Drake Maye kept the Patriots afloat early, then took over when it mattered most.
The New England quarterback accounted for three touchdowns - two through the air and one on the ground - as the Patriots erased a 10-point halftime hole and slipped past the Miami Dolphins 24-19 on Sunday. With AJ Brown inactive because of lingering injuries, Maye still finished 16 of 20 for 199 yards and helped New England improve to 5-3.
The comeback really started to tilt in the third quarter. Down 13-3 at the break, the Patriots found their rhythm after halftime and turned Miami’s mistakes into points. Maye’s 2-yard run with 59 seconds left in the third gave New England a 17-13 lead, and it extended his streak to five straight games with at least three total touchdowns.
Before that, the Patriots had already trimmed the margin with a wild sequence on a 43-yard touchdown to Kyle Williams. The play was first ruled incomplete after Williams appeared to lose control near the goal line, but Mike Vrabel threw the challenge flag, and officials reversed it after replay showed Williams had crossed the plane before the ball came loose.
Then came the knockout punch. DeMario Douglas turned a catch into a 48-yard touchdown early in the fourth quarter, slicing through the Miami secondary and pushing New England up by two scores.
Miami never fully recovered from there, even though Malik Willis gave the Dolphins a late spark. One week after guiding Miami to its first win of the season, Willis finished 21 of 32 for 211 yards with two touchdown passes and an interception, but he was also sacked five times.
The Dolphins’ first-half surge came on an 11-play, 70-yard march capped by Malik Washington’s 1-yard touchdown with two minutes left before halftime. Washington had briefly left after absorbing a hard hit from Patriots linebacker Christian Elliss, who was penalized for unnecessary roughness, but Washington returned after a short trip to the blue medial tent and later caught his first receiving touchdown of the season.
Miami added field goals from Zane Gonzalez, who was in his second game since re-signing with the team. He connected from 31 and 52 yards, with the longer kick bouncing off the left upright and through, though he missed a 43-yard try in the fourth.
New England’s offense also got plenty from Rhamondre Stevenson, who carried 19 times for 82 yards and helped set the tone on the ground. Douglas finished with three catches for 76 yards, while Maye’s efficiency stood out all afternoon.
The Dolphins did make one last push when Willis found rookie Kevin Coleman Jr. on a 35-yard touchdown with two minutes remaining. But after Miami failed on the two-point attempt, Stevenson recovered Bradley Pinion’s onside kick, and the Patriots ran out the clock.
The second half also brought a sideline moment for Miami after Ollie Gordon drew an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty following a 5-yard run and appeared to say something to a defender. Coach Jeff Hafley pulled him from the game for a play, and the second-year back looked visibly upset on the sideline.
New England’s win came despite a few injury setbacks of its own. Tight end Hunter Henry left in the second quarter with a foot injury and did not return, and linebacker Gabe Jacas exited in the third with a knee issue and also did not come back. For Miami, edge rusher Malik Herring left in the second with a stringer but returned in the third.
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Mike Vrabels Latest Flag Toss Added To His Patriots Sideline Legend
Mike Vrabel added another memorable sideline moment during the Patriots game against Miami, tossing the challenge flag onto the field to fight a touchdown ruling that had gone against New England. The call centered on a catch by Kyle Williams, and after the review, officials changed the original ruling and confirmed the score, giving the Patriots a timely win on the sideline and another example of Vrabel staying directly involved in the games biggest decisions.
It was hardly the first time Vrabel has taken that responsibility into his own hands, and it fit neatly into the growing collection of little sideline details that have started to define his presence in New England. For a team still building its identity under its head coach, even a simple flag toss can feel like part of the larger picture, especially when it leads to a reversal that matters in the moment. [Read more 🡒]
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For a team that has tended to be cautious with midseason deals, the extra flexibility could matter more for a smaller, targeted addition than for a splashy swing. Names such as Jonathan Taylor and Josh Downs have been floated in the broader deadline conversation, but the Patriots latest financial tweak reads like a signal that they are preparing to shop with restraint rather than chase the biggest headline. [Read more 🡒]
Patriots Fans Are Rallying Around One Rookie For A Reason
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Among the newcomers, Jacas has become the name drawing the loudest buzz, which makes sense given how often he has been on the field and how disruptive he has been off the edge. A recent fan survey reflected that momentum, with Jacas emerging as the clear favorite over the other two rookies, and the split says plenty about how quickly this class has earned trust in New England. [Read more 🡒]