The Result
The New England Patriots went into their personal aquarium of horrors on Sunday afternoon and totally dismantled a severely outmatched Miami Dolphins team, 49-28, to improve to 7-0 on the season.
The only thing that could have saved the Dolphins from this beating was Ace Ventura, Pet Detective. Tom Brady threw for 6 touchdown passes going long twice to a leaping Randy Moss, twice to Wes Welker and once each to Donte` Stallworth and Kyle Brady.
The Patriots even had a 77 yard kick off return for a touchdown by Willie Andrews that answered Miami’s first score.
The defense forced a pair of turnovers by Cleo Lemon a 1st quarter fumble and a 3rd quarter interception.
Scoring Plays
| New England | 14 | 28 | 0 | 7 | 49 |
| Miami | 0 | 7 | 0 | 21 | 28 |
1st Quarter
- NE – Brady 30 yard TD pass to Stallworth – kick good – 7-0 Patriots
- NE – Brady 3 yard TD to Brady – kick good – 14-0 Patriots
2nd Quarter
- MIA – Lemon 5 yard run – kick good – 14-7 Patriots
- NE – Andrews 77 yard kick return – kick good – 21-7 Patriots
- NE – Brady 35 yard TD pass to Moss – kick good – 28-7 Patriots
- NE – Brady 50 yard TD pass to Moss – kick good – 35-7 Patriots
- NE – Brady 14 yard TD pass to Welker – kick good – 42-7 Patriots
3rd Quarter
- None
4th Quarter
- MIA – Cobbs 2 yard run – kick good – 42-14 Patriots
- MIA – Taylor 36 yard interception return – kick good – 42-21 Patriots
- NE – Brady 16 yard TD pass to Welker – kick good – 49-21 Patriots
- MIA – Chatman 7 yard run – kick good – 49-28 Patriots
Offensive Player of the Game
Tom Brady completed 21 of 25 passes for 354 yards with 6 TD’s and 0 INT’s.
Defensive Player of the Game
Tedy Bruschi had 12 tackles to lead the team.
Turning Point(s) of the Game
Patriots answer Miami’s first TD with a 77 yard TD on a kick off return.
Offensive Leaders/Notes
In addition to Brady, Wes Welker had 9 catches for 138 yards and 2 TD’s and Randy Moss had 4 catches for 122 yards and 2 TD’s.
Laurence Maroney looked good on the first drive after not seeing any game action in three weeks but only carried the ball 6 times in the game.
Donte` Stallworth bounced off three Dolphin defenders going 30 yards for the first TD of the game.
The Patriots used three different running backs in the first two drives Maroney, Kevin Faulk and Heath Evans.
After not having a TD catch in two seasons Kyle Brady now has TD catches in consecutive weeks.
Former Dolphin WR Wes Welker went 36 yards for a 1st down in the second quarter.
Randy Moss made a great leaping catch over two Dolphins defenders for a 35-yard TD catch in the second quarter.
Former Dolphin RB Evans grabbed 29 yards on a second quarter screen pass.
Moss made his second TD catch in double coverage just like the first when he out jumped two defenders.
Brady tried to pull a Dan Marino in the final seconds of the half but Moss was out of bounds despite the one handed catch.
Matt Cassel was intercepted on his first drive by Jason Taylor who returned it for a TD.
Upon Brady’s return to the game he led the Patriots on yet another scoring drive.
Brady was pulled in the fourth quarter in favor of his backup, Matt Cassel. Brady returned to the game after the interception return for the TD.
Matt Gutierrez the Patriots third string quarterback finished up the game. Brady was seen hitting on cheerleaders, while Cassel was seen learning how to look off receivers.
Defensive Leaders/Notes
In addition to Bruschi, Rodney Harrison had 8 tackles and a sack.
On 3rd and 8 Patriots force Lemon to fumble on the Dolphins first drive, Ty Warren recovered the ball at the Miami 28. This lead to the second Patriots score.
Patriots fail to stop Ronnie Brown on 4th and 1 in 1st quarter and he goes 19 yards for the first down. That led to the Dolphins first score.
Defense looked totally confused on Lemon’s TD run.
Since the Lemon TD run the Pats have forced the Dolphins to punt on both successive drives.
Nice pass break up in the end zone by Asante Samuel in 3rd quarter.
