Patriots Rally From 13-3 Down to Beat Dolphins 24-19 in the Rain

The New England Patriots scored 21 straight points in the second half and beat the Miami Dolphins 24-19 at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens on Sunday, in a Week 8 game played in steady rain.

Miami led 13-3 at halftime. New England had one field goal and a fumble. The second half flipped in nine minutes. Drake Maye threw a 43 yard touchdown pass to Kyle Williams, ran for a touchdown himself, then hit DeMario Douglas for 48 yards and a score early in the fourth quarter. Miami answered late, but the onside kick failed and New England ran out the clock.

The win moves the Patriots to 5-3. The Dolphins fall to 1-6.

How Miami built the lead

New England scored first. Andy Borregales, a former Miami Hurricane who played high school football in South Florida, kicked a 34 yard field goal on the opening drive. Miami tied it late in the first quarter after rookie linebacker Jacob Rodriguez forced a fumble from tight end Efton Chism deep in Patriots territory. The Dolphins settled for a 31 yard field goal from Zane Gonzalez.

Miami's defense ran the first half. Chop Robinson, who entered the game leading the league in pressure rate, kept Maye uncomfortable, and Willis took five sacks at the other end and kept producing anyway. Gonzalez hit a 52 yard field goal off the upright in the second quarter for a 6-3 lead. With eight seconds left in the half, Willis threw a 1 yard touchdown pass to Malik Washington, who had returned to the game after a hard hit from Christian Elliss sent him to the concussion tent. Miami led 13-3, and New England looked stuck.

The comeback

The Patriots came out of halftime throwing deep. Maye found Kyle Williams for a 43 yard touchdown early in the third quarter. Officials first ruled the pass incomplete, judging that Williams lost the ball as he crossed the goal line. Coach Mike Vrabel challenged, the call was reversed, and the lead was cut to 13-10.

New England's next long drive stayed alive on a fourth down conversion to Douglas that replay also overturned in the Patriots' favor. Maye finished it himself, faking a pitch to fool linebacker Willie Gay Jr. and running 2 yards for a touchdown with 59 seconds left in the third quarter. The Patriots led 17-13.

Early in the fourth quarter, Kevin Byard intercepted a Willis pass that came loose off the front of a lineman's helmet at midfield. Two plays later, Maye hit Douglas down the right side, and Douglas cut back across the field for a 48 yard touchdown. New England led 24-13, with 21 unanswered points.

Maye finished 16 of 20 passing with 207 total yards and three touchdowns, two through the air and one on the ground. Willis completed 21 of 32 passes for 211 yards, two touchdowns and one interception for Miami.

The finish

Miami still had a path back. Gonzalez missed a 43 yard field goal with 6:41 left, a kick that loomed large minutes later. With just over two minutes to play, Willis hit rookie Kevin Coleman Jr. for a 35 yard touchdown down the left side. The two point try failed, and the score stood at 24-19.

The Dolphins tried an onside kick. New England recovered, Rhamondre Stevenson gained five yards on third and five, and Maye knelt out the clock.

The Patriots played without receiver A.J. Brown, out with ankle and knee injuries, and running back TreVeyon Henderson. Tight end Hunter Henry left in the first half with a foot injury and did not return. Its third quarter problems followed the same script: the Dolphins entered Sunday with one of the league's worst third quarter scoring margins and were outscored 14-0 in the period.

What it means

New England keeps pace in the AFC East at 5-3 and hosts the Green Bay Packers next Sunday. Miami, at 1-6, hosts the Detroit Lions next Sunday with its season close to finished before November is out.