida, resulted in change of plans for New England, as the team traveled to Miami on Tuesday to acclimate to the weather.

Needing a score, the Patriots were forced to go for it on fourth-and-three from midfield. The Dolphins then turned to Chase Edmonds and Raheem Mostert on the ground before settling for a 49-yard field goal. The drive stayed alive thanks to a defensive penalty by Xavien Howard on a fourth-and-one incompletion to Parker. Miami was then able to run out the clock. Miami went three-and-out after an incompletion to Tyreek Hill, eight-yard gain by Cedrick Wilson, and a strong run-stuff by Ja’Whaun Bentley on third down. Dugger was slow to get up after appearing to get hit below the belt on the play. The swap did not led to success, as safety Brandon Jones knocked the football away from Mac Jones on a blitz, which Melvin Ingram recovered for a Miami touchdown. After a Damien Harris 12-yard run, the Patriots picked up the tempo as Jones spread the ball around with completions to Parker, Stevenson, Meyers, and Agholor. The Dolphins went three-and-out after a third-down pass to Hill was stopped short by Dugger. New England’s offense looked to get back on track in the second half. Trailing by three, the Patriots looked to Rhamondre Stevenson on their second drive. Working primarily out of 12-personnel, the Patriots had success moving the ball both on the ground and through the air.

The Miami Dolphins and New England Patriots have one half of football in the books. As these two AFC East rivals went into the locker room at the half, ...

Will Miami be able to hang onto this lead over the final two quarters or is New England primed for a comeback? The Miami Dolphins and New England Patriots have one half of football in the books. He's commanded a massive target share by Tua Tagovailoa thus far, catching six of his eight targets for 77 yards in the first half.

Checking out the key moments from the first half of the Miami Dolphins regular season opener against the New England Patriots.

And props to Ingram for grabbing the bouncing ball with his left hand before strolling into the end zone. -- Speaking of Williams, we also should mention he had a high snap that caused Tua to bobble the ball before he threw an incompletion. Of course, it would have been nice if somebody had blocked Dugger instead of letting him shoot free on the right side of the line. Igbinoghene not being active, unless there was a non-playing explanation, is quite the indictment for the third-year player and 2020 first-round pick. -- On the third-down sack that ended the drive — before Jason Sanders kicked a field goal to give the Dolphins a 3-0 lead — Connor Williams and Robert Hunt allowed Dietrich Wise to run free at the right of the offensive line for the sack and the Dolphins were fortunate that Williams was able to recover the fumble. And that's surprising to us because we had expected the Dolphins to give him a shot at playing time on defense with Byron Jones sidelined for the first four games.

MIAMI -- With so much attention on Miami Dolphins All-Pro receiver Tyreek Hill, some might have forgotten about Jaylen Waddle.

Linebacker [Melvin Ingram](https://www.espn.com/nfl/player/_/id/14926/melvin-ingram) corralled the loose ball and returned it 2 yards for the Dolphins' first touchdown of the 2022 season. He led all defensive backs last season with 5 sacks and 13 pressures on 89 pass rushes. [Cole Strange](https://www.espn.com/nfl/player/_/id/4051001/cole-strange) at left guard on the drive that resulted in the strip-sack, inserting veteran [James Ferentz](https://www.espn.com/nfl/player/_/id/17361/james-ferentz) in his place. Waddle did the rest from there, reaching a top speed of 20.8 mph on the play, according to Next Gen Stats. [Jevon Holland](https://www.espn.com/nfl/player/_/id/4373809/jevon-holland) on the Patriots' first drive of the game. [Tua Tagovailoa](https://www.espn.com/nfl/player/_/id/4241479/tua-tagovailoa) to put the Dolphins up 17-0 over the [New England Patriots](/nfl/team/_/name/ne/new-england-patriots).

But things would get worse for the offense on their third possession with a free rusher delivering a shot to Mac Jones that forced a fumble which Miami ...

The defense gave up just a field goal in the second half, as they corrected some things from the first half and forced enough punts to give the team a chance to get back into it. That extended their lead to 10-0 as the Dolphins took control of the game. But things would get worse for the offense on their third possession with a free rusher delivering a shot to Mac Jones that forced a fumble which Miami recovered for a touchdown. However, the Patriots D would bounce back, getting a tackle-for-loss by Adrian Phillips and then a forced fumble from Deatrich Wise that held the Dolphins to a field goal on their opening drive. Thus, the tone for the start of the game was set and would continue through the end. The Patriots strung together some pretty good plays out of the gate during their first possession, moving down the field with seven plays that nicely blended some successful runs and effective passes.

Patriots rookie offensive guard Cole Strange had a rough first half in his NFL debut against the Dolphins on Sunday.

