NFL Week 8: Snapshot analysis of Patriots’ win over Dolphins

As the clocks fell behind Sunday, so did the New England Patriots.

But head coach Mike Vrabel’s team came from a 10-point deficit to a 24-19 victory over the Miami Dolphins at Hard Rock Stadium.

Here’s a look back at the 4:25 p.m. ET kickoff as the 2025 AFC East winners enter November with a 5-3 record.

Maye scores three touchdowns after halftime

Drake Maye threw for 14 touchdowns during the month of October. The efficiency continued as the calendar turned.

The Patriots quarterback completed 16 of 20 throws for 199 yards with two touchdowns and no turnovers in Miami Gardens. He added his third rushing touchdown of the season with a passer rating of 141.5.

Starting in “12” with heavy rain and thunderstorms forecast, New England’s first drive in eight plays and 35 yards ended in a field goal. An Efton Chism III fumble followed on the second snap of the second series, however, with a punch from linebacker Jacob Rodriguez setting the table for a 3-3 game. And on the third series, a third sack by an old friend sent the punt unit packing.

Trailing 6-3, Maye escaped the pressure and kept his eyes downfield to hit the wide receiver who had already fumbled. But that fourth-and-4 conversion didn’t give way to a tie game. The deficit instead expanded to 13-3.

By halftime at Hard Rock Stadium, Maye had completed 7 of 10 passes with just 53 scoreless yards through the air. Coming out of there, the Patriots went from punting to contesting what became a pinpoint 43-yard touchdown pass to speedster Kyle Williams. There was no more sleepwalking from that point on. The gap was reduced to 13-10 against a young Dolphins defense which just won its first victory of the fall. New England then took the lead on the heels of a fourth-and-2 effort from slot target DeMario Douglas, as a speed option brought Maye into the end zone to close out the third quarter at 17-13.

The ball soon returned to Douglas as well. As the New England QB tested the width of the field, the Liberty product did the same en route to 48 yards and his fourth touchdown of the campaign for a new career high.

Maye didn’t have a pass on the grass in the second half until 4:20 remained in regulation when three straight drives hit the dirt. Offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels’ group finished 6 of 14 on third down, 2 of 2 on fourth down and 1 of 2 in the red zone.

Bottom of No. 1, Patriots’ motley crew of receivers catches all nine targets

The Patriots demoted AJ Brown on the eve of the divisional meet after June’s trade acquisition back-to-back workouts with a knee issue as well as a sprained ankle that previously sent him to injured reserve in September.

In the absence of No. 1, as well as fellow veterans Mack Hollins and Romeo Doubs, the wide receiver room included three members of the 53-man roster and a former Dolphin listed as standard elevation. Two receptions were recorded by the depth chart in the first half. Only, it didn’t hold.

A motley crew of Chism, Williams and Douglas together caught all nine passes and sent their way 156 yards and two sprints to the end zone. Rounding out the position is Ryan Miller, who entered Miami fifth on Sunday in receiving yards despite being on New England’s practice squad.

But attrition persisted on a Sunday that saw rookies Eli Raridon and Tanner Arkin start and false start at tight end. Captain Hunter Henry went to the locker room before intermission and ultimately went from questionable to out with a foot injury.

Change of left guard

New England’s offensive line has given up a total of two sacks in the previous two games. This was the case despite Alijah Vera-Tucker landing on injured reserve with a hamstring injury and despite Ben Brown also missing time with a knee injury.

But the latter returned to left guard for the second half of a soggy Sunday.

That’s after the starting five began with a resumption of trades from the NFL’s 53-man roster deadline along the interior. The combination included Will Campbell at left tackle, Walter Rouse at left guard, Matt Pryor at right guard and Morgan Moses at right tackle. And Jared Wilson, who made a fumble throw to the QB on third down, was in the middle of things under center.

Three bags were dropped. Former Patriot Joshua Uche struck for the first time with a simulated pressure and stunt. Fellow Dolphins Chop Robinson added two more entering and exiting the intermission. The heat has calmed down.

Stevenson’s hard-earned yards close it out

An illness kept TreVeyon Henderson sidelined for back-to-back practices before going from questionable to out. Despite this, Patriots running backs gained ground to the tune of 126 rushing yards in the absence of the No. 38 pick in the 2025 NFL Draft.

Rhamondre Stevenson’s hard running was supported as Sunday progressed. The starter had 19 carries for 82 yards, including a third-and-5 dive with no timeouts for the Dolphins. He preceded that moment 24-19 by recovering an onside kick within the hand team.

Corey Kiner ran for 38 yards on seven handoffs behind him, led by gains of 10 and 20, while 53-man class Lan Larison recorded his first NFL carries. Both backups also served as kickoff return players.

Willis picked once by restocked secondary

Malik Willis had to contend with a near-full-strength defensive backfield. He wouldn’t survive it. The Dolphins quarterback completed 21 of 32 passes for 211 yards with two touchdowns and an interception while calling his own number just once as a runner.

The afternoon started with a pair of three-and-outs and a field goal for Miami. But a drive featuring the offense’s first four downs quickly made it a 6-3 doinking-style game. However, the final possession before the break saw everything come together, as an 11-play, 60-yard march to the end zone ended in the hands of wide receiver Malik Washington with a boost due to unnecessary roughness.

Consecutive three-and-outs were suffered coming out of halftime. From there, the Dolphins responded to a turnover and missed a field goal with a 35-yard touchdown run to wideout Kevin Coleman. Too little, too late.

Carlton Davis III returned to the secondary after missing three straight games with a neck injury, and the elder statesman at cornerback started Sunday against All-Pro Christian Gonzalez. Veteran safety and captain Kevin Byard III also intercepted his first pass in a Patriots uniform in the fourth quarter. The Foxborough arrival in March led the NFL with seven 2025 picks.

New England front reaches five sacks and 3.2 yards per carry

The Miami QB would be taken out for five sacks against the New England front. All at halftime.

Cory Durden recorded the first 1.5 sacks of his career in the first quarter with help from linebacker Christian Elliss. No. 55 overall pick Gabe Jacas added 1.5 with help from Christian Barmore. And sack leader Elijah Ponder and safety Jaylen Reed also invaded their own division.

The Patriots started the divisional game with Dre’Mont Jones off the edge and Ponder, a 2025 UDFA from Cal Poly who now has six sacks this year, off the ball. Defensive tackles Durden, Barmore and Milton Williams stood between the outside linebackers in front of the ends. Behind them was captain Robert Spillane and the team’s omnipresent leading tackler.

The Dolphins managed to convert 23 carries into 74 yards. That rushing average of 3.2 yards per person was buoyed by a yardage of 16 from running back Ollie Gordon II.

Special teams coordinator Jeremy Springer’s department made its presence felt early with a tackle on the opening kickoff by Brenden Schooler and then a 26-yard punt return by Marcus Jones. Things didn’t stop there.

Patriots kicker Andy Borregales recorded a tackle at midfield while in South Florida. The former Miami Hurricane also went 1 of 2 on field goals and 3 of 3 on extra points. He narrowly converted from 34 yards out in the first quarter, but missed wide from 40 yards out in the second quarter.

Its holder had a milder Sunday. In the first game since Bryce Baringer’s release from injured reserve, Mitch Wishnowsky averaged 45.7 yards per punt with two efforts inside the 20 and no touchdowns on three opportunities.