The Result
Even though the New England Patriots won 28-7 it was a tale of two halves. In the first half the New England Patriots dominated and jumped out to a 28-0 half time lead on 3 Tom Brady touchdown passes, two to Randy Moss and one to Jabar Gaffney and a 59-yard run for a score by Laurence Maroney. The Patriots had 4 scores on 5 drives and one kneel down just before the half. The defense played well and they were rolling. Even CBS put up a graphic saying they had outscored Miami 70-7 in the first half this season.
The Dolphins just looked awful with a bunch of three and outs and other drives that went nowhere and they even got stopped on downs in the red zone.Then in the second half it appeared as though the Patriots offense didn’t give a damn and gave up. It was the first half in a game this year that they didn’t score a point, they were anemic. Brady threw a pair of interceptions and fumbled once and the whole offense except for Laurence Maroney just went into a funk. It almost appeared as if they were trying much too hard to help Brady and Moss set or tie the TD pass and reception records.
If it wasn’t for the defense, who still had some chinks, and a poor opponent they very possibly could have lost the game or been in a dogfight. I’m not sure if it’s the physical strain of the season getting them or the mental drain of an undefeated, perfect season. Either way this team needs to get its collective head out of its collective ass so they can be clicking on all cylinders come playoff time. It won’t do them any good to run the table in the regular season and not finish holding the Lombardi Trophy at season’s end.
Scoring Plays
| Miami | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 7 |
| New England | 7 | 21 | 0 | 0 | 28 |
1st Quarter
- NE – Brady 11 yard pass to Moss – kick good – Patriots 7-0
2nd Quarter
- NE – Brady 1 yard pass to Moss – kick good – Patriots 14-0
- NE- Maroney 59 yard run – kick good – Patriots 21-0
- NE – Brady 48 yard pass to Gaffney – kick good – Patriots 28-0
3rd Quarter
- MIA – Lemon 21 yard pass to Camarillo – kick good – Patriots 28-7
4th Quarter
- None
Offensive Player of the Game
Patriots running back Laurence Maroney had a career high 156 yards on 14 carries and a touchdown. He also set his career long twice first with a 51 yard carry and then again on the 59 yard touchdown run.
Defensive Player of the Game
Patriots linebacker Tedy Bruschi had 7 tackles and 2 assists.
Turning Point(s) of the Game
Third down conversion pass to Jabar Gaffney on opening drive for 1st down at MIA 18.
Laurence Maroney’s 51 yard run to get the ball deep into MIA territory and set up the second TD.
Offensive Leaders/Notes
In addition to Maroney, wide receivers Jabar Gaffney (82 yards and 1 TD), Randy Moss (50 yards and 2 TD’s) and Wes Welker (49 yards) all had five catches each.
Tom Brady threw 6 yards to Wes Welker on 1st down and then threw to 10 yards to Kevin Faulk for a 1st down. Two passes to Donte Stallworth one for 16 yards and a 1st down at the MIA 29. On next play Brady overthrew Randy Moss in the end zone. Brady throws to Jabar Gaffney on 3rd and 5 for a first down at MIA 18.
Brady gets sacked by Dolphins LB Joey Porter at MIA 22. Brady then runs for 11 yards on 2nd and 13. Brady throws 11 yards to Moss for a TD.
On second series 1st down Brady eluded a sack but threw incomplete. Faulk runs for 9 yards and then gets stopped short on 3rd down and Pats were forced to punt.
Maroney busted a 51-yard run to MIA 28 on 1st play of 3rd drive. It is a career long for him.
Brady over throws Stallworth at the goal line on 1st down from MIA 28. On 3rd and 5 Brady passes 9 yards to Gaffney for 1st down at MIA 14.
Brady throws to Moss in end zone and Dolphins DB Travis Daniels is called for pass interference in the end zone for 1st and goal at MIA 1. Brady throws 1 yard to Moss for a TD.
Brady eluded a sack attempt by Jason Taylor and gains 1 yard on 2nd and 2 to MIA 41.