The offensive line as a whole struggled with communication during a zero-point first half, and it will take some time for Strange to gain his footing in a new offense. The 24-year-old watched New England's next drive from the sideline without receiving medical attention, so it appears the Patriots benched the rookie in favor of Ferentz, a 33-year-old veteran who's more familiar with the offense. But after just two offensive drives, Strange was replaced by backup offensive lineman James Ferentz, who played the rest of the first half at left guard.

The Miami Dolphins defeated the New England Patriots 20-7 on Sunday at Hard Rock Stadium.

Cornerback Kader Kohou forced a fumble from Nelson Agholor in the fourth quarter, as the Patriots were desperately working to move the ball and get some points back. Miami’s offense hit one huge play in the first half, as quarterback Tua Tagovailoa hit wide receiver Jaylen Waddle for a 42-yard touchdown. They benefitted from some great play by the defensive unit, as Jevon Holland came down with an interception on the first drive, leading to a field goal.

Mistakes and turnovers unsurprisingly proved to be the difference in yet another loss in Miami. Mac Jones is hit from behind by Dolphins defender Brandon Jones.

Jackson, New England managed a decent performance against one of the league’s most explosive players. Waddle broke free and sprinted 42 yards for the score. Miami defensive end Melvin Ingram scooped it up and ran it in for a touchdown. The Dolphins have now defeated the Patriots in four straight meetings, with New England falling to 2-8 in the last 10 games played in Miami. The Dolphins had zero turnovers. 271), any mistake would loom large. Tagovailoa’s lone touchdown pass came with just 18 seconds remaining in the first half, as he found Jaylen Waddle over the middle. [new-look offense](https://www.boston.com/sports/new-england-patriots/2022/08/10/patriots-offense-struggles-experts/) appeared to produce immediate results as the Patriots took the opening drive of the game down the field to the Miami 22-yard line. As the margins in the game were slim, with both teams running a similar number of plays (59 for the Dolphins, 54 for the Patriots) and gaining a comparable amount of total yards (307 vs. [20-7](https://www.boston.com/sports/new-england-patriots/2022/09/11/patriots-dolphins-live-blog-updates-score-analysis/) on Sunday in the 2022 season opener. [earlier than usual](https://www.boston.com/sports/morning-sports-update/2022/09/09/devin-mccourty-bart-scott-patriots-dolphins-miami-week-1/) to help cope with the heat, the results proved to be underwhelming. The Patriots lost to the Dolphins

The offensive line got off to a horrendous start. Jones was sacked twice in the first half and pressured on several other occasions. Miami Dolphins.

They will go on the road in Week 2 to play the Pittsburgh Steelers, whose defense played great in a win against the defending AFC champion Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday. The Patriots need a strong run game to give their offense much-needed balance and take some pressure off of Jones. [Rhamondre Stevenson](https://www.nbcsports.com/boston/patriots/rhamondre-stevenson) picked up just 25 yards on eight carries. [Damien Harris](https://www.nbcsports.com/boston/patriots/damien-harris) led the team with 48 yards on nine attempts. There's an incredible amount of talent at the skill positions on this Miami offense, and that was evident Sunday. Parker was supposed to give the Patriots a presence outside the numbers and haul in contested 50-50 balls. [wasn't totally enthused](https://www.nbcsports.com/boston/patriots/why-patriots-wr-kendrick-bourne-struggling-nfl-insider-provides-insight) by the changes made on offense during the offseason, too. Jakobi Meyers was the most effective Patriots wideout with four receptions for 55 yards, including two clutch third-down catches. The second half didn't go much better for the Patriots as the Dolphins cruised to a 20-7 win in the hot Miami sun at Hard Rock Stadium. This depth didn't matter Sunday, though, as many veteran pass-catchers failed to make much of an impact for the Patriots. New England's offense had plenty of struggles in training camp and the preseason. Unfortunately for the Patriots, those concerns are very much alive with the regular season finally underway.

Patriots QB Mac Jones suffered a back injury in Sunday's season-opening 20-7 loss to the Dolphins and required X-rays on it after the game.

He spent about five minutes in the room before walking back to the team's locker room. Asked about Jones' performance, he said: "There weren't a lot of incomplete passes." Jones finished 21-of-30 for 213 yards, with one touchdown and one interception.

The Patriots week down in Miami ended with an unpleasant final result to begin the 2022 season as the Dolphins bested New England in a 20-7 victory at Hard ...

