NFL: New England Patriots 41 Miami Dolphins 13 recap and considerations

With a win on sunday afternoon, the Pats would be sure to clinch once again the AFC East, as they were hosting Miami, who is still in playoff contention, even after their hard loss last sunday at home against the Ravens.
Miami started with the ball and QB Tannehill attacked early the Pats backs, as he threw a wonderful deep pass to WR Mike Wallace on a long route for a gain of 50 yards. After 2 straight completions and a good run by RB Miller, Miami’s kicker Caleb Sturgis tried a long field goal, but NE special team showed up again, as pass rusher Jamie Collins blocked the attempt and CB Arrington took the ball to the Dolphins end zone, to make this a quick 7-0 game in favor of New England. The Dolphins marched than the field after this disastrous play, but they were stopped and they had to punt, as QB Tannehill overthrew WR Hartline who was wide open after beating CB Browner. Brady got the ball fo the first time and he was coming up throwing, as he found 3 times his top guy, WR Julian Edelman to get to midfield. But Miami’s defense made a huge play, as MLB Jason Trusnik picked Brady after blocking the pass who was intended for WR LaFell. Normally a special team player, Trusnik was starting at pass rusher for Misi, who was injured. Tannehill came back with the ball at midfield and he connected a couple of time with rookie WR Jarvis Landry on 3rd down, as Miami advanced into the red zone. But New England D stopped the team from Florida, and they connected for just a field goal. After forcing the Pats to punt, the Dolphins started their drive bad, and on a 3rd and 14, the QB out of Texas A&M missed Landry and SS Harmon picked the ball for his 1st career interception and return to the Miami end zone. On a 3rd and goal, New England scored thanks to a TD by RB Vereen, as he ran to his right and followed his O line. But the Dolphins kept fighting, and they had a huge shot to came back close, as Tannehill threw a perfect pass on the outside to RB Williams but the rookie dropped the ball on the end zone line. This was really a superb play, because Tannehill realized that his running back was covered by a big linebacker. Williams made a gorgeous double move to totally lose Collins, but his drop was really the game changer. After converted a field goal, Miami use his 3 timeouts and got the ball back and on the Pats 32 yard line, WR Wallace made a superb and huge play, as he scored a TD on a deep route and totally freeze rookie CB Butler and safety McCourthy. 14-13 Patriots was the score at halfime.
With under 100 yards thrown and no catches by TE Gronkowski, the Pats offense was not at his level in the 1st period. But Brady bounced back in the big way, as the 3 time Super Bowl winner found Gronk on a superb pass up the middle for a 35 yards gain. QB Brady found Edelman and LaFell, but on a 3rd and 11 at the Miami 21, Brady decided to do it by himself, and he faked the pass to Vereen to obtain the 1st down. Then RB Blount scored a TD to make this one a 21-13 ballgame. Miami did nothing with the ball and RB Gray entered the game for NE. The former Notre Dame guy, who destroy Indy a month ago, saw just 3 snap since his bad comportment at the Pats warmup 3 weeks ago. He ran well and Gostkowski kicked a field goal. Miami was no more in the game, as Tannehill tried to find RB Miller in a quick throw, but CB Browner quicked the ball and SS Chung intercepted it. On the next scrimmage play, QB Brady found his old reliable TE, as Gronk scored on a 27 yards gain up the middle, between the 2 Miami SS Jones and Wilson. After getting the ball back, Brady marched than the field once again, as he finally found Edelman on a superb lob pass to his right : the score was 38 to 13, after a 24-0 3rd period. The 4th quarter was not so great on the offensive side, and even second QB, rookie Garoppolo entered the game but just handled the ball to his backs.
New England won this game, as they destroyed Miami in the 2nd half. This is the 6th straight time they won the AFC East, and if they win their last 2 games against the Jets and the Bills, they will obtain home field advantage in the postseason. On the Dolphins side, well they are almost eliminated from the playoffs, as they have right now a 7-7 record. My MVP to this game is the entire Pats defensive back core, as they put pressure to Tannehill and forced him to throw a couple of interception.

With the collaboration of Alan Guillou