Dolphins play poorly again and fall 35-17 to Patriots.

Dolphins struggle in all phases in 35-17 loss to Patriots

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — Gillette Stadium is typically where Miami Dolphins’ seasons — and hope — get buried, and Sunday’s beatdown by the New England Patriots was no exception.

The Dolphins (4-7) struggled in every facet of the game Sunday, losing, 35-17, to a Patriots (9-2) team that accumulated 417 total yards, triggering Miami’s fifth straight loss.

As a testament to how one-sided Sunday’s game was, New England punted for the first time with 5:13 left in the third quarter.

The win extended New England’s winning streak to seven consecutive games, and the way the Patriots have been rolling it is quite possible that Bill Belichick’s team might not lose another game in 2017 considering four of their final five games are against AFC East opponents, which includes a rematch between these two teams in a Dec. 11 game that will be played inside Hard Rock Stadium on Monday Night Football.

The Dolphins better hope they get healthier, and their coaches find some answers for the team’s struggling offense, defense and special teams units by then.

So far none of the proposed solutions have been working.

"Sometimes you have to look at yourself in the mirror, man to man and tell the truth," Dolphins safety Michael Thomas said.

The mirror is showing the Dolphins are an ugly football team.

Miami played the Patriots with Matt Moore, a 10-year veteran, making his 31st NFL start because of the concussion Jay Cutler suffered in last week’s loss to Tampa Bay, and even though Moore had a hot hand coming into Sunday’s game he was extremely ineffective — and poorly protected — against the Patriots, who sacked him seven times, and intercepted two of his 34 passes.

“Two losses,” Moore said when asked about his two starts caused by Cutler’s injuries this season. “You want to go out and play well for yourself, play well for your teammates and you want to win and we haven’t done that.

“It’s hard. It’s an emotional game. Guys take it to heart when you put so much into it and you don’t get what you want out of it.”

The Dolphins’ offense, which was suffocated by lackluster play from the offensive line, produced 221 total yards. The most troublesome aspect of the game — outside of the constant pressure placed on Moore — was the two first-half drives that stalled in the red zone.

On the first, the Dolphins squandered a scoring opportunity as Miami failed to gain a yards on three consecutive passes, leading to a 28-yard Cody Parkey field goal.

And on the second one, a short pass intended for receiver DeVante Parker was picked off inside the end zone by Patriots cornerback Stephon Gilmore, preventing the Dolphins from closing the 21-10 halftime deficit.

Miami’s first score of the game was produced by a Tom Brady fumble that safety Reshad Jones picked up and returned 14-yards for a touchdown. That was Jones’ second score of the season, and the fifth of his career.

Miami scored another touchdown early in the fourth quarter when tailback Kenyan Drake scored on a 8-yard reception, capping an 8-play, 73-yard drive. But that was the only time Miami’s offense seemed effective all game.

Drake was the only healthy tailback left at that point because Damien Williams, who has served as Miami’s starting tailback since the Dolphins traded Jay Ajayi to the Philadelphia Eagles for a fourth-round pick four weeks ago, suffered what appeared to be a serious shoulder injury.

Senorise Perry, the Dolphins third tailback, was also diagnosed with a concussion in the third quarter.

If Williams’ shoulder injury is seasonending, and Perry isn’t cleared to play in next Sunday’s game against the Denver Broncos, the Dolphins will likely have add another tailback to the roster.

Miami has three home games remaining in December, and must win all five to produce a second-consecutive winning season.

Another loss would ensure that the Dolphins have just two winning seasons this past decade.

“Right now we just have to worry about winning one game,” said coach Adam Gase.

“It’s hard . ... Guys take it to heart when you put so much into it and you don’t get what you want out of it.” Matt Moore, Dolphins quarterback

JIM RASSOL/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER Miami Dolphins quarterback Matt Moore (8) is sacked by New England defensive end Trey Flowers (98) and linebacker Marquis Flowers (59), one of seven sacks the Patriots had on the day in Foxborough.

PHOTOS BY JIM RASSOL/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski falls on the goal line for a touchdown in the first quarter, again forcing the Dolphins to play from behind in a game.

New England Patriots running back James White (28) breaks free for a big gain up the middle on the Dolphins defense. The Patriots had a 196 yards rushing on the day.