Dugger was the last line of defense on a Hill end around where he had a one-on-one with the Dolphins big-play machine and hit Hill square in the chest to get him on the ground. On Sunday, Meyers ran a slot fade against Dolphins cornerback Nik Needham and went above Needham to make the catch along the sideline. Yet, on a day where the offense struggled, Bourne was not on the field. Although Bourne is still working his way back into the circle of trust, the Patriots offense is at its best with him on the field. Hopefully, the play was a sign of things to come for the Patriots offense. As we mentioned, the Patriots defense did its job by holding the Dolphins offense to 13 points and limiting Tyreek Hill to gains of 26 and 23 yards as his longest plays from scrimmage. New England found a rhythm early on the ground by sequencing inside zone and crack toss schemes to keep the defense off-balance. On a positive note, Patriots running back Damien Harris averaged over five yards per rush, and the offensive line made holes on Harris's nine carries. Overall, Jones was efficient in the quick game resulting in a completion percentage over expected of +2.9 with a raw completion percentage of 70 percent. Still, you wonder how much of the lacking completions to the deep middle is on Jones's limitations as a passer, and if those plays aren't in his arsenal yet, then Mac needs better ball security and consistency. The phrase we'd use to describe the Patriots offense was non-threatening. "Need to finish some drives better on both sides of the ball and make an impact.

New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick and select players comment on their 7-20 loss to the Miami Dolphins on Sunday, September 11, 2022.

Did you feel like it was a factor at all for you guys today?) – "No, I feel like we were in shape. I mean, we moved the ball, we just kind of shot ourselves in the foot like I said." (Was there anything happening there that didn't allow you to kind of get off the ground the way you would have wanted?) – "No, I don't believe so. I felt like we handled a lot of them good, but obviously the one stands out with the strip sack. (The rhythm really seemed to be there aside from that first drive in the first half and the first drive in the second half. We had a pick in the first drive and the momentum probably would have shifted in a little way. I think there were some plays on third down and different times where he threw the ball short, but a broken tackle turned it into a big play and I think kind of changed drives. Obviously, they did some things to counteract that, but some of the pressures, but I thought we ran the ball well, but we beat ourselves. Look, I got to go in the film and learn. DM: I would say overall like that offense, we knew that, when we played San Fran, it's just a lot of movement within the backfield. Obviously, I haven't looked at the stats, I don't know anything, but I felt like we were moving the ball in the run game. Defensively, gave up a big play there at the end of the half and a couple field goals, but still need to play better on third down.

With a defensive touchdown, an interception, a forced fumble, the Dolphins defense dominated Sunday's season opener, shutting out the Patriots offense on all ...

... TE [Cethan Carter](http://www.espn.com/nfl/player/_/id/3040470/cethan-carter) left the game with a head injury in the second quarter and did not return. Rookie defensive back [Kader Kohou](https://www.espn.com/nfl/player/_/id/4291489/kader-kohou) knocked the ball out of Patriots receiver [Nelson Agholor](https://www.espn.com/nfl/player/_/id/2971618/nelson-agholor)'s hands. [Jaelan Phillips](https://www.espn.com/nfl/player/_/id/4242975/jaelan-phillips) with about five minutes left. Safety [Brandon Jones](https://www.espn.com/nfl/player/_/id/4039059/brandon-jones), on a blitz, got a strip-sack of Jones. Parker was working one on one against cornerback [Xavien Howard](https://www.espn.com/nfl/player/_/id/2978935/xavien-howard), who tipped the pass away from Parker and into Holland’s hands. [Damien Harris](https://www.espn.com/nfl/player/_/id/3925347/damien-harris) led New England's rushers with 48 yards on nine carries. New England arrived in Florida on Tuesday and practiced at Palm Beach Atlantic University in Palm Beach County, about an hour from the Dolphins’ facilities. [Melvin Ingram](http://www.espn.com/nfl/player/_/id/14926/melvin-ingram) also played his first game as a Dolphin and scored a touchdown in the second quarter. Several vehicles caught fire outside Hard Rock Stadium during the first half of the game. But the Patriots did little else on offense and faced a 17-point deficit at the half. Hill, who is 5-foot-10, turned the play into a 26-yard gain. “I just wish we could have continued that momentum in the second half, but beggars can't be choosers.”

This was a great blitz design where Brandon Jones was lined up on the second level and Melvin Ingram lined up wide on the line. With left tackle Trent Brown ...

That would have given New England a first-and-goal at the 1-yard line, and who knows how the game would have played out had New England had a lead. The Dolphins ran out the clock with four first downs after that play, but it's not like anybody would have expected them to score two touchdowns anyway. And the reason is that New England was out of timeouts, so even had the Dolphins been stopped it's questionable the Patriots would have been able to get points anyway.

The second-year QB had an iffy start to the 2022 season.

[Tua Tagovailoa](/nfl/players/2741209/tua-tagovailoa/), had the more efficient day, throwing for 270 yards and routinely connecting with new No. The second-year signal-caller played Sunday's entire contest but was seen afterward walking into the X-ray room at the stadium, [per ESPN](https://twitter.com/MikeReiss/status/1569053560658169856?s=20&t=dq33J0T11I_LSQhDy73vOQ). [Patriots](https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/teams/NE/new-england-patriots/) lost to the rival [Dolphins](https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/teams/MIA/miami-dolphins/) on Sunday in an ugly start to their 2022 season, but they may have lost more than a game.

