Antonio Gibson’s 90-yard kickoff return for a touchdown helped the New England Patriots post a 33-27 win over the Miami Dolphins in a Sunday afternoon shootout in Miami Gardens, Fla.
Gibson’s first career touchdown return was the difference in the game, coming on the ensuing kickoff 12 seconds after a 74-yard punt-return touchdown by Miami’s Malik Washington gave the Dolphins the lead with 7:39 left.
The Dolphins drove into New England territory in the final 90 seconds, but the drive ended on Milton Williams’ second sack of the game on fourth-and-12 at the 28-yard line, clinching the Patriots’ first win in Miami since 2019. The Dolphins fell to 0-2 for the first time since 2020.
New England quarterback Drake Maye sparked the offense by completing 19 of 23 passes for 230 yards and two touchdowns with a rushing touchdown. He was supplemented by Rhamondre Stevenson, who led the Patriots with 88 receiving yards and 54 rushing yards.
Miami quarterback Tua Tagovailoa was 26 of 32 for 315 yards and two touchdowns, with one interception. Tyreek Hill sparked the offense with 109 yards on six catches while De’Von Achane led the Dolphins with 30 rushing yards and added 92 receiving yards and a touchdown.
On paper, the Patriots (1-1) should have had a larger halftime lead than their 15-14 advantage. They outgained Miami 143-18 in the first quarter and scored on all three first-half possessions before kneeling out the final 31 seconds.
And yet, a pair of missed extra points by Andy Borregales and a drive stalling inside the 5-yard line opened the door for the Dolphins, who scored touchdowns on their final two first-half drives.
Both quarterbacks were exceptional throughout the opening 30 minutes, each throwing a pair of touchdown passes.
Maye threw a pair of first-quarter TDs, to Mack Hollins with 9:34 left and to Kayshon Boutte with 55 seconds left.
Tagovailoa responded with a pair of second-quarter touchdowns, an 18-yarder to Jaylen Waddle with 11:25 left and a 29-yarder to Achane with 41 seconds remaining.
After Riley Patterson gave the Dolphins the lead with a 40-yard field goal to begin the third quarter, the Miami defense delivered a stop.
Patterson extended the lead with another field goal from 44 yards to make it 20-15 Dolphins before the Patriots took the lead back on a 6-yard Maye scramble in the closing seconds of the third quarter.
The Patriots finished with five sacks of Tagovailoa, keeping Miami without a second-half offensive touchdown.
–Field Level Media
