FOXBOROUGH, MASS. — The Patriots dominated the numbers.
First downs? They had 24 to the Dolphins’ 16.
Total yards? They had 393 to the Dolphins’ 259.
Third-down conversions? They had 11-of-16 to the Dolphins’ 4-of-11.
But the Patriots were uncharacteristically sloppy in two areas they rarely are. They had four fumbles, losing two, including one on the game-deciding recovery by Xavien Howard. New England also had eight penalties for 84 yards, including three for unnecessary roughing — one of which might have cost them a touchdown. The Dolphins, by comparison, had five penalties for 28 yards.
So there you have it: Ball protection and discipline win the day. The Dolphins beat the Patriots at the game they usually play and win.
2. Stat of the day: New England running back Damien Harris’ fumble was his second in 141 career attempts.
3. Quote of the day: “That’s what Tua do. If he doesn’t have his first read, he’s just gonna throw the ball up,” New England cornerback J.C. Jackson about Dolphins QB Tua Tagovailoa’s interception late in the game that could have lost the day for the Dolphins.
4. It was nice to see a rookie make a big impact from his first moment. No, that’s not about Patriots quarterback Mac Jones, though he had a big day. Jaylen Waddle looked like the Dolphins’ best receiver right from the first play when he took a short pass over the middle and ran for a 17-yard gain. He also caught a deep, 36-yard pass to answer on the play after the Patriots took a 10-7 lead. For the day, Waddle caught four passes for 61 yards and showed the electricity he can bring to an offense once he gets some NFL experience under him. Considering another first-round pick, Noah Igbinoghene, was inactive in his second season, it was good Waddle looks like a hit.
5. Were the Dolphins over-thinking things with Jacoby Brissett? They brought him in for Tua on fourth-and-1 to use his 6-4, 235-pound body on a quarterback sneak. That worked, too. He got 2 yards. But then they kept Brissett in the game. He went to the shotgun and that resulted in an illegal procedure penalty. We’re not going to know what that play was, but the whole idea seemed to be a little too cute.
6. You had to feel for Ryan Fitzpatrick injuring his hip and having to leave his opener for Washington. Fitzpatrick got pummeled at times as Dolphins quarterback in getting sacked 54 times the past two years (40 in 2019). But it was his sack by Chargers linebacker Uchenna Nwosu that knocked him out of the game. He’d completed 3-of-6 passes for 13 yards to that point. Justin Herbert completed 31-of-47 passes for 337 yards a touchdown and an interception in that game.
7. Is Zach Wilson going to make it out alive? The Jets rookie quarterback was sacked six times in New York’s opening loss to Carolina. He completed 20-of-37 passes for 258 yards, two touchdowns and an interception. It looked bleak when the Jets fell behind, 19-0. But two Wilson touchdown passes to Corey Davis gave some hope. The Jets did loss left tackle Mekhi Becton with a knee injury.
8. Liam Eichenberg at left tackle worked out OK, just OK, considering he didn’t practice at the position until this week. He got run over once by Patriots linebacker Josh Uche for a sack. He had two holding penalties. That’s not so good. But, again considering all the questions there were at left tackle coming into the game with Austin Jackson missing the week on the COVID list, here’s what you say: Eichenberg didn’t cost them the game. He hadn’t played left tackle since leaving Notre Dame. He was put at right tackle and left guard through the summer. The fact he was played left tackle Sunday also tells you how little the Dolphins think of Greg Little, who was made inactive. Little was traded for from Carolina for a seventh-round pick.
9. In the grudge match-ups, former Dolphins Kyle Van Noy and Davon Godchaux had some impact. Van Noy had three tackles, including a sack. Godchaux had three tackles, two solo. Former Patriots defensive tackle Adam Butler had two tackles for the Dolphins.
10: Next week: Buffalo Bills at Dolphins. The Bills didn’t come out of the gates like the AFC East heavyweight they’re picked to be. Josh Allen’s offense put up 16 points Sunday, tying their season-low total of all last season. What does it mean? It means they won’t want to start 0-2 in Hard Rock Stadium next Sunday.