The Miami Dolphins’ return home in Week 8 ended the same way too many of their recent Sundays have gone: with a loss and a lot of uneven tape to sort through.
New England left Hard Rock Stadium with a 24-19 win, and the Dolphins’ offense once again made life hard on itself. Six drives ended in punts, turnovers or missed field goals, while the defense did enough to keep Miami in the game by forcing a turnover, three punts and two field-goal tries, with one of those attempts converted.
After the final whistle, Pro Football Focus grades offered a clearer look at which Dolphins stood out and which ones struggled in the matchup.
On offense, Kevin Coleman Jr. led the way with a 78.3 grade, followed by Patrick Paul at 75.3. Jarrett Kingston posted a 62.7, Malik Willis finished at 61.6 and Malik Washington came in at 61.4.
At the other end of the list, Ollie Gordon II checked in at 55.9, Chris Bell at 53.2, DJ Herman at 49.6, Jonah Savaiinaea at 48.3 and Will Kacmarek at 45.9.
The defensive grades were more encouraging overall, with Jacob Rodriguez pacing the group at 85.4. Kyle Louis earned a 74.8, Jason Marshall Jr. landed at 72.7, Jordan Phillips at 72.0 and Willie Gay Jr. at 65.4.
The lowest defensive marks went to Malik Herring at 47.1, Zeek Biggers at 44.7, Michael Taaffe at 39.2, Jordyn Brooks at 32.7 and Kenneth Grant at 29.6.
In the trenches, Patrick Paul was Miami’s best pass protector with an 84.0 grade. Jarrett Kingston followed at 61.1, Jonah Savaiinaea posted a 58.8, Austin Jackson earned a 48.5 and Aaron Brewer finished at 44.6.
Paul also topped the run-blocking chart at 74.5, with Kingston next at 69.1. Austin Jackson came in at 65.4, Aaron Brewer at 61.6 and Savaiinaea at 51.9.
Among the front seven in pass rush, Chop Robinson led the way with a 74.7. Jordan Phillips was next at 59.5, Joshua Uche at 59.4, Kenneth Grant at 50.1, Zeek Biggers at 49.3 and Zach Sieler at 46.4.
In coverage, Jacob Rodriguez was the highest-graded Dolphin at 90.5. Chris Johnson followed at 71.7, Jason Marshall Jr. at 68.0, JuJu Brents at 60.7, Jordyn Brooks at 55.8, Dante Trader Jr. at 51.2 and Michael Taaffe at 36.7.
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 🡒]