Do it again, but do it better.
That's the challenge for the Patriots as they turn the page from Sunday's thrilling but sloppy win in Miami and get ready for Aaron Rodgers and the Steelers this weekend.
Yesterday, I wrote about the mental toughness Mike Vrabel's team showed in 90-degree-plus temperatures in South Florida, and how it could be something we look back on and say, "That's when they started to believe." But the only way we can revisit this mid-September tilt and look back on it as a possible turning point is for the Pats to stack one win on top of another, something they haven't done since the midway point of the 2022-23 season (when they actually won 3 in a row). That's a stretch of 43 games without a two-game winning streak. Gulp. How the mighty have fallen.
Still, there were lessons to be learned in beating the Dolphins in a place where not even the great Tom Brady had a ton of success.
“It just shows our toughness. It shows we can do it for four quarters,” Rhamondre Stevenson said. “Don’t be a front runner. Don’t only be good when things are going good. Adversity is going to happen, so just fighting back against that and becoming victorious, that’s huge.”
It is, but don't make it become a one-off. Make it a part of this team's story and its return to respectability.
Thumbs up
The 4-man pass rush in the 4th quarter - There were strong individual pushes from Milton Williams and Christian Barmore on the interior, and Harold Landry won 1-on-1 for his lone sack. There were also a couple of examples of two-man games with K'Lavon Chaisson and the DTs that generated pressure. I wrote that they needed more from this group after the first week. It took a while, but it happened in some of the most significant moments. Also, don't get it twisted: they were winning some matchups earlier in the game, but the quick passing attack of the Dolphins negated any "victories."
The interior offensive line - They weren't perfect in the run game, but the law firm of Wilson, Bradbury and Onwenu damn near threw up a clean sheet in pass protection. I had them for one pressure (Onwenu). This is the second straight game the veteran Bradbury has allowed diddly poo in terms of hurries or QB hits. No one could have seen that coming after this summer. As for Wilson, he was the weak link in week one. Aside from a holding penalty, the rookie was terrific and also brought a much-needed jolt of energy (see his reaction to Antonio Gibson's 15-yard and then after Stevenson scored on the 2-point conversion. The run blocking was a different story, especially for Onwenu, but I'm all about finding the positive in this life...
Will Campbell - The Dolphins have three good edge rushers. The first rounder kept them off the stat sheet when he was in 1-on-1 situations. If the Patriots can establish a consistent run-pass balance, they give Campbell the ability to assert his will on the ends with his physicality, and it appeared to me that this made a difference in obvious pass-rush situations.
Drake Maye - His best game as a pro. Wrote about it postgame. Nothing changed after the rewatch.
Rhamondre Stevenson - He got a game ball from Vrabel after the game, and when you consider what that dude has been through over the last year, both on and off the field, that had to feel good. If the line can get him a little bit of space and Stevenson can get his pads square and get north-south quickly, he's still what we thought he was a couple of seasons ago. On top of that, the vet has been a solid pass catcher after his rookie year, and he showed great hands on the 55-yarder. Also, 55 of his rushing yards came after contact.
Carlton Davis - The ball didn't come his way very often. Part of that is because of who's on the opposite side with Christian Gonzalez injured. But part of it is because Davis can be really sticky in coverage.
Thumbs down
Alex Austin - When the Pats made their plans for the season, they didn't know who would emerge as the first corner off the bench. Austin had a great summer and then played well in the opener. But on Sunday, he got cooked more than once by the speedy contingent of Fins receivers. I'll give him some grace because I don't think Austin can cover Waddle or Hill extensively. Very few people can, and he's not one of them. I had him down for allowing six receptions on seven targets, and a better throw by Tua might have resulted in a touchdown to Waddle in the final two minutes. Hill also roasted on the 47-yarder.
Robert Spillane/Christian Elliss - As I did the BSJ quickie recap postgame, these two were on there. Guess what? They belonged there in bold. The Patriots missed 12 tackles in the game, their most since Week 4 of the 2021 season, and the interior linebacker duo was responsible for eight of them in Miami (Spillane 5, Elliss 3). Per PFF, 11 of the 12 passes thrown in their direction were complete. That has been a consistent theme since the start of the summer.
TreVeyon Henderson - Three penalties, no room to run. Mama said there would be days like this. Mama must have known her son was going to have to block Chop Robinson off the edge. On a positive note, Henderson's kick return ability has the entire league's attention, and that's why Gibson keeps getting kicked to. Gibson might make them reconsider now.
Hunter Henry/Austin Hooper as run blockers - I'm not enjoying the experience so far. They were at best standoffish in week one, and that held true again on Sunday. That none of the guys they had in camp could seize that 3rd tight end role remains disappointing.
Stefon Diggs - Yeah, he had four catches, including the one on 4th down. But he doesn't look explosive, and also seems to have very little interest in blocking. He, too, gets some leeway because he's playing football less than a year from tearing his ACL, but his snaps on Sunday weren't much.
Charles Woods - He had Malik Washington wrapped up on the punt return for a TD. This comes one week after the team cut D.J. James, who laid an egg in the opener on special teams.
POWER RANKINGS
Plenty of change in the top 10. The bottom 5? Not so much.
1. Philadelphia (2-0) - I don't really love watching their offense waste the talents of A.J. Brown and Devonta Smith, but to go into KC and make a desperate team fall to 0-2 is all the proof I need that this is where they belong
2. Green Bay (2-0) - They look scary good. That Micah Parsons is pretty good, isn't he?
3. Buffalo (2-0) - Some folks actually thought the Jets had a chance. Bahaha.
4. Baltimore (1-1) - Lamar toyed with the Browns.
5. Tampa Bay (2-0) - Both starting tackles out of the game? No problem. Baker Mayfield has more moxie than the soda.
7. LA Rams (2-0) - I don't know who did what to Matthew Stafford's back, but I'd love that same treatment.
8. LA Chargers (2-0) - Justin Herbert looks the best he ever has.
9. Detroit (1-1) - They sure didn't miss Ben Johnson on Sunday, thought they surely ruined their former OC's day, routing the Bears 52-21.
10. Indianapolis (2-0) - I didn't expect to see you here.
Bottom Dwellers
28. NY Giants (0-2) - They put a ton into their game against Dallas, and lost heartbreakingly. If they can't pull themselves off the mat in week 3, Daboll might want to get ahead of the curve and call the moving company.
29. New Orleans (0-2) - They didn't look as terrible as I thought, part 2.
30. Tennessee (0-2) - Brian Callahan is not impressing.
31. Carolina (0-2) - Yes, they made a late comeback to make things interesting in Arizona, but they stink, and they lost two starters along the offensive line (Hunt and Corbett). They come to NE to end September.
32. Miami (0-2) - Guys arguing on the sidelines. Offensive players gesticulating for the plays to get in faster. Tua is calling out the coaches and teammates. Mike McDaniel is calling out the players. Dumpster fire.