FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — — The Miami Dolphins made simply sufficient performs to beat the New England Patriots and sufficient errors to lose to only about anybody else.
A blocked punt. Two missed subject objectives — one off the upright and one on a botched snap. One other snap over the quarterback’s head, taking Miami out vary for one more subject purpose try. An interception that arrange the Patriots’ solely landing.
“A number of the issues that we’re taking pictures ourselves within the foot with proper now, it was a full group win to have the ability to overcome these points,” mentioned fullback Alec Ingold, who scored Miami’s solely landing in a 15-10 victory Sunday.
“We all know that that’s not acceptable. It’s lower than the usual,” he mentioned. “Everyone knows we have to tighten that up.”
In a recreation between two of the NFL’s worst groups that was pocked with penalties, missed kicks and poor clock administration, Miami took the lead for good when Ingold plunged into the tip zone with 4 minutes left on his solely carry of the sport.
And the Dolphins (2-3) needed to climate two extra Patriots’ possessions — one with a landing that was overturned on replay, and one other that fizzled when New England, after finishing a go on the Miami 11 in the course of the sector, was unable to cease the clock.
“Actually, nothing was good,” mentioned Patriots quarterback Jacoby Brissett, who was 18 of 34 for 160 yards. “Penalties within the improper conditions, in unhealthy conditions. We’re not adequate to do this, to go backwards and attempt to rating factors.”
Jason Sanders kicked three subject objectives for Miami to beat three botched particular groups performs, and the Dolphins received for the primary time since quarterback Tua Tagovailoa went out with a concussion in Week 2.
Making his second begin as Miami’s fourth quarterback, Tyler Huntley accomplished 18 of 31 passes for 194 yards and one interception. Tyreek Hill caught six passes for 69 yards, Jaylen Wright ran for 86 and Raheem Mostert added 80 on the bottom for the Dolphins.
Ingold’s 3-yard run capped a 15-play, 80-yard drive that was extra like 95 with penalties figured in.
After the 2-point try failed, the Patriots (1-4) nonetheless had two extra possibilities to take the lead.
The Patriots celebrated a go-ahead landing go with 63 seconds left, however replays confirmed Ja’Lynn Polk’s second heel got here down on the tip line. After two no-chance incompletions — and yet one more penalty — the Patriots turned the ball over on downs.
New England bought the ball again by itself 43 with 29 seconds left, and Brissett linked on a 21-yard go to Kayshon Boutte on the Dolphins 36; with no timeouts, the Patriots hustled to spike the ball with 12 seconds left. Brissett hit Hunter Henry on the 11 however close to the yardage markers — too far inbounds for them to have an opportunity to cease the clock.
“As the sport wore on, our fundamentals started to slide,” New England coach Jerod Mayo mentioned after watching his group commit 12 penalties for 105 yards — together with 5 pre-snap violations and 5 for offensive holding. “We preach on a regular basis about pre-snap and post-snap penalties. It simply wasn’t an excellent day.”
Fumble-prone Patriots operating again Rhamondre Stevenson was benched for the opening sequence however ran 12 occasions for 89 yards and a 33-yard landing within the first quarter that was arrange by Christian Gonzalez’s interception inside Miami territory.
Kicking woes
Sanders’ 54-yard subject purpose on Miami’s first drive gave the Dolphins, whose solely different win got here on a Week 1 kick with no time left, its first lead of the season.
However when Sanders went again out on the finish of the primary quarter for a 41-yard try, he doinked it off the left upright. The Dolphins additionally botched one other subject purpose try when long-snapper Blake Ferguson rolled the ball to the holder and Sanders didn’t even get an opportunity to swing his leg.
Miami additionally had a punt blocked, establishing the Patriots on the Dolphins’ 23. However after a drive that included two offensive holding penalties and simply 5 performs, Joey Slye pulled a 33-yard subject purpose try large proper.
Clock mismanagement
The Dolphins then marched to the New England 25 to maneuver into place for a subject purpose that would have made it a one-point recreation.
However a mistimed snap by Aaron Brewer went over Huntley’s head, for a lack of 20 yards; there was additionally a penalty on the Dolphins, which was declined. Jake Bailey’s punt left the Patriots on their very own 5, they usually ran off simply 55 seconds earlier than punting.
Miami took over on the Patriots’ 44 and moved to the 28 for Sanders’ subject purpose try that break up the uprights – solely to be waved off for a false begin. On the retry, they botched the snap.
The Patriots couldn’t get anyplace on their possession and burned solely 12 seconds earlier than punting the ball again to Miami – a fifth possession contained in the 2-minute warning.
Accidents
Dolphins: Operating again De’Von Achane left with a concussion within the first half and didn’t return. Security Jevon Holland left the sport with a hand harm and didn’t return. WR Odell Beckham Jr. was energetic for the primary time this season and was focused twice, however didn’t have a catch.
Patriots: After shedding middle David Andrews and sort out Caedan Wallace through the week, they activated receiver Kendrick Bourne and security Marte Mapu off of injured reserve.
Up subsequent
Dolphins: Week off earlier than taking part in at Indianapolis on Oct. 20.
Patriots: Host Houston subsequent Sunday.
——
AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl