Reception rude for old mates
Rough day as Bolden, Amendola back ‘home’
PATRIOTS NOTEBOOK
FOXBORO — Danny Amendola and Brandon Bolden returned to Gillette Stadium with hopes of creating a three-game cushion in the AFC East.
They left with about as ugly a loss as they’ll have this season.
Amendola, who caught two passes for 21 yards against his old team, tried to keep it positive after Miami’s 38-7 defeat.
“They’re a good team and we didn’t play well enough to beat them,” Amendola said. “So that’s it.”
Amendola didn’t seem interested in getting sentimental about his return to Gillette Stadium, which he called home from 2013-17.
“I’m excited to be at every NFL stadium that I play in,” Amendola said, “because I love playing football, and this is a great experience.”
Bolden, one of the Dolphins’ top special teams players, took a similar approach.
“No, I didn’t find it difficult to play here,” Bolden said. “I’ve lost games here and I’ve won games here. So to answer the question, we came in trying to win every game. We just didn’t win (yesterday).”
Amendola and Bolden hung around on the field after the loss to catch up with their former Patriots teammates.
“You build such a strong relationship with guys like that,” said Patriots safety Duron Harmon. “Obviously it goes past football. To see them — not as long as you’d want, obviously — but you can see them and talk to them and ask about the family. It just brings good vibes and memories back.”
The two teams will meet again in Week 14. The Patriots have historically dominated the Dolphins at Gillette Stadium, winning seven straight games by an average score of 34-12. They haven’t been so successful at Hard Rock Stadium, though, dropping four of their past six matchups.
Cuts and bruises
Rob Gronkowski exited with an ankle injury and did not return.
Gronkowski, who was limited with the ankle issue throughout the week, was examined on the bench by medical staff late in the third quarter. He eventually left for the locker room.
The Patriots were ahead 31-0 at the time, so it’s possible that Gronkowski was held out because the game was no longer competitive.
Gronkowski’s status could be in question for Thursday night’s game with the Colts.
Two Patriots defenders suffered injuries late in the game and did not return. Linebacker Elandon Roberts said he was “all good” afterward, but was limping badly in the locker room. Defensive tackle Adam Butler also suffered an apparent leg injury. Butler said he was OK.
Rookie emergence
Patriots undrafted rookie cornerback J.C. Jackson knew the Dolphins would test him.
In the days leading up to the game, Jackson said he “loved” that opposing quarterbacks will be eager to throw the ball in his direction.
“That just makes an opportunity for me to make plays, show the coaches I can ball,” Jackson said.
That’s precisely what happened midway through the third quarter.
Miami quarterback Ryan Tannehill lobbed a deep ball for Albert Wilson down the right sideline, and Jackson, who flashed terrific ball skills throughout the summer, ran stride for stride with Wilson and pulled down the interception.
“He’s been picking those 9 balls off since he’s been here,” Harmon said. “He plays that 9 (fly route) as well as anybody I’ve seen. He’s just a young guy, getting ready, making the most of his opportunities, and we’re just proud of him.”
With Eric Rowe out, Jason McCourty started the game at No. 2 cornerback. The Pats mixed in Jackson throughout the afternoon.
Roster report
The Pats were without Rowe (groin), tight end Jacob Hollister (chest), defensive end Keionta Davis, defensive end Derek Rivers, offensive tackle Cole Croston, guard Ted Karras and defensive end Geneo Grissom.
The latter five were healthy scratches.
The recently signed John Simon, formerly of the Texans and Colts, made his Patriots debut at defensive end. Simon recorded one of the Patriots’ two sacks on Tannehill.
Short week
The Patriots now turn the page to the Colts, who dropped a 37-34 decision in overtime versus the Texans yesterday.
“It’s a team we don’t know very well at all,” Belichick said. “They have a lot of new players. This is a new coaching staff with a lot of new players from the last time we played them. … That’ll be a big challenge for all of us.”
The Patriots and Colts last met in 2015.