FOXBOROUGH — Everything you need to know from the Patriots’ loss to the Dolphins in quickie form, with BSJ insight and analysis:
HEADLINES
Patriots blow bye, will play wild-card weekend for first time since 2009: It’s stunning just to type that. In all honesty, I hadn’t even contemplated for one second that the Patriots could be playing in the wild-card round. So I’m just as shocked as you. In all likelihood, it will be the Titans who come to Foxborough next weekend and that, assuming a healthy RB Derrick Henry and WR Adam Humphries, is a bad matchup for the Patriots. Fans will want to root for Pittsburgh, then Oakland.
Patriots defense, Gilmore thrashed by Ryan Fitzpatrick, DeVante Parker: We knew the Dolphins didn't have much of a rushing game, but it was very surprising how easy they made it through the vaunted Patriots defense as Fitzpatrick completed 28 of 41 passes for 320 yards and the game-winning touchdown. Parker roasted Stephon Gilmore for eight catches and 137 yards in a performance that might have lost Gilmore Defensive Player of the Year. Fitzpatrick completed 9 of 13 passes on the game-winning drive.
New England punted on the end of the first half: Patriots looked like they had everything set up to take the lead before the end of the first half when they stopped Miami with 1:45 left and all three timeouts. Instead, the Patriots didn't take a timeout, got possession with 57 seconds left at their own 25-yard line and ran twice for 5 yards.
TURNING POINT
Probably the 3rd-and-5 conversion by the Dolphins with under a minute to play. The ball was at the New England 24-yard line and a stop there would have forced a do-or-die play and the Patriots have a history of coming through there. Instead, Jonathan Jones was beat off the ball by Albert Wilson and there was no linebacker or safety help. I think Chase Winovich is supposed to help jam Wilson a little bit, but the rookie obviously didn't have that on his mind. Dolphins were in a good position after that conversion.
SECOND GUESS