Jones turned the ball over again with a fumble later in the game and wideout Nelson Agholor lost a fumble of his own. Conversely, the Patriots' defense ...

The Patriots have plenty to clean up before they visit the Pittsburgh Steelers, who forced five turnovers in their Week 1 win over the Cincinnati Bengals. As Curran notes, the Patriots' issues in Week 1 were a familiar sight. It could've gone better but it didn't.' I look at this and it's an average Miami team they lose to, and the Patriots are in a situation where it's not just a play here and there, it's kind of cataclysmic breakdowns," Curran said on Postgame Live. That marked the first of several costly mistakes on both sides of the ball in Week 1. "There's going to be a lot of 'lipstick on a pig' conversation. Conversely, the Patriots' defense failed to capitalize on multiple errant throws by Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa that should have resulted in interceptions.

The Miami Dolphins beat the New England Patriots 20-7 on Sunday, and we were able to learn some things from the win.

In his opportunities, he recorded three tackles, one for a loss, and a big forced fumble in the fourth quarter when New England was looking to come back. In the first two preseason games, Miami’s poor rushing attack looked a lot like they did in 2021, but a strong third game calmed some fears. Tagovailoa attempted 33 passes on Sunday afternoon, and over a third of them went to Hill, who brought in eight of them for 94 yards. In those opportunities, he ran routes on just 15 snaps, recording one catch on one target for one yard. During his absence, left guard Liam Eichenberg kicked out to left tackle and Jones filled in at guard again. Right tackle Austin Jackson went down in the second quarter with an ankle injury and never returned.

And forcing area sports fans to dream of Mac Jones, the New England Patriots and yes, fall. However, after the start to the 2022 season from the Patriots, it ...

The Patriots run a slant/flat combination to the right side, with Parker slicing inside on the quick slant while Montgomery releases to the flat out of the backfield. The Patriots failed to score again on the afternoon, and the critical point might have come early in the fourth quarter. Belichick has long maintained that he wants his teams playing their best football as the season goes on, and that time of the football calendar is a long way off. [Buffalo Bills](https://www.buffalorumblings.com/) on the opening night of the season, and New England now faces three games that look a little more difficult tonight than when the schedule was announced. They can point to the New England defense holding Miami to just 13 offensive points. By halftime, the Patriots trailed 17-0, thanks to a big touchdown from Jaylen Waddle prior to the break, and with the New England offense sputtering, it did not seem like a comeback was in the cards. Nelson Agholor fumbled the ball away in Miami territory with just over five minutes remaining, and the Dolphins recovered. They received contributions on the ground from both Damien Harris and Rhamondre Stevenson, and used some tempo on the drive to catch the Dolphins with too many men on the field at one point. Boundary blitzes and perimeter pressures were an issue for Jones last season, and his ability to spot those designs presnap was an area of focus for the Patriots during training camp. However, the Miami defense came away with the ball on a deflection: They managed just 271 yards of total offense, and turned the football over three times in the loss. No, it is a commentary instead on the mental well-being of the Boston-area sports fan.

Bill Belichick has never been an optimist, which makes his demeanor after the Patriots' Week 1 thumping in Miami all the more peculiar.

So there has to be some other reason to sit Bourne that is "in the best interest of the football team." Same way -- on a bigger stage -- it was best if Malcolm Butler just watched that Super Bowl against the Eagles. That’s another part of why everyone still gets Dairy Queen after the game. The Patriots are that loaded offensively? That was a game that was even except for that play. Miami took it by exploiting things they knew New England might struggle with, making big plays in the end zone on the Patriots' first drive and just before halftime and by waiting for the Patriots to mess up which they did with two fourth-down pre-snap penalties. The other big-play touchdown was a 42-yard slant thrown to Jaylen Waddle on a fourth-down just before halftime. The roster was weak, the Patriots had cap issues and COVID demanded a level of chipperness from leaders in every industry. Obviously, they did some things to counteract that, some of the pressures, but I thought we ran the ball well, but we beat ourselves. The same offensive line plagued with communication issues and breakdowns throughout training camp and the preseason. "It Wasn’t That Bad" Bill showed up after the Patriots' final preseason game. outlook after the Patriots' 20-7 loss in Miami hit the ear funny.

New England dropped the season opener 20-7 in Miami. New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick and Matt Patricia, senior football advisor, watch during the ...

We just all need to perform better. “We just all need to do a better job, obviously, coaches, players. Quarterback Mac Jones was unable to build much of a rhythm in the loss, finishing the contest 21 of 30 for 213 yards with a touchdown and an interception. Bourne hauled in a 41-yard pass on his second snap for his only catch of the day. “Two big plays [Miami’s strip-sack touchdown and end-of-half fourth-down touchdown], 14 points, really skewed the game,” Belichick pointed out. “Couldn’t get enough points when we got into their territory.

