Patriots stun Dolphins in fourth-quarter rally
Drake Maye threw for two scores and ran in another as New England overcame a 10-point deficit.
By David Mokoena ·
New England returned home with a 24-19 victory over the Miami Dolphins on Sunday. The Patriots overcame a 10-point halftime deficit to secure their fifth win of the season.
Drake Maye led the comeback without star receiver A.J. Brown, Mack Hollins, or running back TreVeyon Henderson. Brown missed the game with a knee and ankle injury, Hollins sat out with a calf issue, and Henderson was sidelined by illness. Despite the absences, Maye completed 16 of 20 passes for 199 yards. He also rushed for a touchdown.
The Patriots trailed 13-3 at the half after the Dolphins executed a 70-yard drive. Malik Washington scored on a 1-yard run to give Miami that lead. Washington had left the game briefly after a hard hit from Christian Elliss, who was flagged for unnecessary roughness. Washington returned five plays later to catch his first receiving touchdown of the season.
New England outscored Miami 21-0 in the second half. DeMario Douglas caught a 48-yard pass to put the Patriots up 17-13 early in the fourth quarter. Maye later threw a 43-yard touchdown to Kyle Williams. Officials initially ruled the play an incompletion after Williams appeared to lose the ball. Coach Mike Vrabel challenged the call, and replays confirmed Williams crossed the goal line with the ball in hand.
With 59 seconds remaining in the third quarter, Maye faked a handoff to Rhamondre Stevenson and ran it in for a 2-yard score. That was Maye’s fifth straight game with at least three total touchdowns. Stevenson carried the ball 19 times for 82 yards. Douglas caught three passes for 76 yards.
The Dolphins launched a final two-minute drive under Malik Willis. Willis completed 21 of 32 passes for 211 yards and threw two touchdowns. Kevin Coleman Jr. caught a 35-yard score with two minutes left. Miami attempted a two-point conversion but failed. Rhamondre Stevenson recovered the onside kick, giving New England the ball back to run out the clock.
Miami quarterback Willis was sacked five times. He also threw one interception. Ollie Gordon left the game after drawing an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty. Willis said he told Gordon he was wrong in that situation. Zane Gonzalez made field goals of 31 and 52 yards for Miami but missed a 43-yard attempt in the fourth quarter.
The Patriots will host Green Bay next Sunday. The Dolphins will host Detroit the following week.
Source: NBC 6 South Florida
