Dolphins outlast AFC East rival Patriots behind Raheem Mostert’s stellar night

It was the Miami Dolphins’ passing game that excelled in Week 1, but running back Raheem Mostert shined to help defeat the New England Patriots, 24-17, on Sunday night.

The Dolphins improved to 2-0, while the Patriots fell to 0-2 on the season.

For most of the night, Miami controlled the game, using its offensive firepower and aggressive defense to take a one-touchdown lead late in the game. However, after a Jason Sanders missed a 55-yard field goal, the Patriots had a chance to tie with excellent field position.

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Mac Jones couldn’t get the job done last week against the Philadelphia Eagles when the Patriots were down five with a chance to win the game. Jones had a chance at redemption here, but he couldn’t execute again.

Miami’s defense gave Jones and the Patriots offensive fits all night, and that continued during the two-minute drill as Bradley Chubb sacked Jones for the team’s fourth sack on the night.

On fourth down, needing to run four yards to continue the drive, Jones found his tight end (and former Dolphin) Mike Gesicki on a crossing route. But Gesicki was clearly going to be small, so he thought on the fly as he threw the ball backwards to offensive lineman Cole Strange to give the Patriots a chance to maybe break the line to win.

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Strange spun and fell to the turf, and it was initially called a first down. However, video replay showed Strange was too short and the Dolphins celebrated as the game ended.

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Miami’s defense made the right plays throughout the game, and it started when New England was forced to punt on its first drive after going just 21 yards on eight plays.

That was followed by a fumble by Pop Douglas, who didn’t see Chubb flying behind him on a catch-and-run and throwing a hammerfist to knock the ball out.

The Dolphins offense would capitalize on this opportunity, driving 11 plays and 73 yards with a Raheem Mostert touchdown run from eight yards out, increasing Miami’s lead to 10-0.

Mac Jones #10 of the New England Patriots is hit by Andrew Van Ginkel #43 of the Miami Dolphins during the second quarter at Gillette Stadium on September 17, 2023 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Adam Glanzman/Getty Images)

While last week was a big passing week for the Dolphins, it was the New England running game that led the way. Mostert finished with a game-high 121 yards on 18 carries with two touchdowns.

After running their next drive, the Patriots finally got on the board with a 49-yard field goal to Chad Ryland, who scored his first NFL field goal.

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But just before the end of the first half, the Dolphins found the end zone again, and it was Tua Tagovailoa who found Tyreek Hill – his favorite target in Week 1 – for a two-yard score.

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New England finally managed to find the end zone in the fourth quarter after forcing a Miami three-and-out. It was Jones who found Hunter Henry, who scored twice in Week 1, for a six-yard score and a touchdown.

That’s when the momentum started to go the Patriots’ way, and rookie cornerback Christian Gonzalez brought even more momentum to his sideline when he intercepted Tagovailoa, who was looking for a deep ball to Hill. It was Gonzalez’s first interception of his young career.

However, Miami’s defense got to Jones again on the ensuing drive. Andrew Van Ginkel, who wreaked havoc on the Patriots offensive line all night, got a sack that pushed Jones back 10 yards deep into Patriots territory.

Mac Jones #10 of the New England Patriots reacts after throwing an interception during the third quarter against the Miami Dolphins at Gillette Stadium on September 17, 2023 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)

The Patriots were forced to punt and the Dolphins wasted no time regaining their two-touchdown lead. Mostert found the end zone again, but this time he wasn’t even touched.

Mostert found a perfect hole on an inside zone run and used his blazing speed to race 43 yards to make it 24-10.

Jones and the Patriots had to respond on the next drive as time ran down in the fourth quarter. New England made the right plays and Jones handled the Dolphins’ pressure by making the right throws, including a scrambled strike to Juju Smith-Schuster to set up a two-yard Rhamondre Stevenson touchdown run to make it 24- 17.

But the Patriots failed once again and they’re back to the drawing board.

In the box score, Tagovailoa was 21 of 30 for 249 yards with a touchdown and an interception, with Jaylen Waddle being his leading receiver with 86 yards on four receptions. Hill finished with 40 yards on five catches.

Jones went 31 for 42 with 231 yards, totaling one touchdown and one interception. The Patriots totaled just 88 rushing yards, with Stevenson leading the pack with 50 on 15 carries.

The Patriots face Week 3 against another AFC East rival, the New York Jets, on the road.

Raheem Mostert #31 of the Miami Dolphins runs the ball for a touchdown during the fourth quarter against the New England Patriots at Gillette Stadium on September 17, 2023 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Adam Glanzman/Getty Images)

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Meanwhile, the Dolphins, enjoying the fast start that head coach Mike McDaniel certainly likes, will return home to face the Denver Broncos.