Patriots Beat Dolphins 24-19 as Drake Maye Accounts for 3 Touchdowns in Rainy Second-Half Comeback

The New England Patriots trailed the Miami Dolphins 13-3 at halftime in steady rain at Hard Rock Stadium on Sunday, Nov. 1. Then they scored 21 straight points and held on for a 24-19 win. Drake Maye threw two touchdown passes and ran for another as New England improved to 5-3, according to the Associated Press. The Patriots are also 3-0 in the AFC East, per the team.

Patriots vs. Dolphins: how the comeback happened

Miami controlled the first half. Malik Willis went 12 of 15 for 112 yards before the break, according to Patriots.com. He capped an 11-play, 70-yard two-minute drive with a 1-yard touchdown pass to Malik Washington for the 13-3 halftime lead, the AP reported. Washington had briefly left that drive after a hit from Christian Elliss that drew an unnecessary roughness flag, then returned to score.

The second half went the other way:

• 43-yard touchdown to Kyle Williams. Officials first ruled the pass incomplete. Mike Vrabel challenged, and replays showed Williams crossed the goal line before losing the ball, per the AP. That made it 13-10.
• Taunting penalty stalls Miami. On the next drive, running back Ollie Gordon II drew a 15-yard unsportsmanlike conduct penalty after a 5-yard carry, and Miami went three-and-out. NBC Sports reported that Willis told Gordon afterward he was “dead-ass wrong.” Coach Jeff Hafley sat Gordon for a play, the AP said.
• Maye’s go-ahead run. Maye faked a pitch to Rhamondre Stevenson and walked in from 2 yards with 59 seconds left in the third quarter, putting New England up 17-13.
• 48-yard catch-and-run by DeMario Douglas. Early in the fourth, Douglas caught a pass and weaved through the secondary for a two-score lead.

Willis threw a 35-yard touchdown to rookie Kevin Coleman Jr. with two minutes left, but the two-point try failed. Stevenson recovered Miami’s onside kick, and the Patriots ran out the clock.

Drake Maye stats

Maye completed 16 of 20 passes for 199 yards. Patriots.com said he was 9 of 10 for 146 yards in the second half with a perfect 158.3 passer rating. The AP noted it was his fifth straight game with at least three total touchdowns. The team said he is the first Patriots quarterback to do that since Tom Brady in 2007.

“It was huge. We needed to open it up a little bit and break the barrier of getting in the end zone,” Maye said, per Patriots.com.

Vrabel described his halftime message: “Just to keep our composure and chip away at it little by little. It was a good opportunity for us not to be frontrunners.”

Short-handed offense

Maye did it without much of his supporting cast. Patriots.com reported that New England played without receivers A.J. Brown, Romeo Doubs and Mack Hollins, running back TreVeyon Henderson and guards Alijah Vera-Tucker and Mike Onwenu. Tight end Hunter Henry left in the second quarter with a foot injury.

Douglas led the team with three catches for 76 yards, and Stevenson ran 19 times for 82 yards, per the AP.

Dolphins: Willis and a defense that couldn’t hold

Willis finished 21 of 32 for 211 yards with two touchdowns and an interception. He was sacked five times. Zane Gonzalez made field goals of 31 and 52 yards but missed from 43 in the fourth. Patriots.com said New England held Gordon to 69 yards on 19 carries. Miami had come in with one win.

Injuries

• Patriots: TE Hunter Henry (foot) and LB Gabe Jacas (knee) left and did not return, per the AP.
• Dolphins: Edge rusher Malik Herring left in the second quarter with a stinger and returned in the third.

What’s next

The Patriots host the Green Bay Packers next Sunday. Patriots.com noted it will be Rob Gronkowski’s Hall of Fame weekend. With so many offensive starters hurt, the team’s injury report this week will be worth watching.

FAQ

Earlier coverage: Patriots vs. Dolphins: Kickoff Time, How to Watch and What to Know About the Week 8 Game in Miami (Nov 1)