Breaking down four of the biggest plays in the Patriots' 33-27 victory over the Dolphins, mostly in video form:
• Drake Maye's 16-yard touchdown pass to Kayshon Boutte
• Maye's 55-yard pass to Rhamondre Stevenson
• Tua Tagovailoa "sacked" on 3rd and 8
• Marte Mapu's interception, which should have ended the game.
Great job by Maye and Stevenson sorting out the possible all-out blitz by the Dolphins. They did blitz, but Matthew Judon dropped out to help double Stefon Diggs. Otherwise, it was all man coverage. At that point, I think it was all about matchups. I think the Patriots knew that if they saw old friend Jack Jones matched up in tight man against a bigger and stronger receiver like Boutte, that Maye should take that one. Great touch by Maye, even better catch and fight by Boutte, who continues to impress.
This was set up by the previous play, where Maye took a profit and got the team into third and manageable instead of forcing something that wasn't there. At 3rd and 3, the chances are the Dolphins are going to be more aggressive, and that's an advantage for the Patriots against a porous Miami pass defense (now 30th in DVOA).
Demario Douglas goes in motion and Maye knows the Dolphins are likely to be in man coverage. He immediately alerts the play, likely going from a zone beater or possible run, to a man coverage beater.
Boutte runs a rub route. The linebacker, Jordyn Brooks, goes in between Boutte and the defender, and gets flat-footed. At this time, Stevenson has him.
Maye does a great job avoiding the pressure allowed by Morgan Moses, throws a ball that was a little flat for me, but Stevenson makes an incredible catch that is difficult for a receiver, let alone a running back who isn't exactly Alvin Kamara.
The Patriots showed Cover 3 before the snap, but changed to Cover 2 with Alex Austin and Carlton Davis as the safeties after the snap. This appeared to spook Tagovailoa because he's really not under all that much pressure, and he had options down the field.
First of all, I would have punted here if I were the Dolphins with two timeouts and the two-minute warning.
But this play was similar to the previous one, where Tagovailoa gets spooked for really no reason. Perhaps the Harold Landry sack on the previous play had him sped up.
Nothing fancy here. Tagovailoa has Jaylen Waddle on an out if he stays with the play, but he doesn't. As he tries to flee the pocket, he has TE Julian Hill wide open in the left flat but doesn't see him. Marte Mapu was actually partially responsible for Hill and was actually a little out of position. But Tagovailoa puts a prayer into quadruple coverage.
Bonus points for the Patriots' coach (Todd Downing?) high-stepping down the sideline in celebration.