Randall Gay intercepted Lemon in the end zone to end the Dolphins first second half drive. He had a good return almost to midfield but he lost most of the return yards when it was called back on a flag.
Rodney Harrison sacked Lemon late in the fourth quarter he now has 30.5 in his career more than any other defensive back in NFL history.
Poor tackling in the final minute on the run by Chatman.
Junior Seau ended the game with a sack of Lemon.
Special Teams Leaders/Notes
Willie Andrews gets a special mention as special teams player of the game.
In an attempt to kick away from Ellis Hobbs, Jay Feely kicks it to the sideline where Andrews goes 77 yards for the Patriots second kick off return TD of the season.
Andrews pins Miami at their two yard line on a second quarter punt.
Hobbs nearly broke a kick off return in the 4th quarter returning it nearly 50 yards before he was tripped up from behind.
Coaching Decisions
Miami decides to go for it on 4th and 1 in 1st quarter. Ronnie Brow had a big gain for the 1st down.
Miami tries to kick away from Hobbs and Andrews scorches them for a return TD.
Miami decides to go for it on 4th and 3 on their first 3rd quarter drive. Lemon goes 5 yards to Marty Booker for the first down.
After Jason Taylor’s interception return for a TD off of a Matt Cassel pass, Bill Belichick decided to put Brady back in the game despite a 21 point lead.
Miami went for it on 4th and 11 and despite the vicious hit Darren Hagen took he picked up the first down.
Injuries
- Renaldo Hill (MIA) hyper extended his knee on second Moss TD, did not return – 2nd Qtr
- Ronnie Brown (MIA) leg injury, will not return – 3rd Qtr
- Jessie Chatman (MIA) ankle injury, returned – 4th Qtr
The Officials
Pete Morelli was the referee. There were no calls of significance.
Game Notes
Dolphins placed quarterback Trent Green on the IR Saturday ending his season after he suffered his second concussion in 13 months two weeks ago v. Houston.
Patriots running back Laurence Maroney played today for the first time since Week 3 when he suffered a groin injury in the Buffalo game.
Patriots tight end Ben Watson was out with an ankle injury he suffered last week in Dallas, running back Sammy Morris was also out with a chest injury.
Kyle Brady started in place of Watson at tight end.
Miami being the home team chose to wear their road whites as the temperature was 86 degrees at kick off (heat index of 95). This is the Patriots fourth road game this year and they have worn their road jersey just one time (Cincinnati).
Cam Cameron is only the 7th head coach in Dolphins history.
The Patriots have scored on their first drive in all seven games (5 TD’s, 2 FG’s).
This was the 3rd NFL start for Dolphins QB Cleo Lemon.
Dolphins RB Ronnie Brown came in with 4 consecutive 100-yard games.
Neither quarterback threw an incomplete pass in the first quarter. Brady was 7/7, Lemon was 5/5.
Randy Moss got his 10th TD catch of the year, it is the most in his career through 7 games and he is tied for second most in a season in Patriots history.
Tom Brady has now thrown at least 3 TD passes in all seven games.
Miami LB Joey Porter sacked Brady in the second quarter it was only the 7th sack the Patriots have given up.
Brady has 27 TD passes through 7 games he had 24 all of last season. His career high is 28 which he did twice in 2002 and 2004.
Patriots fans have taken the cue from Red Sox fans and have taken over Dolphins Stadium. And there were still plenty of empty seats.
This was the Patriots 8th straight game with 34 or more points. 7 this season and last seasons AFC championship game.
The Dolphins became just the second team this season to hold the Patriots scoreless in a quarter with a scoreless third quarter. The Cleveland Browns were the other team.
Post Game Press Conferences
Listen to what Patriots head coach Bill Belichick and quarterback Tom Brady had to say about the game. Check this link because at time of publication the press sessions were not posted.
Post game press conferences are via patriots.com
Things To Work On For Next Week
Run defense. No matter who the Dolphins put in the backfield the Patriots couldn’t stop them. It seems to be a recurring problem for most of the season.
Fourth down conversions, Miami was 3 for 3 with all three gaining significant yardage.
Next Week’s Opponent
The Patriots host the Washington Redskins next Sunday at 4:15 p.m. at Gillette Stadium in Foxboro MA. The game will be televised by FOX and can be heard along the Patriots Rock Radio Network.