Rookie head coach Mike McDaniel, leading an offense led by Tua Tagovailoa, convincingly defeated the Patriots. To be fair, the Patriots don't usually play well ...

The Patriots’ offense was able to move the ball early on in the game, but managed just 213 passing yards from Mac Jones and only 78 rushing yards. The Dolphins were only able to score one offensive touchdown. Miami was only able to muster 65 rushing yards, using the Shanahan-style offense that is very well-known for getting to the passer. [ the Patriots](https://www.google.com/search?q=patriots&rlz=1C1GCEA_enUS1009US1009&oq=patriots&aqs=chrome.0.0i271j46i39j0i67i131i433j0i20i131i263i433i512j69i60j69i65j69i60l2.1251j1j4&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8&safe=active&ssui=on#sie=m;/g/11qbqwjtnr;6;/m/059yj;tb2;fp;1;;;) stayed disciplined, only committing three penalties. The Dolphins weren’t really able to get their rushing attack going, which was an area of needed improvement for the Patriots in 2022. To be fair, the Patriots don’t usually play well in Miami, and some things for them went well, but it was largely a disaster of a day for Bill Belichick’s team.

After leading the Miami Dolphins on an unlikely turnaround last season, the Dolphins defense needed just one game to show that it might be one of the top ...

Ingram recovered the ball for a touchdown to give the Dolphins a 10-0 lead. Patriots receiver Jakobi Meyers made a contested catch over Dolphins defensive back Nik Needham for a 9-yard gain in the second quarter. Linebacker Melvin Ingram also played his first game as a Dolphin and scored a touchdown in the second quarter. Parker was working one on one against cornerback Xavien Howard, who tipped the pass away from Parker and into Holland’s hands. Hill, who is 5-foot-10, turned the play into a 26-yard gain. "That dude's a cheat code," Tagovailoa said.

Checking out the key moments from the Miami Dolphins' 20-7 victory against the New England Patriots in the 2022 season opener.

-- It was Kohou again with the next big play by the defense, the one that pretty much ended things. -- The Dolphins' next possession after the fourth-down stop reached the Patriots 29, but Tagovailoa took a 12-yard sack on third-and-3 to knock the team out of field goal position. -- Nik Needham was beaten deep by Nelson Agholor on first down but got bailed out when Jones overthrew the pass. And kudos to Emmanuel Ogbah for not giving up on the play because he eventually induced a holding penalty, which obviously was declined. Beyond Kohou, it was a great play for the entire defense because Jones had plenty of time but couldn't find anybody open. Fortunately for him, that came on the same play when the Patriots were flagged for an illegal chop block against Jerome Baker, resulting in offsetting penalties. -- Speaking of Williams, we also should mention he had a high snap that caused Tua to bobble the ball before he threw an incompletion. -- There also was a fourth-and-1 conversion when Howard was called for illegal contact against DeVante Parker. And props to Ingram for grabbing the bouncing ball with his left hand before strolling into the end zone. Of course, it would have been nice if somebody had blocked Dugger instead of letting him shoot free on the right side of the line. Igbinoghene not being active, unless there was a non-playing explanation, is quite the indictment for the third-year player and 2020 first-round pick. As great a young player as he is, Holland's got to know better than that.

Winner: WR Jakobi Meyers. Despite Jones' up-and-down day, his most reliable target was as solid as ever on Sunday. Meyers led the team in targets (6), ...

Corners trust in me to be in the middle of the field and I wasn’t there. When he was on the field, he proved his worth. It was New England’s longest offensive play of the game. He lost track of Emmanuel Ogbah rushing from the inside on a third down which led to a punt. Starting with Bourne, the receiver did not see his the field until late in the fourth quarter and registered only two total snaps. The problem was with the Patriots playbook. Brown was perhaps at fault for the strip sack that changed the early trajectory of the game. His performance was highlighted with a bad missed tackle on Raheem Mostert that resulted in a first down for the Dolphins, while also knocking a would-be interception away from Devin McCourty in the fourth quarter. beat right guard Robert Hunt clean off the line of scrimmage to quickly bring down Tagovailoa, forcing a fumble in the process. Meyers led the team in targets (6), receptions (4), and receiving yards (55) on the day. He also hauled in perhaps his best catch in a Patriot uniform, high-pointing a 27-yard reception down the right sideline on a slot fade. Jones was efficient as usual in the quick game, but a constant theme throughout the day was him floating passes to his receivers outside the numbers.

He came out looking great, but a questionable throw to DeVante Parker resulted in a pick that ended the promising drive to start the game. He never looked ...

