The New England Patriots needed a spark in the passing game with three receivers out, and DeMario Douglas delivered one in a big way during Sunday afternoon’s 24-19 win over the Miami Dolphins.
Douglas was efficient and explosive all at once, finishing with three catches on three targets for 76 yards and a 48-yard touchdown. That score came shortly after a Kevin Byard interception, and it helped swing the game in New England’s favor.
For Douglas, it was one of the strongest showings of his career, especially with A.J. Brown, Romeo Doubs and Mack Hollins unavailable. The 25-year-old said the performance reflected the way the Patriots responded after a rough start.
"It shows the team grit," he told reporters postgame. "We didn't start off well in the beginning, but I love how we played in the second half.
Came out there heads up, heads high. We started playing complimentary football."
Douglas wasn’t the only receiver making noise once the Patriots settled in. Kyle Williams added one catch for 43 yards and a touchdown, and the pair helped push New England into the lead after halftime. Douglas’ fourth touchdown of the season came on a straight-line burst that left Miami’s secondary behind.
That speed showed up again in a key fourth-down moment, when Douglas appeared short on a conversion before replay assist overturned the ruling on the field.
He also made it clear he wanted a cleaner outing than some of the ones he’s had before. Douglas pointed to the Week 6 game against the New York Jets, when he fumbled after trying to do too much. This time, he kept it simple and trusted his legs.
So what was he thinking on the run to the end zone?
"I said I get this ball, I'm finna score," Douglas laughed. "I had it in my head like, I'm finna get this in the chicken box.
That's what I said. I'm finna get this in the chicken box, and thank you God.
He blessed me. He blessed me for sure."
The Patriots offense had to keep fighting through more adversity, too. Hunter Henry left the game with a foot injury, and at halftime New England was staring at a 13-3 deficit and a sluggish first half that left them looking out of sorts.
Douglas said the turnaround started with the group cleaning things up.
"We just stopped hurting ourselves," Douglas said. "We were killing ourselves, you know, in that forst half, man. Felt like when we got in this locker room, we knew it, we knew it.
"And we told ourselves, 'let's settle down and take a breath and go out here and play our football, play our type of football game.'"
New England had only four receivers active, with Efton Chism III and Ryan Miller filling out the group. Hollins is eligible to come off IR this week, which would give the Patriots another needed body in the rotation. Even with the short-handed setup, Douglas said the room kept answering the bell.
"Man, I love the preparation that we have," Douglas said. "We have big guys go down and how we prepare and we don’t skip a beat.
I applaud Chiz (Chism) and Dub (Williams). They come, stepping in, and they’re playing their role.
Third down, touchdowns. Chiz making big plays to move that rock, man.
Man, I’m proud of our group."
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