BSJ Game Report: Dolphins 34, Patriots 15 - New England never in the game

Everything you need to know from the Patriots' lopsided 34-15 loss to the Dolphins in quickie form, with BSJ insight and analysis:

HEADLINES

Patriots weren't ready for the Florida sunshine. They had one drive of note in the first half, and the defense was carved up like a butterball turkey, spiral ham, turducken, or tofurkey (if that's what you're into). There were so many pre-snap penalties (six) that highlighted how wildly unimpressive this team is from top to bottom. They don't have enough talent to win on talent alone, and if they're going to be poorly coached week after week and lack discipline, well, then what the hell are we doing this for?

TURNING POINT

The flight down to Miami. Hard Rock Stadium is a house of horrors for the Patriots, and today, it was no different. The Pats forced just one punt in the opening half, which came on the opening drive. After that, here's how it went against the Dolphins offense:

Eight plays, 65 yards, 3:57 TOP, TD

Nine plays, 66 yards, 4:47, TD

Ten plays, 80 yards, 4:13, TD

Seven plays, 56 yards, 1:26, FG

24-0 was the score at the half. 

What happened after only would have mattered if the Pats mounted a comeback. They didn't so much as sniff one and didn't score their first touchdown until it was 31-0 early in the fourth quarter. 

SECOND GUESS

Alex Van Pelt's approach on the Pats' second drive of the game. The veteran assistant leaned heavily on the run game during that series, and the Pats had a first-and-10 from the Miami 24. But after a 3-yard gain by Antonio Gibson, AVP called a pass that was doomed from the start (Austin Hooper lined up offsides. How you ask? I don't know), and then Demontrey Jacobs was whistled for a hold (which was accepted). Drake Maye threw behind Rhamondre Stevenson on 2nd down and a mile, then the offensive coordinator (probably under orders from Jerod Mayo) surrendered on third down, a short gain by Stevenson. Joey Slye clanged the 45-yard field goal off the right upright, and it went downhill from there.

TWO-UP (and this is generous)

Antonio Gibson: The only guy on offense who showed any juice in the first half. Three runs for 24 yards and his lone reception was the longest for the Pats in the first half (14 yards). However, his second half was forgettable, so call it a partial credit.

Jahlani Tavai: On first watch, the linebacker seemed pretty sound. He made a couple of excellent tackles in the flat on speedier receivers, breaking down, keeping his head up, and finishing the play. 

MANY, MANY DOWN

LT Vederian Lowe: Not one, not two, not three, but four penalties in the first half (three false starts, one holding). The hold might have been a bit ticky tacky, but it erased a 19-yard gain to Stevenson on a screen play. It was only 14-0 at that point in the second quarter, and the Pats would have had the ball at midfield. He was also responsible for the sack by Zach Sieler that Drake Maye put on the ground (and was recovered by LB Jordyn Brooks, leading to the Dolphins' 4th TD). Lowe is what he thought he was: a guy who will make his living in this league as a swing tackle (yes, that's what he told us this summer). He is not an answer.

RT Demontrey Jacobs: Rookie Chop Robinson, the first-rounder from Penn State, ate Jacobs' breakfast, lunch, dinner, dessert, and snacks and drank all his damn beverages. A late August waiver claim, Jacobs has had some games where maybe, just maybe, he could be a starting right tackle. Today was not that game. He couldn't handle Robinson's speed, couldn't handle his power, and even when he got tight end help, Jacobs still couldn't stop Robinson coming off the edge. There was also a dangerous play right before the half when Robinson got a piece of Maye's arm as he attempted to throw a pass. The same thing happened to Josh Allen two years ago, and his elbow wasn't right for the rest of the season. Not saying Maye is hurt. He didn't come out of the game. But that's how you get the franchise hurt.

Anyone who tried to cover Waddle today: They were all guilty. Marcus Jones. Christian Gonzalez. Jonathan Jones. If you don't think cornerback is a need for this team this off-season, you haven't been watching closely enough. 

Austin Hooper, Hunter Henry, Rhamondre Stevenson, and Antonio Gibson: Yep, all of them for their inability to help protect Maye. Van Pelt altered his plan as the game went on to give the tackles more assistance against the Dolphins' edge players, especially Robinson, and they weren't all that helpful. There was an especially egregious one when Jacobs and Gibson dove down on and doubled the edge rusher, allowing Jalen Ramsey a clear path to Maye. They were doing their best to get the rookie QB killed all day.

INJURIES

Sione Takitaki ended up in the blue medical tent. Injury unknown. He kept playing.

Jonathan Jones injured his right arm on Jonnu Smith's touchdown. He stayed in the game. 

Kyle Dugger appeared to re-aggravate his ankle injury on the second drive of the third quarter (he was called for a penalty on that play). He returned to action.

TOP PLAYS

Maye for bailing the Pats' out on 4th and 15 in the fourth quarter, escaping Robinson (there's that man again) before finding Hooper behind blown coverage. It was his 10th TD pass this season, and all have been caught by different receivers.

Christian Barmore for getting his first sack of the season. It happened on the opening possession of the 3rd quarter. Keion White did most of the work, and Barmore was there to clean it up. But considering what Barmore's been dealing with this season, it's noteworthy.

Christian Gonzalez scooped up a Jaylen Wright fumble and ran it back for 63 yards and a touchdown.

It was a cute two-point conversion play that followed — a pass to Kayshon Boutte behind the line of scrimmage. Henry secured the edge, and Boutte pitched it to Stevenson as he came around the outside. That made it 31-15 with 10:10 to play, and the announcing crew tried to convince those watching the Pats had a chance. They didn't.

I'm also going to throw in Jaylen Waddle's back-shoulder grab just before the half. He went up and over Marcus Jones for the catch. It was good for 29 yards, and put Waddle over 100 yards receiving for the first time since the season's first game. They won't trade him unless he makes 'em (and I have no indication that's what he wants).

THREE TAKES GIARDI WILL PROBABLY REGRET LATER (OR NOT)

The first half was the Patriots' worst half of the season. It was just a debacle from start to finish, the kind of performance that should put the coaching staff on notice, as well as the guy responsible for putting together this roster. The coaching has been poor, especially on the defensive side (with a defensive-minded head coach), and the talent is bottom five. ESPN wrote something this week about how this was less of a teardown than previously expected. I don't know what they got in exchange for writing such nonsense, but if that's how Eliot Wolf, Mayo, and the Krafts approach this, it will be a much longer road than need be.

The number of coverage busts or miscues this year has to be at an all-time high. Kyle Dugger had bad eyes on the first TD of the game; on the screen and score to Achane, Dugger and Christian Elliss followed Tyreek Hill out of the backfield, and no one had their sights on the running back. Bedard could have scored on that one. On Waddle's touchdown to make it 31-0. the Pats linebackers bit on play action got zero depth on their drop, and allowed an easy window for Tua to hit the speedster. Dugger couldn't turn his body around quickly enough, and no one felt like tackling him, either. Gonzalez had a couple of apparent miscues, as did Jonathan Jones and Marcus Jones. 

I don't want to hear a word about the team still playing hard for Mayo, down 31-0. They collectively had their heads up their hindquarters when it mattered. A couple of cheap touchdowns down 31 and 24 points means Jack diddly squat.