The Miami Dolphins had the kind of first half that can make a home crowd believe. They took a 10-point lead into halftime against the New England Patriots on Sunday at Hard Rock Stadium, only to watch it slip away in a 24-19 loss to last year’s Super Bowl runner-ups.
Even with the final result, Miami’s defense set the tone early. Through two quarters, the Dolphins held New England to just three points while repeatedly getting after Drake Maye and making life miserable in the pocket. At the center of that pressure was EDGE Chop Robinson.
Robinson earned Miami Dolphins Week Eight MVP honors after turning in another disruptive performance. He finished with eight pressures and two sacks, and his 47.1% pressure rate against New England, according to Hussam Patel of the 5 Reasons Sports Network, was the second-highest pressure rate by any NFL defender in a single game this season. For the year, Robinson now leads the league in pressure rate at 26.6%.
It’s the second time this season Robinson has taken home the weekly MVP award, making him the first Dolphins player to win it twice. He was also the Week Four selection.
The production matters for Miami beyond just one Sunday afternoon. Robinson is in the third year of his rookie contract, which gives the Dolphins control through next season at least.
After that, new general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan would have the option to exercise the fifth-year option because Robinson was a first-round pick. If this level of pressure keeps up, Sullivan may not want to wait long before trying to get a deal done a year early.
Week One went to WR Caleb Douglas. Week Two belonged to LB Jacob Rodriguez.
Week Three was OC Aaron Brewer. Week Four was EDGE Chop Robinson.
Week Five went to RB Ollie Gordon II. Week Six was the bye.
Week Seven was QB Malik Willis. Week Eight went to EDGE Chop Robinson.
In Other News...
Dolphins New Staff Is Changing Everything About Chris Griers Draft Legacy
The Dolphins are still living with the draft footprint left behind by former general manager Chris Grier, but the picture around that group is starting to look different under the current coaching staff. Miami has 13 remaining draft picks from Griers tenure, and six of them are now starting in the 2026 season, giving the organization a steady stream of young players whose development will keep shaping the roster for a while.
Under Jeff Hafley and the current staff, several of those holdovers have taken clear steps forward, including Jonah Savaiinaea, Malik Washington, Chop Robinson and Dante Trader. The broader question for Miami is whether that trend can keep building, because not every name from Griers draft history has followed the same path, and the gap between the players who are flourishing and the ones who have not is becoming harder to ignore. [Read more 🡒]
Jonah Savaiinaea Is Making The Dolphins Rethink A Major Concern
Jonah Savaiinaea has gone from a question mark to one of the more encouraging developments on the Dolphins offensive line this season. After a rocky rookie year, the guard has looked far more settled in 2025, showing the kind of steady play Miami has been searching for as it tries to firm up protection and keep its offense on schedule.
The progress has not happened in a vacuum. A different coaching voice and a more demanding schematic approach under Jeff Hafley appear to have pushed Savaiinaea in the right direction, and the early results are hard to ignore. For a team that entered the year with real concern about the interior line, his growth is starting to make that problem look a little less urgent. [Read more 🡒]
Dolphins Rookie Rotation Suddenly Raises Questions On Both Sides
The Dolphins rookie usage against New England offered a clear look at how thin the margins can get in a single game. With Kadyn Proctor out because of a concussion, Miami had to shuffle its options up front, while backup quarterback Kyle McCord and offensive lineman Andrew Meyer were active but never got onto the field. On offense, Caleb Douglas ended up carrying the heaviest rookie load, logging the most snaps among the first-year group as the Dolphins leaned on younger depth in key spots.
Will Kacmareks role was far more limited, and his reduced workload stood out in a game where the rookie rotation was already in flux. On the other side of the ball, four defenders played every snap, Kyle Louis returned from injury for a season-high workload, and new additions Chukwuebuka Godrick and Kaytron Allen both made their first appearances of the season in brief cameos. For Miami, the bigger question is how these pieces fit once the roster is closer to full strength. [Read more 🡒]