Patriots
The Patriots practically got here again from a double-digit deficit, solely to fall brief for the second straight week.
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (AP) — A blocked area purpose that prevented Miami from taking a three-score lead. An interception that set the Patriots up for what may have been the game-tying drive. One other missed Miami area purpose.
And none of it amounted to something for New England on Sunday evening.
“The protection has continued to do an ideal job. They’ve simply acquired to maintain doing their factor,” stated Patriots quarterback Mac Jones, who for the second straight week had the ball with an opportunity to win the sport within the last minute. “We’ve acquired to determine it out on our facet.”
The Patriots’ offense supplied few highlights in a 24-17 loss to Miami that dropped them to 0-2 for the primary time since Tom Brady took over because the beginning quarterback. What’s worse: Jones didn’t capitalize on large performs by the protection and particular groups that stored the Patriots within the sport.
“This wasn’t our day,” Jones stated. “Hasn’t been our day for the final two weeks.”
One week after falling behind the defending NFC champion Philadelphia Eagles 16-0, the Patriots trailed 17-3 late within the third quarter on Sunday evening when Miami lined up for a 49-yard area purpose try. New England’s Brenden Schooler set as much as the far proper, then sprinted alongside the road of scrimmage and, when the ball was snapped, swerved into the backfield to snuff out the kick.
Kyle Dugger picked it up deep within the Dolphins backfield, and solely a fast deal with by Christian Wilkins stopped him from racing to the top zone. Jones then drove the Patriots to a pair of first downs earlier than lofting a go towards the top zone, the place Xavien Howard acquired inside place on the receiver and pulled it down on the 3 for the interception.
New England made Miami punt, and Jones drove New England to the Dolphins 6 earlier than hitting Hunter Henry ultimately zone to make it 17-10. However after Christian Gonzalez picked off Tua Tagovailoa, the Patriots went backwards, forcing Bryce Baringer to punt from his personal finish zone.
On Miami’s first play, Raheem Mostert broke by the road untouched and went 43 yards for a landing.
New England had one final likelihood after Dolphins kicker Jason Sanders missed a 55-yard field-goal try with a seven-point lead and simply over two minutes remaining. Jones introduced the Patriots to the Miami 33 and linked with tight finish Mike Gesicki on a fourth-and-4 go.
Stopped close to the road of scrimmage, Gesicki pitched the ball to offensive lineman Cole Unusual, who bulled forward for one more 4 yards earlier than he was introduced down proper on the 30. The play was initially dominated a primary down, however the replay confirmed Unusual was stopped wanting the marker; the Dolphins took over on downs and kneeled out the clock.
“We’ve simply acquired to do a greater job when it issues probably the most,” heart David Andrews stated. “And cease taking part in from behind. That’s two weeks in a row taking part in from behind. It’s arduous to play catch-up on this league. … It’s not the way you wish to play the sport.”
The final time the Patriots misplaced their first two video games was in 2001 with Drew Bledsoe at quarterback — coach Invoice Belichick’s second season in New England. Bledsoe was injured and changed by Brady within the Week 2 loss to the Jets, however the Patriots went on to win the Tremendous Bowl that season and in two of the subsequent three as nicely.
“I really feel like we’re an ideal workforce. I really feel like we’ve proven nice issues these final two video games, actually promising issues,” defensive lineman Deatrich Clever stated. “We simply have to preserve trusting the method and issues will flip round.”
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