No need to lose hope just yet: It was ugly down in Miami, but there is no reason for fans to lose hope in the 2022 Patriots just yet. The good news is that he doesn’t appear to have suffered a significant injury. Kyle Dugger is a monster: Maybe the biggest bright spot for the Patriots this weekend was the play of Kyle Dugger. The bad news is that he is still banged up after just one game. Injury concerns: The Patriots have a few injury concerns to keep ab eye out for. Lack of playmakers: One of the biggest criticisms of the Patriots is that they don’t have any playmakers on either side of the ball. Getting Smith involved could really help this offense; he is a special guy with the ball in his hands. The Patriots didn’t have a ton of explosive plays, but Jones had a chance to make some and simply couldn’t get it done. The tight end, who arrived on a high-prized free agency deal last year, may have only finished with three catches for 30 yards, but he made some nice plays in the passing game. After dominating during the summer, he was unable to make a significant impact on Sunday. The Patriots don’t seem to have guys like that right now, and that makes it awfully difficult to win. He never looked totally comfortable from that point on, and it also looked like he might have missed a few line calls, the strip-sack touchdown possibly among them.

An early interception by Patriots quarterback Mac Jones was a pivotal play in Sunday's loss to the Dolphins. Veteran wideout Devante Parker explained after ...

The last time the Patriots [Watch on YouTube](https://youtu.be/PWYzVEyTJjc) The Patriots finished with only one touchdown and 271 total yards of offense. The Dolphins still could've won in that scenario, but it would have at least been a little harder for them. Dolphins cornerback Xavien Howard tipped the ball in the air and his teammate, safety Jevon Holland, came over and intercepted it. [Curran: 'Cataclysmic breakdowns' cost Patriots vs.

Patriots quarterback Mac Jones injured his back during Sunday's 20-7 season-opening loss to the Miami Dolphins, the team announced.

Jones was not made available to the media after the game. NFL Network Insider Tom Pelissero reported Jones' X-rays came back negative and he will undergo further evaluation on his back when the team returns to Foxborough, Mass. [Mac Jones](https://www.nfl.com/players/mac-jones/) injured his back during Sunday's [20-7 season-opening loss](https://www.nfl.com/games/patriots-at-dolphins-2022-reg-1) to the Miami Dolphins, the team announced.

There's still hope for the New England Patriots after an ugly season-opener against the Miami Dolphins.

The defense was overall solid, as seven of the 20 points came from a strip and score by the Dolphins defense. The rest of the line looked like you could cut through it with a hot knife. I think this was more of a strategy for the team than anything else. It was especially frustrating since he was one of the more explosive players for New England last season. One of the major flaws is the offense still learning a new scheme, but if this can be corrected, this offense could have a massive turnaround. There’s still so much football left to play, and the team also had some positive moments on the field.

One game and one dull loss into the season, hearing Bill Belichick and Patriots' offensive players talk about “encouraging” signs has become tiresome. But they ...

He didn’t play until the fourth quarter, comes in and makes a 41-yard catch, the Patriots’ longest play of the day, and then goes right back to the bench. The Patriots have struggled across multiple seasons now to make the most of Tagovailoa’s curious decisions … He always seems to be on the verge of disaster, but always seems to escape — or luck out — just before the volcano erupts. We’ve got to get to the bottom of what’s going on with Kendrick Bourne. I have to admit, it was somewhat alarming to see Montgomery get touches on running plays that should either go to Rhamondre Stevenson or Damien Harris. Players like Hill always cast their shadow over a game; it feels like he’s always on the verge of making a game-changing play, and to watch him was one more reminder that the Patriots sure could use someone like that. He has a chance to be a special player, and soon. Carl Davis took a fourth-down encroachment penalty after a timeout while lined up with the football in his sights. The running game, which should be a strength, totaled 78 yards. The playbook is supposed to be streamlined, but the linemen often look like they’ve been studying different editions. That’s about as suspenseful as the game got. Welcome to the Unconventional Review, an instant reaction to standouts, stats, and story lines from the Patriots’ most recent game .

An easy one to point to would be the Patriots' coaching staff arrangement in lieu of long-time coordinator Josh McDaniels; with McDaniels in San Francisco, ...

From that perspective, the Patriots are neither fundamentally flawed nor — as it is oftentimes portrayed — in the hands of coaches not fit for the task. The execution, like it had been in the previous three losses to the Tua Tagovailoa-led Dolphins, was simply not good or consistent enough to come out with a win. After picking up four first downs and marching from their own 25 to the Miami 22-yard line, however, the opening drive came to a halt: a Mac Jones pass intended for wide receiver DeVante Parker was tipped and subsequently intercepted by the Dolphins. “I think when we were rolling, we were in the rhythm. On Sunday, however, it was not why the Patriots offense fell short of expectations. New England ended up losing with a final score of 20-7, failing to capitalize on what was overall a relatively solid day from the team’s defense.

After suffering a big loss in Miami on Sunday afternoon, Patriots Mac Jones reportedly exited the field and headed to the x-ray room.