On next play Maroney runs 59 yards untouched for a TD. This is now his career long run.
On 5th NE series Brady threw 10 yards to Moss for 1st down, Faulk runs for 8 yards and then Maroney gets dropped by Taylor for 2-yard loss. On 3rd and 4 Brady threw 14 yards to Gaffney for a 1st down at MIA 49.
After scrambling for a one-yard gain on 1st down Brady throws 48 yards to Gaffney for a TD that Dolphins DB Lance Schulters had go through his arms. This TD set the NFL record for most TD’s in a season with 71.
–halftime–
On 7th Pats drive Brady throws 4 yards to Welker it is his 100th catch of the year. On 3rd and 6 Brady goes back to Welker for 20 yard who ties the team receiving record with 101 catches.
Daniels gets flagged again for interference on Moss for 1st and 10 at MIA 31.
Brady tried to go to Moss in the end zone and Jason Allen intercepts the pass. It is Brady’s 7th INT of the year.
Brady eluded Taylor on 1st play of 8th drive and threw ball away.
Moss deflected a Brady pass and Derrick Pope intercepts it at NE 45. It is Brady’s 8th INT of the year and he was picked on consecutive drives.
Moss called for pass interference because of field position MIA declines.
3rd and 10 from NE 1 Brady over throws Stallworth at NE 20 and Pats were forced to punt.
Brady on second down goes to Moss for a 1st down at NE 38. Faulk ran for 5 yards and on 2nd and 5 Brady tries to go to the end zone for Moss. Brady gets sacked by Taylor and Patriots had to punt.
On 11th drive on 1st down Maroney runs for 13 yards and nearly runs down a MIA defender.
Maroney lost 4 yards when snuffed out by Taylor on 1st down. Brady threw to Moss to 16 yards and a 1st down at MIA 28. Brady throws incomplete to Gaffney, Maroney runs for 2 yards and on 3rd and 8 Faulk runs for 1 yard. 4th and 7 from MIA 26 Brady fumbles when stripped by Joey Porter and recovered by Courtney Bryan at MIA 28.
Patriots go 3 and out on their 12th drive.
Maroney has 2 runs for 12 yards getting a first down at MIA 45 on Pats 13th drive. Matt Gutierrez replaced Brady at 2-minute warning. Pats end up punting.
Defensive Leaders/Notes
In addition to Bruschi, linebacker Adalius Thomas had 6 tackles and 1 assist.
Patriots held Miami to a 3 and out on the first two series of the game.
Patriots S Rodney Harrison laid out Dolphins WR David Martin on a pass attempt downfield on Dolphins second series.
Patriots DL Ty Warren nearly sacked Dolphins QB Cleo Lemon on 1st play of 3rd series, Lemon ran for 3 yards. Lemon ran a sneak on 3rd and 1 for 1st down at MIA 30.
Dolphins converted on 3rd and 3 with 5-yard pass to TE Justin Peelle to MIA 42.
Patriots S James Sanders tuned up Martin when he had to leap for a high incomplete pass.
Lemon once again eluded a sack and gained 4 yards on 3rd and 10 but MIA had to punt.
Lemon threw 13 yards to WR Marty Booker on 1st play of 4th series for a 1st down at MIA 35.
Dolphins RB Jesse Chatman dropped for a loss of 1 yard. On 2nd and 11 Patriots DL Vince Wilfork tipped Lemon’s pass.
Patriots LB Mike Vrabel sacked Lemon for 4-yard loss and forced MIA punt.
On MIA 5th series Patriots LB Junior Seau and Dolphins Reagan Mauia nearly came to blows and had to be separated.
Patriots DL Jarvis Green sacked Lemon forcing 5th MIA punt.
After recovering the muffed punt Chatman got dropped for a 6-yard loss by Wilfork on 1st and 10.
Lemon eluded Harrison on a sack attempt and got chased to the sideline and threw into triple coverage on 3rd and 16. Dolphins were forced to punt.
