FOXBOROUGH — The Patriots dominated Miami in every facet of the game Sunday at Gillette Stadium, rolling to a 38-7 win over the previously undefeated Dolphins.
New England broke its two-game losing skid thanks in large part to a 21-point burst in the second quarter, when it stretched a 3-0 lead to a 24-0 advantage. Sony Michel was the first Patriots’ rookie running back to top 100 yards on the ground since 2006 (he ended with 112 yards on 25 carries and a touchdown) while James White added 112 yards from scrimmage (68 receiving, 44 rushing) and a pair of touchdowns. Tom Brady was 23-for-35 for 274 yards with three touchdowns and a pair of interceptions.
Brady found Cordarrelle Patterson and Phillip Dorsett with first-half touchdown passes. Meanwhile, White scored on a 22-yard touchdown run — the first rushing touchdown of the season for New England. And in his first action of the season for the Patriots, wide receiver Josh Gordon had two catches for 32 yards.
The Dolphins were mostly miserable — they ran just three offensive plays in New England territory through the first three quarters, and were 3-for-11 on third down. Miami’s only score came with just over two minutes remaining on a 6-yard touchdown pass from backup Brock Osweiler to Frank Gore.
IN-GAME UPDATES
3:57 p.m.: Victory formation -- that should just about do it. Patriots win, 38-7.
3:49 p.m.: Elandon Roberts down .... now being helped to the sidelines.
3:46 p.m.: Prior to this drive, the Dolphins' offense had run just three plays in New England territory.
3:43 p.m.: Simon has been active here in garbage time. Nice debut.
3:36 p.m.: OK, so maybe not everything. Bad ball there by the quarterback.
3:35 p.m.: Everything working today for the Patriots.
3:28 p.m.: There was definitely a protective feeling in the locker room this week when it came to Michel. They're happy to see him succeed.
3:25 p.m.: Another one -- 10-yard rushing touchdown, Michel. First NFL touchdown -- 38-0.
3:22 p.m.: Michel hits the century mark -- first Pats rookie running back to top 100 yards since Maroney in 2006.
3:21 p.m.: James White has 21 catches through three-plus games. The Patriots franchise record for most receptions in a season by a running back is 77. End of the third quarter -- 31-0, New England.
3:13 p.m.: Gordon makes the grab, fights for extra yardage ... and Brady comes over to offer congratulations at the end of the play. A 19-yard pickup.
3:11 p.m.: Gronkowski (ankle) ... return is questionable, per the team.
3:09 p.m.: J.C. Jackson with his first career pick. Just about the whole defense doing the "Naughty by Nature" handwave coming off the field..... best performance of the season so far, in all three phases.
3:04 p.m.: Gronkowski to the locker room. With a quick turnaround looming, I wonder if they're going to shut him down for the week -- they didn't have him in last year's Thursday night game against Tampa, FWIW.
3:02 p.m.: Brady got flattened on that touchdown pass but still completed the ball to White -- 14 yards. Extra point is good -- 31-0 Patriots. New England now has a season-high for points in a game with 31.
3:00 p.m.: Gronkowski is back on the sidelines. Getting his right ankle looked at -- that was the ankle that landed him on the injury report this week.
2:59 p.m.: Trickeration. Only git nine yards, but it was fun to watch.
2:54 p.m.: Gronkowski was getting looked at on the sidelines on that last defensive series. Doesn't look too serious -- he's back out there.
2:51 p.m.: Two things to keep in mind -- the Patriots haven't had a shutout since Sept. 22, 2016 vs. Houston. And the Patriots haven't had a rookie running back finish with 100-plus yards since Laurence Maroney had 125 yards on Oct. 1, 2006.
2:50 p.m.: Another flag on Miami.
2:49 p.m.: That's a tough drop there for Dorsett. Pats will kick it away.
2:47 p.m.: Back to live action here. Patriots open at their own 25.
2:31 p.m. -- first-half stats:
Sony Michel — 15 carries, 80 yards
Patterson — 2 catches, 58 yards, 1 TD
Brady — 13-for-22, 154 yards, 2 TDs, 1 INT
2:30 p.m.: That 15-play drive is the second-longest of the season for the Patriots' offense.
2:28 p.m.: Heck of a grab there by Dorsett. Talk about making a play for your quarterback -- a 9-yarder. Extra point is good -- 24-0 with 18 seconds left in the half.
2:27 p.m.: Michel with 16 carries for 80 yards. Give it to him again.
2:24 p.m.: Seven penalties this half for Miami. Pats have five, so it's not much better. But come on...
2:20 p.m.: Two-minute warning. Patriots on the move, looking to pad their lead. And they get the ball to start the second half -- aiming for that halftime scoring wraparound we've seen so much from them?
2:18 p.m.: Michel has 70 yards on the ground before halftime. So maybe we don't use two games in September as a referendum on the abilities of a rookie running back?
2:13 p.m.: Patriots with 17 points today -- season-high for them is 27 in the opener. Could they break 30 today?
2:08 p.m.: 22-yard TD run for James White. Extra point is good, making it 17-0. Patriots are rolling here in the first half. Everything is clicking -- offense, defense, special teams. As sloppy as it was in the last two games, everything has been working today.
2:07 p.m.: Good start today for New England. Van Noy on the spot there.
2:04 p.m.: Looks like Matthew Slater was shaken up a bit at the end of that punt play -- 7:41 to go in the first half.
1:59 p.m.: Stat check
1:55 p.m.: Patriots can really put the hammer down with seven here. Miami is 0-for-4 on third down.
1:46 p.m.: 55-yard touchdown pass to Patterson. 70th career TD pass to a different guy for Brady. Extra point is good -- 10-0, Patriots. The 55-yarder is the longest play from scrimmage for New England.
3rd longest reception of @ceeflashpee84's career.
1st TD as member of the Patriots. #MIAvsNE | #GoPats pic.twitter.com/G8NbMHXM04
— New England Patriots (@Patriots) September 30, 2018
Danny Amendola wearing teal and orange.#dolphins pic.twitter.com/4eyTOT98hT
— Michael Giardi (@MikeGiardi) September 30, 2018
Cool early Sunday for tailgating... but the weather will be perfect at @GilletteStadium for the @Patriots game against the @MiamiDolphins . Temps rise through the 60s as the game goes on! #Boston25 pic.twitter.com/0jjTycerNx
— Sarah Wroblewski (@sarahwroblewski) September 30, 2018