He reportedly appeared to be in pain, which is not the news you want to hear in only week one. They revealed the quarterback had suffered a back injury and would not be available to speak with. Fortunately, he was seen leaving the room not long after.

When the NFL schedules were released this spring, seeing the Patriots' first opponent as the Dolphins in Miami was not how anyone hoped New England season ...

But the root of the issues in this game had little to do with the offensive game plan. There will always be questionable calls made in a game, no matter the team or the coaches, and the Patriots were not on the receiving end of a perfectly-called game. He would not take the field until late in the 4th quarter and made the biggest play of the day with His impactful play has solidified in his first year with the team and it’s only serving as a hindrance overall to see him staying on the sideline. – The easiest point of blame for Sunday’s disaster would be to blame Matt Patricia and the overall play-calling. It would come on 4th and 1 at the 50-yard line, leading to Miami receiving a new set of downs. The ball was in his grasp but Hill snatched the ball away in what would’ve been a big momentum changer for the Patriots. Melvin Ingram would recover the ball and run it in for a 2-yard touchdown. But it would end in a momentum-changing interception in the endzone, on a 50/50 ball between DeVante Parker and Jevon Holland leading to Xavien Howard making the catch. The pass rush that fell flat for the latter half of the 2021 season was alive and well in this game, with the usual suspects leading the charge. Harris led the way in the first series with runs of 12 and 8 yards. Self-inflicted wounds would be the biggest culprit in a game that was certainly winnable, but their overall lack of execution and overcoming the obstacles they put in front of themselves led to issues they could not recover from.

The New England Patriots take on the Miami Dolphins in a Week 1 game at Hardrock Stadium on Sunday, September 11, 2022.

Go inside the Patriots locker room and check out player arrivals as the team prepares to take on the Miami Dolphins at Hard Rock Stadium on Sunday, September 11, 2022. The New England Patriots take on the Miami Dolphins in a Week 1 game at Hardrock Stadium on Sunday, September 11, 2022. Check out the top 5 photos from the Patriots Week 1 game against the Miami Dolphins presented by CarMax.

New England Patriots links 9/12/22 - Defense a bright spot, offense needs to tighten up ... If you buy something from an SB Nation link, Vox Media may earn a ...

[weirdness of the Browns](https://www.si.com/nfl/2022/09/11/absurdity-of-the-baker-mayfield-browns-revenge-game)getting on Baker Mayfield. [Patriots can’t pull off a win](https://t.co/0ib3Nm5zqK)in the Miami heat. video) Offense gets out to a nightmarish start in Miami. “I think someone’s got to explain to me how the Patriots — no idea what they can do on offense right now — are one-point favorites over the Steelers in Pittsburgh Sunday.” /Pats didn’t lose because they were gassed from the heat. “Protection issues were a problem for much of the summer and they carried over into the season, putting New England into an early double-digit hole.” [Patriots](https://www.patriots.com/news/new-england-patriots-postgame-quotes-9-11)and [Dolphins](https://www.patriots.com/news/miami-dolphins-postgame-quotes-9-11). [Bill Belichick](https://www.patriots.com/video/bill-belichick-9-11-not-enough-good-things-to-win)- [Matthew Judon](https://www.patriots.com/video/matthew-judon-9-11-we-re-going-to-go-back-out-there-and-work)- [David Andrews](https://www.patriots.com/video/david-andrews-9-11-we-beat-ourselves)- [Devin McCourty](https://www.patriots.com/video/devin-mccourty-9-11-we-had-too-many-bad-plays). [4 keys from the season-opening loss](https://www.patriots.com/news/4-keys-from-patriots-season-opening-loss-to-dolphins). “If you’re looking for a silver lining, this game ultimately came down to two critical plays: a 42-yard touchdown by Jaylen Waddle before the half and a defensive touchdown on a strip-sack fumble recovery by Dolphins linebacker Melvin Ingram.” Patriots defense held the Dolphins to a 2.8-yard rushing average; More.

One game into the season, hearing Bill Belichick and Patriots offensive players talk about “encouraging” signs has become tiresome.

He always seems to be on the verge of disaster, but always seems to escape — or luck out — just before the volcano erupts. He didn’t play until the fourth quarter, comes in and makes a 41-yard catch, the Patriots’ longest play of the day, and then goes right back to the bench. The Patriots have struggled across multiple seasons now to make the most of Tagovailoa’s curious decisions … Players like Hill always cast their shadow over a game; it feels like he’s always on the verge of making a game-changing play, and to watch him was one more reminder that the Patriots sure could use someone like that. We’ve got to get to the bottom of what’s going on with Kendrick Bourne. He was the Patriots’ most reliable and exciting receiver in the second half last season, and while he spent training camp residing in the Doug Gabriel wing of Belichick’s doghouse, the injury to Tyquan Thornton should have reopened his opportunity, at least if he has been at all accountable for whatever Belichick is mad about. Burying Bourne is detrimental to what’s best for the Patriots. He has a chance to be a special player, and soon. Carl Davis took a fourth-down encroachment penalty after a timeout while lined up with the football in his sights. Welcome to the Unconventional Review, an instant reaction to standouts, stats, and story lines from the Patriots’ most recent game . The playbook is supposed to be streamlined, but the linemen often look like they’ve been studying different editions. The running game, which should be a strength, totaled 78 yards.

