Tom Brady and the New England Patriots didn't waste any time getting back on track, thumping the previously undefeated Miami Dolphins 38-7 to end a two-game skid Sunday afternoon in Foxborough, Mass.
Brady completed 23 of 35 throws for three touchdowns and two interceptions. He threw for 274 yards.
Rookie running back Sony Michel rushed for 112 yards and a touchdown on 25 carries, and Cordarrelle Patterson notched his first New England TD as part of the offensive explosion. Michel is the first New England rookie to reach 100 rushing yards in a game in six years.
Dolphins quarterback Ryan Tannehill was 11-for-20 for 100 yards with an interception. Miami didn't score until backup quarterback Brock Osweiler's 6-yard pass to running back Frank Gore with 2:42 to play.
Patterson, a receiver in his first season as a member of the Patriots, turned in a series of moves that took him to the end zone on a 55-yard touchdown play early in the second quarter. It was his first receiving touchdown since 2016 with the Minnesota Vikings.
The big play put New England on top 10-0 with 12:01 to go in the second quarter.
The Patriots (2-2) boosted their lead to 17-0 on James White's 22-yard touchdown carry midway through the second.
That scoring opportunity came one play after Tannehill couldn't handle a shotgun snap on Miami's first play of a possession following a New England punt.
The Patriots controlled the clock late in the first half, going 85 yards in 15 plays with Brady connecting with Phillip Dorsett for a 9-yard touchdown.
The Dolphins (3-1), who have lost four of their past five meetings with the Patriots, compiled only 75 yards of total offense in the first half while New England had 272 by the break.
White's 14-yard, third-quarter scoring catch from Brady, who was hit on the play, boosted the Patriots' advantage to 31-0.
That was followed by undrafted rookie J.C. Jackson's interception of Tannehill.
Michel's 10-yard run early in the fourth quarter capped a 90-yard New England scoring drive and gave him his first career touchdown.
Stephen Gostkowski opened the scoring with a 20-yard field goal in the first quarter to conclude a 13-play, 74-yard drive.
New England finished with a 449-172 edge in total yards.
The Patriots, who will be home for a Thursday night game against the Indianapolis Colts, cranked up their rushing attack early, posting 118 rushing yards in the first half. New England ended up with 274 yards on the ground.
--Field Level Media
Miami | New England | |
Frank Gore | Player | Sony Michel |
11 | Attempts | 25 |
41 | Yards | 112 |
3.7 | Avg Yards | 4.5 |
0 | Touchdowns | 1 |
14 | Long | 23 |
Miami | New England | |
Kenny Stills | Player | James White |
3 | Receptions | 8 |
40 | Yards | 68 |
13.3 | Avg Yards | 8.5 |
0 | Touchdowns | 1 |
22 | Long | 16 |
Yards | Scoring | Defense | ||||||
Team | Tot | Rus | Pas | TD | FG | INT | Sck | FF |
Miami | 172 | 56 | 116 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0.0 | 0 |
New England | 449 | 175 | 274 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 2.0 | 0 |