Here are 3 reasons why the Patriots beat the Miami Dolphins

FOXBOROUGH All the Patriots offense had to do on Sunday was outperform the Miami Dolphins second and third string quarterbacks.

That shouldve made for an easy New Years Day for the Patriots. Of course, with this 2022 Patriots offense, nothing is easy. That was the case on Sunday in the teams final home game of the season.

Despite the offense getting off to a fast start, the group stalled on a beautiful afternoon inside Gillette Stadium. However, considering the defense was going up against Teddy Bridgewater and then Skylar Thompson, the Patriots found themselves with a slim two-point lead entering the fourth quarter.

Over the last three weeks, Patriots fans have grown accustomed to heartbreak. The lateral incident in Las Vegas only led up to Rhamondre Stevensons fumble a week ago against the Cincinnati Bengals. Each game made it feel like this Patriots offense would find a way to lose in the end. Enter your email address here to receive MassLive’s Patriots newsletter every Monday and Friday.
      

However, this day was different. The Patriots held on to beat the Miami Dolphins 23-21 on Sunday. They improve to 8-8 with their playoff hopes resting on next weeks matchup in Buffalo.

Heres how it happened.Defense stepped up, again

The Patriots only had a chance on Sunday thanks to their record-breaking defense.

It wasnt easy. Not only was the Patriots offense struggling, but special teams put the defense in a bind on several series.

That was seen in the first quarter in the Dolphins second drive. Miami went for it on fourth-and-1, but sent its punt team out on the field due to a false start. On the next play, at 5:39 of the first, Patriots rookie Brenden Schooler was flagged for running into punter Thomas Morstead. Instead of the Patriots getting the ball back, the Dolphins converted on fourth-and-1 on the next snap. Miami then marched down the field with Tyreek Hill hauling in a 19-yard pass and then capping the drive off with a 2-yard touchdown at 14:55 of the second quarter.

Miami drove downfield in their next series but came away empty when kicker Jason Sanders missed a 51-yard field goal at 6:26 of the second quarter. The defense did its job in the first half. After that touchdown, Miami was held scoreless. The Dolphins were just 2-of-6 on third down.

The Patriots defense opened up the second half by holding the Dolphins to a quick three-and-out. The truth is the Patriots defense didnt have a big margin for error. With punter Michael Palardy struggling, the Dolphins had solid field position on several series.

That was the case in the third quarter following a 38-yard punt that put the Dolphins just 41 yards away from their own end zone. On the first play, Bridgewater hit Jaylen Waddle for a 23-yard gain. Four plays later, the quarterback hit Raheem Mostert for a 2-yard touchdown and the Dolphins led, 14-7, at 9:17 of the third quarter.

With the offense struggling, the defense stepped up like they have all season.

At 2:51 of the third quarter, Kyle Dugger intercepted Bridgewater and ran back 39 yards for a touchdown. That marked Duggers third defensive touchdown of the season. It also marked a new Patriots record with a team total seven defensive touchdowns this season. That score put the Pats up, 16-14, due to Folk missing the extra point.

Skylar Thompson replaced Bridgewater, who suffered a finger injury. On the next series, Jonathan Jones intercepted Thompson at 14:24 of the fourth quarter.

Down, 23-14, with 4:37 left, the Dolphins made a charge. Thompson hit tight end Mike Gesicki for a 4-yard touchdown with 1:04 remaining. That brought the Patriots lead to 23-12.Patriots offense faltered after strong start

On their first drive of the New Year, the Patriots looked like a new team. Jones led the Patriots to a scoring drive in their opening drive on Sunday to take an early 7-0 lead.

Jones was 4 for 6 for 50 yards on this series. He hit rookie Tyquan Thornton for a 24-yard gain to get the team past midfield. The Patriots were also aided by two third down Dolphins penalties to move the chains. At 7:15 of the first quarter, Jones hit Thornton for a 7-yard touchdown. That marked the Patriots second opening drive touchdown of the season (Minnesota in Week 12).

Unfortunately, that momentum didnt carry over. After gaining 67 yards on that opening drive, the Patriots gained 60 total yards on their next five drives.

The Patriots second drive probably shouldve resulted in points, but poor pass protection cost them. Jones hit Hunter Henry for a gain of 29 to get the group past midfield. However, the quarterback was sacked for a loss of nine on the next play. Rhamondre Stevenson made up that difference with an 18-yard run to set up a third-and-1. Jones was sacked again on the next play for a loss of 12, knocking the Patriots out of field goal position.

The offense took a step backward on their third series. Trent Brown started this drive with a false start. Add in a constant pass rush and a poorly executed third down pass play, the Patriots punted four plays after that.

The Patriots opened the third quarter with a quick three-and-out. On their next series, they went three-and-out, again. At this point, the Gillette Stadium crowd was booing the offense off the field.

The group found some life on the next series. On third down, Jones hit Thornton for a 29-yard gain. That ultimately set up a Nick Folk 49-yard field goal and the Patriots trailed, 14-10, at 4:03 of the third quarter.

The next time the offense took the field it came after a defensive interception. Instead of building on that momentum, the group went a quick three-and-out. That prompted more boos.

The offense got their act together in the late fourth quarter. Jones hit Jakobi Meyers for a 25-yard gain on third down. The quarterback finished this drive by hitting Meyers for a 1-yard touchdown with 4:37 left on the clock.

That 89-yard drive marked their longest of the game and it came at the perfect time, putting the team up 23-14.Patriots special teams wasnt special

The Patriots special teams unit has been inconsistent this season. Sure, there have been several highlights, thanks to Marcus Jones, but with the rookie out due to a concussion on Sunday, the Patriots special teams lost something.

On Sunday, the Patriots special teams wasnt exactly special.

Their first blunder cost the Patriots a touchdown. On top of that, the team clearly missed punter Jake Bailey, whos been on the injured reserve due to a back injury. On this afternoon, the first two Dolphins touchdowns can be traced to the Patriots special teams unit.

At 5:39 of the first quarter, the Dolphins were set to punt after they false started on a fourth-and-1 conversion attempt. On the next play, however, Brenden Schooler was flagged for running into punter Thomas Morstead. Schooler argued that he was pushed into the punter, but the Dolphins came back on the field, on fourth-and-1, and converted. They then traveled downfield and Hill scored a touchdown to tie the game, 7-7.

That was a big momentum shift and the score came right after the Patriots first touchdown. Instead of getting the ball back with the offense feeling good, the defense stayed on the field and the Dolphins tied the game.

Punting also became an issue. Palardys first two punts of the second half went for gains of 34 and 38 yards. That placed the Dolphins around midfield each time. The 38-yard punt put the Dolphins at their own 41-yard line. It took them five plays to score a touchdown and take a 14-7 lead at 9:17 of the third quarter.

Conversely, the Patriots started multiple drives behind the 20-yard line. Dolphins punter Thomas Morstead pinned them at the 2-yard line in the second quarter and then at the 10-yard line in the third quarter.

Even Folk had some issues. Following Duggers pick-6, the kicker missed the extra point. That put the Patriots lead at 16-14.

After the Dolphins scored, to bring the score within two points, the opted for an on-side kick with 1:04 left on the clock. In this moment, the Patriots special teams unit stepped up wit Hunter Henry recovering the kick.