BOSTON -- The Patriots possessed the football nine times on Sunday. They scored points once. The offense actually gave up as many points as it scored.

That the Dolphins outperformed the Patriots in that area has to be a bit alarming. In the old days, Bill Belichick would store that one in his memory bank and use it to win by 100 points during the rematch. Even if the Patriots used that timeout and made stops on second and third down, Miami could run the clock down to 20-something seconds. The Dolphins rushed just three and dropped eight, obviously making it difficult for the five route runner to find free space in the defense. opened the door for the 278-pound Emmanuel Ogbah to walk right in and destroy the quarterback. He's going to be covered when he's running downfield, so it's on the quarterback to allow him to plant his feet and go up and get it. Time was, the Patriots were so good that benchings could be made, punishments could be delivered, good players could be kept out of games in order to teach 'em a lesson, all without slowing down the machine. And now the Patriots are saying he's just not good enough to play for them. That continued Sunday, when he was just a spectator for the first three quarters of the game. Malcolm Butler was benched for the entirety of a Super Bowl for ... Wes Welker was benched for an offensive series after rattling off a bunch of foot jokes to try to embarrass Rex Ryan; the Patriots lost that playoff game. The receiver has seemingly been in Bill Belichick's doghouse since midsummer, when he was one of several Patriots who participated in a fight during joint practices with the Panthers and then didn't dress for the second preseason game.

Outside linebacker Matthew Judon is proving to be a leader on and off the field in his second season with the Patriots.

We want to have a chance to compete,” Judon said. We want to be a good football team. “We know they've got to pass it, fourth and long, and we give up six going into the half, and then they get the ball back,” Judon said. “We're going to go back out there and work. We've got to fix that and come out on the victor's side next time.” Despite giving up 20 points - only 13 by the defense - it was a relatively quiet 20 points.

Turnovers and big plays were a major factor in the defeat, with Bill Belichick pointing to a fumble-six and late-first-half 42-yard touchdown that were ...

Later, in the fourth quarter, they again had some success with the no huddle with Bourne's big play coming out of a hurried pace, but Nelson Agholor's fumble effectively ended the game just two plays later. Overall, the defense was also playing behind the line of scrimmage more than they did for much of 2021. The Patriots defense only allowed 13 points, a total anyone would take any Sunday, but the Miami offense was just the start of a difficult slate of top attacks that are on tap this season. That kind of execution was a welcome sight after a summer that only demonstrated small bursts of success, usually limited to just a play or two per team period. Kendrick Bourne played just two snaps but the 2021 breakout receiver still had a 41-yard catch that was the offense's most explosive play of the game, and only one of two plays that went for more than 17 yards. Harris and Stevenson hold big keys to the offense taking a strong step forward. But overall, the safety group delivered some of the best plays of the game and gave a glimpse into what an effective tool they can be for the defense this season. The lack of any intermediate passing game was a clear factor for Mac Jones and the offense. Ty Montgomery wasn't overly productive (three catches, 15 yards, touchdown) but simply his ability to suit up so soon after being carted off of the final preseason game was a boost for the offense. Nelson Agholor also had one of the games best plays, taking a 3rd-and-11 short pass for 17 yards and a first down. [dropped their opener to the Dolphins 20-7](https://www.patriots.com/news/game-observations-ten-takeaways-as-patriots-stumble-out-of-the-gate-in-loss-to-d) in a game that fit the script of many season openers that came before it. From that solid start, things quickly devolved until the Patriots got to the locker room at the half, staring up at another 17-point deficit to the Dolphins for the second time in their last two meetings.

As the Patriots offense struggled all afternoon, you had to wonder what was going on with Kendrick Bourne, who didn't see the field until late in the game.

With a porous offensive line and the need for more speed on offense, Bourne needs to see more of the field going forward. After the 41-yard grab, Bourne was again taken out of the game and two plays later Nelson Agholor fumbled, sealing defeat for the Patriots. Surely, you’d have to imagine a player such as Bourne would have helped. Arguably the quickest receiver in a group that struggles to create separation, Bourne spent most of the afternoon glued to the Patriot bench. It became more of a head scratcher once Bourne finally saw the field with roughly 5 minutes to go and Mac Jones promptly hit him for a 41-yard reception, the longest Patriot play of the game. A year ago, Bourne broke out during his first year in New England catching 55 balls for 800 yards and 5 touchdowns, all career highs.