After falling behind 12-0 in the first quarter, Miami responded with a pair of touchdown passes from quarterback Tua Tagovailoa. Wide receiver Jaylen Waddle pulled in an 18-yard score in the second quarter, and running back De'Von Achane followed with a 29-yard catch-and-run touchdown just before halftime. That cut the deficit to 15-14, giving the Dolphins momentum heading into the break.
The spark carried over into the third quarter. Wide receiver Tyreek Hill hauled in a 47-yard deep ball on Miami's opening drive of the half. That set up a 40-yard field goal by kicker Riley Patterson, giving the Dolphins a 17-15 lead. Patterson added another kick minutes later to stretch the margin to 20-15.
Linebacker Jordyn Brooks added to the surge with an 11-yard sack of Patriots quarterback Drake Maye, firing up the home crowd as the defense forced a quick punt. New England answered late in the quarter when running back Rhamondre Stevenson hauled in a 55-yard pass from Maye down the sideline, setting up a six-yard scrammble by Maye into the end zone. The touchdown flipped the score back to 23-20 in favor of the Patriots.
Later in the fourth quarter, with 7:38 remaining, second-year wide receiver Malik Washington flipped the momemtum back in Miami's favor with a 74-yard punt return touchdown, breaking multiple tackles to give the Dolphins a 27-23 advantage. New England was quick to respond, as return man Antonio Gibson took the ensuing kickoff 90 yards for a touchdown, swinging the lead back to New England, 30-27.
Miami's offense continued to battle. Tagovailoa connected with wide receiver Nick Westbrook-Ikhine for a pair of clutch first downs on the next drive before linebacker Marte Mapu intercepted Tagovailoa, setting up a 53-yard field goal by kicker Andy Borregales with 1:52 remaining to extend the Patriots' lead to 33-27.
The Dolphins had one last chance in the final minute. Achane nearly broke free on a catch-and-run before stepping out of bounds at the New England 26-yard line. Two penalties and a sack ended the drive, and the Patriots kneeled out the clock.
Tagovailoa completed 26-of-32 passes for 315 yards with two touchdowns and one interception. It was his 17th career game of 300-plus yards, passing Ryan Tannehill for second-most such games in Dolphins history. Achane continued his emergence as a dual threat, carrying 11 times for 30 yards while adding eight receptions for 92 yards and a score. Hill led all receivers with six catches for 109 yards, and Waddle added five receptions for 68 yards and a touchdown.
Defensively, linebacker Tyrel Dodson paced the Dolphins with nine tackles (six solo), while Brooks tallied eight stops and a sack. Linebackers Bradley Chubb and Chop Robinson also recorded a sack apiece, and safety Minkah Fitzpatrick contributed seven tackles (four solo).
Maye went 19-of-23 for 230 yards and two total touchdowns, while Stevenson produced 142 scrimmage yards.
The Dolphins will travel to Buffalo to face the Bills on Thursday Night Football on Sept. 18. Kickoff from Highmark Stadium is set for 8:15 p.m. ET on Prime Video.