On a 2nd down carry by Lorenzo Booker during 7th drive MIA got into NE territory for the 1st time with 2 minutes to play in first half.
Lemon threw 26 yards to Martin for 1st goal at NE 9. Lemon downs ball on 1st down and threw incomplete out of bounds on 2nd down. Lemon threw 5 yards to Camarillo on 3rd down. 4th and goal at NE 4 Patriots LB Tedy Bruschi knocked the pass down at the goal line and NE took over on downs.
–halftime–
Chatman gets a 22-yard catch and gets into with Adalius Thomas and the Pats bench. He then gets another 3-yard catch and starts jawing with Asante Samuel in front of the Miami bench. Samuel breaks up pass on 3rd and 7 and MIA had to punt.
On MIA 9th drive on 1st down at NE 45 Vrabel sacks Lemon for 5 yard loss. Chatman on 2nd and 15 runs for 17 yards and 1st down at NE 33. On 3rd and 4, after being chased by Thomas, Wilfork and Green, Lemon completes a pass for a 1st down at NE 20 to Lorenzo Booker.
Chatman runs for 10 yards giving Dolphins 1st and goal at NE 5. Samkon Gado runs to the NE 2 on 1st down. Peelle gets a 1 yard catch 3rd and goal at NE 1. Pass incomplete to Martin in end zone for 4th and goal. Lemon runs out of bounds shy of end zone and Patriots takeover on downs.
Booker runs for 22 yards to NE 31 brought down from behind by Thomas.
Lemon threw 7 yards to Booker on 2nd and 7 for 1st down at NE 21.
Lemon throws 21 yards to Greg Camarillo for a TD.
On 11th drive on 3rd and 6 Patriots DB Brandon Meriweather breaks up the pass and MIA goes 3 and out.
On 12th drive Richard Seymour sacks Lemon for an 8-yard loss on 1st down. Meriweather drills Ginn after a 10-yard gain on 2nd down. Lemon incomplete to Derek Hagan on 3rd and 8 and MIA went 3 and out.
On 13th drive Samuel gets called for pass interference on 3rd and 4 giving MIA a 1st and 10 at MIA 43. Warren sacks Lemon on 2nd and 10 for an 11-yard loss. Warren and Seau sack Lemon for 4-yard loss on 3rd down forcing a MIA punt.
Special Teams Leaders/Notes
Patriots punt returner Troy Brown had 55 yards on punt returns with a long of 28, he also muffed one punt.
Patriots KOR team held Ted Ginn to an 18-yard return to start the game
Patriots Troy Brown returned the first Dolphin punt 10 yards. It is his first play of the season.
Patriots K Stephen Gostkowski kicks ball out of bounds after the 1st NE TD giving MIA the ball on the MIA 40.
Patriots Heath Evans crushed Ginn on the KOR after the Maroney TD.
Brown had ball bounce off his facemask on 5th MIA punt and Dolphins recovered at MIA 45.
Welker returned punts after Brown muff.
–halftime–
Willie Andrews returns opening 2nd half KO 34 yards.
Brown back returning punts in 2nd half.
64 yard punt by NE from their own end zone with no return.
Ginn gets pasted by Brandon Meriweather on punt return and Ginn fumbles but Camarillo recovers at MIA 10
Brown had 4th quarter punt returns of 16 and 28 yards.
Coaching Decisions
- MIA – 4th and goal at NE 4 with 20 seconds left in 1st half, pass incomplete.
- MIA – 4th and goal at NE 1 in 3rd quarter, Lemon runs out of bounds shy of goal line.
- MIA – challenges referee’s decision saying Lemon was out of bounds. Upheld.
- NE – 4th and 7 at MIA 26 in 4th quarter, Brady fumbles recovered by MIA.
Injuries
- MIA – DL Jason Taylor walked off field with calf injury, returned – 1st qtr.
- NE – RB Kyle Eckel rib injury, he did not return – 2nd qtr.
The Officials
Ron Winter was the referee this afternoon. It is his 13th season as an official.
