5 things we learned from yesterday’s game

James has a monster game

Most of the attention goes to left tackle Laremy Tunsil, who is having a season worthy of Pro Bowl consideration, but his counterpart right tackle Ja’Wuan James has had a solid season as well. James put together one of his best performances against the Patriots, burrowing open large running lanes for Miami’s dominant rushing game on Sunday (189 yards on 21 carries). This type of performance should help James, an impending free agent, land a substantial deal this offseason in free agency.

Dolphins only trail sixth playoff spot by a tiebreaker

The Baltimore Ravens, who lost in Kansas City, lead the group of four teams (five if Denver won Sunday night) at 7-6, owning a common-games win-percentage tiebreaker over the Dolphins. Miami is helped by having only four losses in AFC games. Baltimore is also at four conference losses, while Indianapolis, Tennessee and Denver each have more than four such defeats. Baltimore plays at home against Tampa Bay next week and then finishes at the Los Angeles Chargers and then the resurgent Browns in Baltimore. If the Dolphins find a way in Minnesota next week, they would then probably be favored to get into the playoffs.

Stills a factor in offense again

Since being frozen out of the Dolphins offense during backup quarterback Brock Osweiler’s time as the starter earlier this season, Kenny Stills has emerged as the passing game’s top playmaker since Ryan Tannehill’s return. Against the Patriots, Stills caught eight passes for 135 yards and scored his sixth touchdown of the season. It was Stills’ first 100-yard receiving performance since he caught four passes for 106 yards and two touchdowns in the season opener against Tennessee. But the biggest play Stills made was the catch and lateral he threw that produced Kenyan Drake’s game-winning touchdown.

Surviving a punt meltdown

Since the season opener, the one unit that has been justly immune from criticism has been Darren Rizzi’s special teams. However, Rizzi’s crew, and longtime long snapper John Denney in particular, had a forgettable day, with Pats linebacker Albert McClellan racing past Denney’s right shoulder twice to block two first-half Matt Haack punts (one statistically isn’t termed a block because it went 2 yards downfield). The blocks set up the Patriots at the Dolphins’ 18 and 15.

Hall of Fame worthy milestone

Dolphins running back Frank Gore, who gained 92 rushing yards on 12 carries and caught one pass for 24 yards, surpassed LaDainian Tomlinson for fifth place in NFL history in career scrimmage yards.