Improvement seen, score still ugly
PATRIOTS 43, DOLPHINS 0
MIAMI GARDENS — Well, it was an improvement.
The Miami Dolphins attempted to rebound from one of the worst losses in their 53-year franchise history and stayed in contention against the defending Super Bowl champions for much of Sunday’s second game of the season.
That was until the Dolphins allowed two pick-6s in a span of two minutes in the fourth quarter. And until quarterback Josh Rosen nearly endured a gruesome left leg injury in relief of Ryan Fitzpatrick before re-entering the game on the very next play.
“We were there for half, maybe two and a half quarters, and then we just couldn’t get anything going offensively,” first-year head coach Brian Flores said following the Dolphins’ 43-0 defeat to the New England Patriots at Hard Rock Stadium.
The Dolphins defense looked competent, well-coached and engaged during much of the game unlike they did in their season-opening debacle a week ago against the Baltimore Ravens.
If only the Dolphins offense received the memo, before it all broke loose in the final quarter.
Fitzpatrick, Miami’s makeshift offensive line and the Dolphins offense were anemic with Rosen sitting on the bench until the game became a blowout.
Rosen entered into the game to get some work with the offense, and he was hit repeatedly by the Patriots defense. But the Dolphins avoided a major scare when Rosen’s left leg was rolled upon after scrambling toward the right sideline.
Rosen fell to the field as he tried to run off the injury. After receiving some attention by medical personnel, Rosen jogged toward the Dolphins sideline. When Fitzpatrick entered the game to take a snap, the Dolphins called a timeout to get Rosen back in.
“I scrambled out a little bit and took a couple, too many split seconds before I stepped out of bounds, and my foot got kind of caught in that little tarp area. It was dumb by me,” said Rosen, who finished 7 of 18 for 97 yards.
“I have to understand when the down is over and move onto the next one. The trainers told me to stay down. I was trying to get up. But, I don’t know I just listened to them and came back in the next play.”
After the game, Flores said Fitzpatrick would remain Miami’s starter ahead of Rosen.
Long before Rosen entered the game, the Dolphins trailed by just 23 points heading into the fourth quarter. That total ballooned to the final score in short order.
Fitzpatrick tried to find DeVante Parker for a short dump pass. Instead, it was taken 54 yards into the other end zone by Patriots cornerback Stephon Gilmore with 10:45 left in the final quarter.
Then, Fitzpatrick found Kalen Ballage on the left side for a completion the Dolphins new starting running back bobbled, falling into the hands of Patriots linebacker Jamie Collins Sr., who took it 69 yards in the other direction less than 2 minutes later.
The Dolphins avoided the Rosen injury, but they could not avoid another beatdown in Flores’ second game, and his first against his former team.
Miami has been outscored 109-10 to begin the Flores era.
The Dolphins have lost two straight home games by more than 40 points. They did that just once in franchise history before this season started.
“It’s a tough way to start a year with the two losses back-to-back at home like they were. They’re not the way we envisioned it going, but nothing to do but to go back to work and try to get better,” said Fitzpatrick, who completed 11-of-21 passes for 89 yards.
Added starting left tackle Jesse Davis: “We have to step our level up because what we’re doing right now isn’t working.”
Fitzpatrick threw three interceptions. Rosen threw one on the final play of the game.
Fitzpatrick was sacked four times. Rosen was sacked three times in the final minutes of the game.
The Dolphins had seven first downs, barely eclipsing their franchise worst of six in a game.
The time of possession was so lopsided in New England’s favor (36:30 to 23:30) that Miami’s defense endured 65 plays of Patriots offense in the South Florida heat before the Dolphins offense closed the gap on that number in the fourth quarter.
It was Miami’s first time being shutout since going scoreless at Baltimore on Oct. 26, 2017.
This, mind you, follows the season opener where the defense gave up the most points ever allowed in a home game and most yards allowed in any game in franchise history.
The Dolphins offense clearly needs drastic improvement, as the defense showed some signs of it their second game of the season.
Miami gave up only three touchdowns to the New England offense. They gave up six total to New England. Still, it was two shy of the eight touchdowns last week by the Ravens, tying a franchise record for most total touchdowns surrendered in a game.
The Dolphins entered the locker room at halftime trailing only by 13 points, instead of 32 like they did last week.
The largest deficit they trailed by was six points fewer than the 49-point loss they suffered in the opener.
But the result was still the same Miami like it was a week ago.
“We still have to keep our head strong and get better each week,” standout cornerback Xavien Howard said. “I feel like we did way better than we did last week. We have to keep improving each week, and hopefully we can turn this thing around.”
Embattled Patriots receiver Antonio Brown scored a 20-yard touchdown in his team debut, South Florida running backs Sony Michel and James White scored touchdowns, and Tom Brady scored on a quarterback sneak to lead the Patriots to the victory.
New England won its second game against Miami at Hard Rock Stadium in its past seven tries, and first since 2016.
The Dolphins travel to play the Dallas Cowboys next Sunday in Week 3, hoping for their elusive first win of the season. for