It’s the end of the Patriots as we know them: Miami Dolphins blow out New England 21-0
The Miami Dolphins buried the New England Patriots in Joe Robbie Stadium with their 21-0 victory, and they probably also buried the entire New England Super Bowl era as well. It was a blowout that followed the script of so many blowouts we’ve seen with the Patriots on the winning side: A close score for much of the game followed by complete domination as the second half chugs along. It was depressing watching the Patriots go down themselves in such a seemingly helpless manner.
The shortcomings of the Patriots that have been on display throughout the season all came together in this debacle: The sub-standard receiving corps, the depleted secondary, the fading linebacker corps and an offensive line that is above average but not nothing special. Against the Dolphins, the offensive line was overrun all day long. Quarterback Tom Brady rarely had time to do much more than quickly get rid of the ball, and often he didn’t have time to do that. Left tackle Matt Light was abused by Miami’s speed-rusher defensive end Jason Taylor, but so was Nick Kaczur at the other end of the line. Taylor also beat the interior line men in various rush combinations. All in all, Brady didn’t have much of a pocket to from., and he couldn’t buy much extra time by rolling outside. Miami’s defenders chased him down no matter where he went.
Runningback Corey Dillon had a good day statistically, with 79 yards on 16 carries, including 17 yarder off the left tackle after Taylor overran the play, but numbers be damned: At no point did Dillon’s running come close to turn the tide in Patriots’ favor. Part of the reason was the magnificent punting by Miami’s Donnie Jones. He planted three punts inside New England five-yard line, and the Patriots didn’t have anywhere near enough offensive firepower to break out of those beach heads.
Another fine effort by New England’s defensive line went wasted as neither linebackers nor defensive backs could make the kind of big play that could turn the game around or even put the offense in decent field position. Nose tackle Vince Wilfork, who’s been having a very fine season, left the game with an injury in the second half, as did tight end Ben Watson.
Safety Artrell Hawkins made a great open-field form tackle on a pass play that easily could have gone another ten yards. I mention it becuase it’s common these days for safeties to go for the big “Jacked-up!” blow-up tackle that will earn them five seconds on ESPN’s Sportscenter show, but Hawkins showed he has the discipline and technique to make a real, productive, honest-to-God football tackle when the situation calls for it.
New England is now 9-4 with three games left to play. They’re two games ahead of the New York Jets in the AFC Division East. Whatever playoff apperance they manage is likely to be shortlived.
[Note: This post originally claimed the Patriots are one game ahead of the Jets. The Patriots are two games ahead, as it now says.]
