After falling behind in the opening half, the Patriots surged after the break.
Miami led 13‑3 at halftime, but New England rattled off 21 unanswered points, reclaimed a two‑score edge and held on after a missed extra point and a recovered onside kick for a 24‑19 victory.
Rhamondre Stevenson logged 18 carries for 77 yards, while quarterback Drake Maye orchestrated the comeback.
Maye, 7‑of‑10 for 53 yards and two sacks in the first half, launched eight straight completions to start the third quarter, racking up 144 yards and two long touchdowns—one to Kyle Williams and a 48‑yard strike to Pop Douglas.
Douglas’s score followed safety Kevin Byard’s first interception as a Patriot, snatching a Malik Willis pass that ricocheted off DaQuan Jones’s helmet.
Maye added a two‑yard rush, marking his second straight game with passing and rushing scores; five consecutive outings with multiple TD passes underscore his impact. For my money, Maye’s versatility is the Patriots’ biggest asset.
Wideout A.J. Brown missed Sunday with a knee issue, leaving the 5‑3 Patriots to hope for his return against Green Bay next week.
Willis completed 21‑of‑32 for 211 yards and two touchdowns, delivering another strong start for Miami’s rookie quarterback. Running back Ollie Gordon contributed 69 yards on 19 carries but drew an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty that hurt the Dolphins’ margin for error.
Hosting the Lions in Week 9, Detroit sits 1‑5 and must sharpen up to pull off an upset. Can they deliver the surprise?