Maye Scores Three Times as Patriots Erase 10-Point Deficit to Beat Dolphins 24-19
New England overcame missing starters and a halftime disadvantage to defeat Miami 24-19 on Sunday.
By Yara Nasser ·
Drake Maye led the New England Patriots to a 24-19 victory over the Miami Dolphins on Sunday at Hard Rock Stadium, recording three total touchdowns while playing without three key offensive contributors. The Patriots (5-3) trailed by 10 points at the halftime break but outscored Miami 21-0 in the second half before surviving a late rally.
The Patriots entered the game without wide receiver A.J. Brown, who suffered a knee and ankle injury, wide receiver Mack Hollins, who missed time with a calf injury, and running back TreVeyon Henderson, who was sidelined with an illness. Maye adapted to the personnel changes by completing 16 of 20 pass attempts for 199 yards and rushing for a touchdown.
Miami (1-6) held a 13-3 lead after the first half. Malik Willis completed a 35-yard touchdown pass to rookie Kevin Coleman Jr. in the final two minutes of the game to spark the Dolphins' final push. However, the Patriots secured the win when Rhamondre Stevenson recovered an onside kick following Miami's failed two-point conversion attempt.
The turning point for New England came in the fourth quarter when DeMario Douglas caught a 48-yard touchdown pass. The reception put the Patriots ahead for good early in the period. Douglas finished the game with three receptions for 76 yards, while Stevenson carried the ball 19 times for 82 yards.
Coach Mike Vrabel praised Maye's performance despite the absences. "(If) you want to be a great quarterback in the National Football League, there's not a whole lot of excuses," Vrabel said. "You go out there and find ways to win for your football team. That’s who he is and that’s what he wants to continue to be."
Maye's rushing touchdown came with 59 seconds left in the third quarter. He faked a handoff to Stevenson and ran for two yards to put the Patriots ahead 17-13. The score marked Maye's fifth consecutive game with at least three total touchdowns. Earlier in the game, a 43-yard pass to Kyle Williams was overturned from an incomplete call to a touchdown after Vrabel challenged the decision.
Willis finished the game 21-of-32 for 211 yards with two touchdowns and one interception while being sacked five times. The Dolphins also saw running back Ollie Gordon removed from the game after an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty. Willis spoke to Gordon on the sideline, telling him he was wrong in the situation. "I was just letting him know that in that situation, that he’s .. wrong," Willis said.
