The Patriots outscored the Dolphins 21-0 in the second half to win 38-10 on Sunday afternoon. It clinched the second seed for the Patriots and put a lid on Drake Maye’s candidacy.
The Patriots finish the regular season 14-3, while the Dolphins head back to Miami 7-10 and with a decision to make about head coach Mike McDaniel’s future. McDaniel is 35-33 in four seasons.
The Patriots outgained the Dolphins 457 to 180, with 230 of their yards coming in the second half when they ran away from Miami.
Maye was 14-of-18 for 191 yards and a touchdown, turning over the reins to Joshua Dobbs with 11:01 remaining in the fourth quarter. For the season, Maybe completed 72 percent of his passes for 4,394 yards with 31 touchdowns and eight interceptions. He added 450 rushing yards and four scores.
He is the favorite to win the MVP award over Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford.
Rhamondre Stevenson had seven carries for 131 yards and two touchdowns and scored another on a 15-yard reception, while TreVeyon Henderson took 13 carries for 53 yards and two scores. Maye added five carries for 41 yards.
Hunter Henry caught five passes for 56 yards.
Dolphins rookie Quinn Ewers went 16-of-23 for 137 yards with a touchdown and an interception. He took five sacks. Ewers was playing without running back De’Von Achane and wide receiver Jaylen Waddle.
Drake Maye’s MVP case was wrapped up with 11:01 remaining in Sunday’s game.
The Patriots quarterback turned over the reins to Joshua Dobbs with the Patriots leading the Dolphins 38-10.
He went 14-of-18 for 191 yards and a touchdown.
For the season, Maybe completed 72 percent of his passes for 4,394 yards with 31 touchdowns and eight interceptions. He added 450 rushing yards and four scores.
He is the favorite to win the award over Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford.
The Patriots are playing for seeding on Sunday. The Dolphins are playing for pride.
Yet, New England leads Miami only 17-10 at halftime.
The Patriots need help from the Chargers, who trail the Broncos 10-3 at halftime. Denver wins the No. 1 seed with a win. The Patriots, though, can get the No. 2 seed with a win.
The Patriots scored on their first two possessions, getting a 5-yard touchdown run from TreVeyon Henderson and a 2-yard run from Rhamondre Stevenson. That gave them a 14-0 lead.
New England, though, then punted, turned it over on downs and watched Zach Sieler block Andy Borregales’ 38-yard field goal try with 1:31 left in the half. Borregales made a career-long 59-yarder on the final play of the half.
The Patriots have outgained the Dolphins 227 to 138.
MVP candidate Drake Maye is 7-of-11 for 84 yards, while Stevenson has three carries for 67 yards and a touchdown and Henderson has nine carries for 44 yards and a touchdown.
Dolphins rookie Quinn Ewers is 9-of-11 for 84 yards and a touchdown. He is playing without star running back De’Von Achane and star wide receiver Jaylen Waddle.
Well, that was easy.
The Patriots needed only three plays to go 70 yards for an opening touchdown.
Rhamondre Stevenson had back-to-back carries of 9 and 56 yards to get the Patriots to the Miami 5, but after doing all the heavy lifting, he did not get a chance for the score.
Rookie TreVeyon Henderson scored on the next play. It was the eighth rushing touchdown for Henderson.
Drake Maye has yet to throw a pass . . . and might not have to at this rate.
The Dolphins will finish the season without running back De’Von Achane and wide receiver Jaylen Waddle. Both are inactive for Miami for today’s season finale against the Patriots.
Achane was doubtful with a shoulder injury, and Waddle was questionable with injured ribs.
Achane rushed for 1,350 yards and eight touchdowns and caught 67 passes for 488 yards and four scores, numbers that should get him consideration for second-team All-Pro. Waddle had 64 receptions for 910 yards and six touchdowns.
The Dolphins’ other inactives are quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, quarterback Cam Miller, safety Minkah Fitzpatrick (calf), linebacker Chop Robinson (concussion) and offensive lineman Austin Jackson (back/groin). Tagovailoa will serve as the emergency third quarterback.
The Patriots’ inactives are offensive tackle Marcus Bryant, offensive guard Caedan Wallace, quarterback Tommy DeVito, outside linebacker Harold Landry (knee), inside linebacker Robert Spillane (ankle), nose tackle Khyiris Tonga (foot) and offensive guard Jared Wilson (concussion). DeVito will serve as the emergency third quarterback.
