The Miami Dolphins surrendered an interception and a blocked punt. They missed a field goal, saw a center snap soar over their QB’s head for a 28-yard loss on third-and-three from the New England 25, false-started on a field-goal try then saw the center dribble home the snap after the penalty, and had their lead back, De’Von Achane leave the game for good with a concussion after just three carries.
All that calamity happened in the first half!
And yet, the New England Patriots could not find a way to win Sunday on their home field. It was not pretty, once again at Gillette Stadium, yet another enforcement of how sad this roster is.
Apparently, coach Jerod Mayo agrees, as the final line of his opening postgame statement would indicate:
“We’ve just got to put a better team out there.”
It has taken five games, but at least he now realizes it.
Wild and wooly AFC East
Backers of the worst division in football — yes, it’s the AFC East — had an absolutely abysmal Sunday that started early, across the pond in England.
First, the Jets spotted old friend Sam Darnold and the Vikings a 17-0 lead, clawed back into it, only to melt down the stretch, falling 23-17 on Aaron Rodgers’ third interception of the game.
My favorite part of that one? Midway through the fourth, with the Jets down 10 and the clock running, they were flagged for a delay of game. The team needing every second took too long to snap the football.
Brilliant!
The Patriots and Dolphins then set the sport back a bit with their exhibition of ineptitude, only to be outdone by the Bills and coach Sean McDermott, whose calling card of inventing new ways to lose came to fruition in Houston, thanks to some ludicrous late play-calling/clock management.
Josh Allen should demand a trade out of this division. He does not belong in this morass of incompetence.
Future watch
As we’ve stated seemingly 5,428 times in the past couple months, 2024 has nothing to do with wins and losses.
It’s all about finding players.
If you are taking stock on the young crowd, it was a good day for receivers Kayshon Boutte and DeMario Douglas, and a bad one for Ja’Lynn Polk. Rookie receiver Javon Baker, who was inactive, gets his fifth straight incomplete. …
The offensive line was marginally better than it has been, which is not saying much. To say that right guard Mike Onwenu is the only one of the starting five with any part of the future here is an absolute truth. …
Rhamondre Stevenson did not start and did not fumble, scoring a TD, but he’s a known commodity. …
Defensively, free agent-to-be Daniel Ekuale was the most active player in a front seven that allowed Miami 193 rushing yards on the day.
Christian Gonzalez, the second-year corner and cornerstone of the defense for years to come, was the best player on the defense.
Burning up the ‘Stupid-o-meter’
In a game like Sunday, where the teams combined for 18 accepted penalties (159 yards) – and trust me the officials let a bundle go – it’s easy to find fault for dumb play, or ill-advised play.
Two pivotal things can’t happen, yet did to your Patriots on Sunday.
The first was Keion White not realizing he didn’t belong on the punt return team on a Dolphins’ fourth-and-1 from their own 31, costing the Patriots a 12-men on the field penalty and giving Miami a free first down.
Someone needs to be able to count to 11.
The other was the pass interference penalty on linebacker Christian Elliss on third-and-13 that led to Miami’s fourth-quarter, game-winning TD.
It was third-and-13. The pass was a five-yard checkdown. Just let him catch it! Nope. Ellis clobbered the running back before the ball arrived. First down, Miami.
Mistakes happen. Stupid mistakes aren’t allowed to happen.