Patriots vs. Dolphins recap: Pats close out regular season with 38-10 win

The New England Patriots wrapped up their regular season with a 38-10 victory over the Miami Dolphins to improve to 14-3.

After opening a quick 14-0 lead, the Dolphins hung around in the first half before Rhamondre Stevenson and Co. erupted for 21 unanswered second half points to earn a win that secures the Patriots the AFC’s No. 2 seed in the playoffs.

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Here’s everything that went down at Gillette Stadium on Sunday.

Final score: Patriots 38 : 10 Dolphins

Sunday, Jan. 4, 4:25 p.m. ET | Gillette Stadium, Foxboro, MA | Broadcast information | Inactives | Game day roster

First Quarter

The Dolphins won the toss and deferred, putting Drake Maye and the Patriots offense on the field first. New England opened things on the ground, as Rhamondre Stevenson took an open carry nine yards before breaking free up the middle for 56 yards on his next carry. Immediately set up at the five-yard line, a handoff to TreVeyon Henderson found the end zone. [Patriots 7 : 0 Dolphins]

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Miami’s first possession resulted a quick first-down before Quinn Ewers fired a 20-yard completion on the following third-down to work into New England territory. A six-yard tackle for loss by Milton Williams in his return helped set up a fourth-and-one down inside the red zone, where Ewers pass into the end zone was caught but out of bounds.

Taking over backed up at their own eight-yard line following the turnover on downs, the Patriots moved the chains to find some breathing room before facing a 3rd-and-5 — where Maye shook off a defender and an uncalled face mask to pick up the line to gain with his legs. New England then struck a pair of big gains as a flea flicker to Efton Chism III went for 35 yards before Henderson found 13 yards on the ground in addition to a face mask call. Back in a goal-to-go situation, a pair of runs resulted in another score as Stevenson took a wild cat snap into the end zone. [Patriots 14 : 0 Dolphins]

Second Quarter

The Dolphins’ next drive began with a 19-yard completion to Tahj Washington to move the ball across midfield before a reverse to Malik Washington went for an additional 14 yards. Finding themselves back near the goal line, a play-action bootleg resulted in a wide open Malik Washington in the end zone for a touchdown. [Patriots 14 : 7 Dolphins]

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A pair of incompletions to start the following drive put New England in an opening 3rd-and-10, where Maye uncorked one deep down the seam to DeMario Douglas which fell incomplete. A strong punt by Bryce Baringer and coverage — led by Brenden Schooler and Julian Ashby — pinned Miami at their own 11.

New England’s defense responded by forcing a three-and-out of their own, as a third-down run was stuffed by Cory Durden to force a punt.

A third-down false start penalty be Stefon Diggs set the Patriots up in a 3rd-and-7, where a check down to Hunter Henry was complete but just short of the line to gain. Keeping the offense on the field at their own 40-yard line, a handoff to Henderson from the fullback alignment was stopped for a loss.

Taking over in New England territory, Miami started going backwards with a holding penalty before a tackle by Christian Gonzalez and Jack Gibbens resulted in a fumble — that Elijah Ponder recovered to get the ball back.

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Back in business at the Dolphins 37-yard line, New England worked into the red zone behind their running back duo but was pushed backwards by a holding penalty on Morgan Moses. Facing a 3rd-and-5, a first-down completion to Douglas was negated due to an offensive pass interference penalty on Hunter Henry. The Patriots were then forced into settling for a field goal where Andy Borregales’ attempt was blocked.

The blocked kick set the Dolphins up at the Patriots’ 40-yard line with 1:31 remaining in the half. A second-down sack by Christian Barmore led to a screen by Miami on 3rd-and-17 that picked up 13 yards to work back into field goal range. A 52-yard attempt by Riley Patterson was then good. [Patriots 14 : 10 Dolphins]

With 24 seconds left and no timeouts, Maye found Kayshon Boutte along the sidelines for 13 yards to start the drive. Finding Miami in man coverage, Maye then took off up the middle for 14 yards before reverting his route out of bounds. Trying a 59-yard field goal with three seconds left, Borregales’ attempt just worked over the crossbar. [Patriots 17 : 10 Dolphins]

Third Quarter

Starting the second-half with the ball, a first-down pass by Quinn Ewers downfield drew a pass interference penalty on Carlton Davis to net 27 yards. An offensive penalty was seven-yard run stuff by Anfernee Jennings then had Miami going backwards. Facing 3rd-and-17, a quick pass to Greg Dulcich saw the tight end have space to pick up 20 yards and a first-down. New England’s defense then struck again, as Jaylinn Hawkins intercepted Ewers’ pass in the end zone.

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Taking over at their own 20 following the turnover, a play-action boot resulted in a 29-yard catch-and-run to Hunter Henry. Over midfield on a 3rd-and-1, Stevenson broke contact behind the line of scrimmage and found 20 yards on the ground to move outside the red zone. With another 3rd-and-short, Maye found the running back through the air in the end zone for a 15-yard touchdown. [Patriots 24 : 10 Dolphins]

Miami’s next drive converted an opening third-down before being faced with a 3rd-and-10, where a simulated pressure resulted in Marcus Jones and Milton Williams getting home for a sack.

A first-down completion to Hunter Henry on a sail route for 16 yards started the Patriots next possession. A pair of short gains then moved the ball to the 35-yard line, where Stevenson again broke free up the middle and found the end zone. [Patriots 31 : 10 Dolphins]

New England continued to keep Miami’s offense in neutral, as Ewers was sacked on third-down by Elijah Ponder forcing a punt.

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Fourth Quarter

A 34-yard completion to Stefon Diggs began the next drive and put the veteran receiver over the 1,000-yard mark on the season. Then working down to the goal line, a handoff to Henderson found the end zone. [Patriots 38 : 10 Dolphins]

Pulling their defensive starters up 38-10, New England still forced a three-and-out highlighted by a nine-yard run stuff by Anfernee Jennings.

Joshua Dobbs took over at quarterback with 11:01 left in the fourth quarter and immediately hit Hunter Henry to earn the tight end a $250k incentive. A run stuff and deep incompletion, however, then forced a punt.

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A 16-yard gain through the air was all Miami could muster their next possession, as a third-down sack by K’Lavon Chaisson then forced a punt.

Back with the ball, the Patriots kept things on the ground before Dobbs attempted to pick up a third-down with his legs and came up short — even after a challenge by Mike Vrabel.

With Zach Wilson taking over under center, the Dolphins faced a 3rd-and-9 where pressure from Leonard Taylor Jr. forced an incompletion.

The Patriots faced a 3rd-and-5 where Dobbs overthrew Efton Chism, although a roughing the passer penalty resulted in a fresh set of downs. They then took things to the two-minute warning and picked up 20 yards on a screen to DeMario Douglas to ice the game. Things then went to victory formation.