Dolphins pass rush vs. Patriots pass protection

Who won: Patriots

The impact: These days, you don’t have to cut the head off the snake to stop an offense. But you better rattle it. The Dolphins didn’t touch Tom Brady until the second half. And when the Dolphins did get pressure from the outside, Brady had space to step up and zing the ball. Brady dropped back 37 times and was sacked only once, “hurried” twice. Four weeks ago, the Dolphins sacked Brady four times and hurried him eight times in 44 dropbacks.

Patriots pass rush vs. Dolphins pass protection

Who won: Patriots

The impact: Meanwhile, the Patriots rattled the Dolphins’ offensive head, figuratively and literally. New England battered Ryan Tannehill with seven sacks, one of which sent the Dolphins’ rookie wobbling to the sideline in the third quarter. Also, Tannehill’s interception, by Steve Gregory, came with blitzing linebacker Rob Ninkovich crowding Tannehill so much he couldn’t step into the throw. As the Dolphins receivers couldn’t get open quickly if at all, this made the Patriots’ pass rush even more dominant.

Dolphins run defense vs. Patriots running game

Who won: Patriots

The impact: New England ran for 86 yards on 21 carries, 4.1 yards per carry in the first half when the Patriots took a 21-0 lead. In the second half, they pounded for 81 yards on 17 carries, 4.8 yards per carry. And they did it when they really needed it, both from inside the Dolphins’ 10 (four carries for 10 yards to the 14-0 touchdown from first-and-goal on the 10) and from inside the Patriots’ 10 (two carries for 21 yards from the New England 1 after recovering a fumble).