Officials missed an attempted spear by a Miami DB on Donte Stallworth on 1st Patriots series
Failed to flag Junior Seau and Reagan Mauia for nearly throwing punches in the second qtr.
Missed interference call in end zone in 4th quarter when Schulters knocked down Moss.
Awful call on the Samuel pass interference call in the 4th quarter.
Game Notes
The Patriots are the first team in NFL to start a season 15-0.Â
The Patriots finished 6-0 against AFC East teams for the first time in franchise history.
The 15 wins establishes a new single season high for the franchise and ties the NFL record for most wins in one season.
The win was the Patriots 18th consecutive regular season win dating back to last season. With the win they tie their own NFL record for most consecutive regular season wins.Â
The Patriots have outscored their opponents by a net total of 312 points this season (551 points scored, 239 points allowed). The point differential of +312 stands as the highest single-season total in NFL history, topping the +292 recorded by the 1942 Chicago Bears.
The Dolphins had the following players inactive for today’s game: S Tuff Harris, RB Patrick Cobbs, DT Anthony Bryant, T Julius Wilson, T Anthony Alabi, DE Rob Ninkovich, DT Paul Soliai and QB Casey Bramlet. The Patriots were without the following injured players: TE Kyle Brady (foot), C/G Billy Yates (foot), TE Ben Watson (ankle) and G Stephen Neal (shoulder). WR Chad Jackson, S Ray Ventrone, and LB Chad Brown were inactive for the game.
WR Troy Brown was active for the first time this season. Dolphins DE Jason Taylor was active for the game as well after being listed as a possible scratch late in the week with a foot injury.
Taylor set a Dolphins team record by playing in his 129 consecutive game.
The Patriots signed safety Ray Ventrone off the practice squad. To make room for him on the 53-man roster cornerback Eddie Jackson was released. Safety Rashad Baker was also waived this week and his roster spot was taken by newly signed nose tackle Rashad Moore.
Patriots safety/special teamer Mel Mitchell was fined $5,000 by the NFL this week for a horsecollar tackle he made in last week’s game on New York Jets’ kick returner Leon Washington.
Members of the Boston Red Sox, the 2007 World Series Champions, were pregame guests of the Patriots organization. Representing the Sox were Curt Schilling, David Ortiz, Kevin Youkilis and owner John Henry.
Patriots running back Laurence Maroney is only the second player to have two runs of 50+ yards in the same game this season. The other is Minnesota rookie Adrian Peterson.
The Patriots have scored on their first possession in 12 of their15 games.
The Patriots have scored first in 13 of 15 games this season.
The Patriots are 40/41 this season in red zone scoring opportunities. Their only red zone failure was a missed Stephen Gostkowski field goal.
The Patriots are 14/20 in 4th down conversions this season.
Tom Brady has 48 TD passes just 1 from Peyton Manning’s record of 49.
Patriots wide receiver Randy Moss has 21 TD’s this year which gives him the single season franchise record. He is 1 TD shy of Jerry Rice’ NFL mark by a wide receiver of 22 in a season.
The Patriots tied the NFL record for most TD’s in a season with 70 on Maroney’s 59-yard romp. They then set the NFL record on a 48-yard TD pass from Brady to Gaffney.
They need 6 points to set the all-time record for most points in a season.
This was Dolphins QB Cleo Lemon’s 6th career start he is 1-5.
Patriots WR Wes Welker tied Troy Brown’s franchise record with 101 catches on the season.
The Patriots had four turnovers and no take away’s. They are now +15 on the year.
Miami punted 10 times today, while the Patriots punted 5 times.
Post Game Press Conferences
See what Patriots head coach Bill Belichick and quarterback Tom Brady had to say about the game.
Post game press conferences via patriots.com
Things To Work On For Next Week
Getting the offense untracked, they were absolutely awful in the second half and if they were playing a better team they may have well lost this game. Preventing turnovers.
Next Week’s Opponent
The Patriots travel to New Jersey to face the New York Giants at the Meadowlands on Saturday night at 8 p.m.
