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DAVIE – After the first blowout loss of the season where the Miami Dolphins were nearly held scoreless, coach Adam Gase is now tasked with finding a way to get his offense to overcome a defensive game plan other teams may try to replicate the rest of the season.
The Dolphins may still be in first place in the AFC East, but they will need to fix their offensive issues in a hurry with games in the next two weeks against division leaders, with their Week 5 matchup in Cincinnati (3-1) on Sunday up next.
“I think it was just a combination of what they were doing, we didn’t execute right [and] we probably missed a couple of opportunities,” Gase said on Monday, recapping the 38-7 loss to the Patriots.
“Nothing went right. Nothing we did was good. It just was not a good game.”
Quarterback Ryan Tannehill opened the game with a 22-yard pass to receiver Kenny Stills, but finished completing
just 11-of-20 passes for 100 yards, with an interception and a quarterback rating of just 47.9.
The Dolphins were plagued by a number of issues in their first loss including: receivers unable to get open due to press coverage, costly penalties and injuries on the offensive line, a stagnant rushing attack for the second week in a row, and mainly, one of the worst third-down conversion rates in the NFL, limiting opportunities.
“We went out there expecting to win. We tried to win the whole game,” said former Patriots receiver Danny Amendola. “We tried to score every time we got the ball, and it didn’t happen for one reason or another. We have to get better this week.
The Dolphins were 1 of 9 on third down before their final drive where they converted on two third-down plays with backup Brock Osweiler in the game to relieve Tannehill.
Running back Frank Gore scored his first touchdown of the season as a result of the drive.
The Dolphins first thirddown conversion came on a run by Kenyan Drake on third-and-1 as the first half ended. They finished 3 of 11 on third down, and faced situations of third-and-long (typically 6 yards or longer) on eight of those plays.
Five third-downs plays were more than 10 yards from a first down, with four of those situations as a result of a penalty on an earlier down.
“When our only thirdand-short is the last play of the half, that’s not good,” Gase said.
“The last two games have been not as good as what we need on first and second down to where we’re putting ourselves in position for third-and-short.”
To make matters worse, the Dolphins defense allowed the Patriots to convert on 10 of 15 of their third-down plays, keeping their defense and quarterback Tom Brady’s offense on the field during the rout.
Also, the Dolphins were gashed by Patriots running backs Sony Michel and James White. Michel, a rookie who played at American Heritage Plantation, ran for 112 yards and his first career touchdown, while White, a St. Thomas Aquinas alum, scored a rushing and receiving touchdown.
Conversely, the Dolphins’ rushing attack was abysmal.
Gore finished with 11 carries for 41 yards mostly in the game’s final drive.
But Drake, the starter, had just 3 rushing yards for the second consecutive week, and has only eight carries in the last two games. Drake declined to talk to reporters on Sunday and Monday.
Against the Raiders last week, Gore and Drake had 11 carries for 15 yards.
“It’s going to be our job to find a rhythm and not put ourselves in a bad position behind the chains,” said right tackle Ja’Wuan James.
“We can’t get behind the sticks early on first down where you force yourself to have [to] pass because of the penalties in those situations. If we can stay ahead of the sticks, and get a rhythm and get on schedule, we can get those runs in.”
The Dolphins offensive line lost two starters during the game as James, who did not want to share his injury, left the game in the second half, and center Daniel Kilgore tore a triceps muscle in the first half and is done for the season, according to a league source.
Miami was forced to replace Kilgore with Travis Swanson, whose poor snap to start a Dolphins drive resulted in a turnover and White’s 22-yard rushing touchdown on the ensuing play that gave the Patriots a 17-0 lead in the second quarter.
Backup offensive lineman Sam Young, who lined up at tight end for a few plays in the first half, finished the game for James at right tackle.
And, the Dolphins played without their best receiver who can create separation in DeVante Parker after he suffered a quadriceps injury in practice last Friday.
Wilson, who accounted for two touchdowns last week and had just four catches for 19 yards against the Patriots, said the Dolphins need to do a better job of getting in manageable situations without penalties moving forward.
Still, losing to a division rival in blowout fashion leaves a mark.
“You’re as good as your last game,” Wilson said. “We took a big L. We all have to play better.”