Five takeaways from the Dolphins’ narrow 33-27 loss to the Patriots
The Miami Dolphins knew the stakes of Sunday’s home opener.
It might be early in the season, but an 0-2 start is essentially a death sentence. Between 1990 and 2023, roughly 11.5% of teams that were winless through their first two games made the playoffs, according to Sports Illustrated. Combine that with the upcoming trip to Buffalo for a Thursday night showdown against the Bills, a team that has habitually spanked the Dolphins, and an 0-3 start is possible.
Unfortunately, the Dolphins lost a close 33-27 matchup to the Patriots.
“To start off 0-2 is not a good feeling,” linebacker Jordyn Brooks said. “So this week we’ve got a short week. We’ve got to put it behind us fast. That takes a lot of mental strength to be able to do that and then turn your focus to the next team. So we really don’t have a choice. We’ve got to do that.”
After a dismal three-turnover, 114-yard passing performance to start the 2025 season, Tua Tagovailoa looked better against the Patriots. The franchise quarterback completed 81% of his passes for 315 yards and two touchdowns. He also threw an interception.
Arguably most important, however, was that he re-stablished his connection with Hill, who caught six balls for 109 yards, highlighted by a 47-yard bomb.
The defense, however, gave up more than 120 yards on the ground and only forced Patriots quarterback Drake Maye into four incompletions. Maye went 19 for 23 en route to 230 yards passing and two touchdowns. He also rushed for 31 yards and a touchdown.
DE’VON ACHANE IS HIM
The third-year tailback channeled his inner beast mode on his second-quarter touchdown, making a few defenders miss and powering through a third to get into the end zone.
Although Achane didn’t have the best day on the ground (11 carries for 30 yards), he led the team in catches with eight for 92 yards.
THE TEAM NEEDS TO START BETTER
A win, however, did not look to be on the horizon when the game kicked off. The Dolphins’ first possession looked straight out of Week 1 as it nearly ended with an interception when Tagovailoa fired an errant pass to Hill. Offsetting penalties led to a redo, however, the Dolphins still went three-and-out.
Defensively, the Dolphins gave up two early touchdowns as Patriots quarterback Drake Maye found receivers Mack Hollins and Keyshon Boutte on consecutive scores to put them up 12-0.
MALIK WASHINGTON HAS ARRIVED
The second-year receiver was arguably the Dolphins’ most productive rusher with three carries for 23 yards.
That, however, isn’t why he deserves the recognition.
With the Dolphins down 23-20, Washington bobbled the punt return, ran to the right then spun back left en route to a 74-yard punt return touchdown.
SPECIAL TEAMS STILL NEEED WORK
The Dolphins did a great job guiding Washington into the end zone.
Unfortunately, two plays later, Patriots running back Antonio Gibson ran back a kick return 90 yards for the go-ahead score that put New England up 30-27 following the point after try.
COSTLY PENALTIES
Although the Dolphins didn’t have more penalties than the Patriots, they did have some very costly ones when it mattered most.
Think back to the rookie cornerback Jason Marshall Jr.’s illegal contact penalty on second-and-25 that gave the Patriots the first down and eventually led to a touchdown.
Think back to the false start and delay of game penalties that put the Dolphins’ way behind the sticks on their second to last offensive drive.
Think back to consecutive false start and delay-of-game penalties on the Dolphins’ final drive of the game.
“That was really frustrating,” Tagovailoa said. “It was frustrating with the communication, with the guys inside the huddle and then what the personnel is, then the play for those guys. Do we have too many guys in, why do we have another guy running in. Just the whole operation of that was not up to standard, was not up to par, and I’ve got to do a better job with our guys in that sense.”
These penalties not only were avoidable, they eventually cost the Dolphins the game.
“We had the opportunity to win the game, but we robbed it from ourselves,” coach Mike McDaniel said.
This story was originally published September 14, 2025 at 4:32 PM.
