Disaster Hits New England, Patriots Fall to Dolphins 34-33 on Final Play
Monday, December 10, 2018
GoLocalWorcester Sports Team
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| Patriots fall to Dolphins |
With nine seconds left in the game and the Patriots up 33-28, Dolphins quarterback Ryan Tannehill threw a short pass to Kenny Stills who then lateralled it to running back Kenyan Drake.
Drake ran through nearly the entire Patriots defense for a touchdown to give the Dolphins a stunning 34-33 walk-off win on Sunday afternoon in Miami. The upset win just adds to the nightmare of the Pats playing in Miami and ensures that the Pats defense will go down in NFL history for giving up the touchdown.
The defeat was marked with missed kicks by Steve Gostkowski (short field goal and an extra point) and a Tom Brady error at the end of the first half that in reflection cost the team the game.
The loss drops the Patriots to 9-4 on the season and out of the number two seed in the AFC.
The Dolphins improve to 7-6 overall.
Pats Fall to Dolphins
After leading 27-21 at the half, the Patriots found themselves trailing 28-27 heading into the fourth quarter.
With four minutes left in the third, Tannehill connected with Brice Butler for a 23-yard touchdown pass to put Miami up 28-27 following a Jason Sanders extra point.
New England would retake the lead in the fourth quarter after Patriots quarterback Tom Brady led New England on an eight play, 55-yard drive ending in a Stephen Gostkowski 32-yard field goal to put New England up 30-28.
New England would seal the game on their final drive when Brady threw deep down the sideline to Josh Gordon.
Brady finished the game completing 27 of 43 passes for 358 yards and three touchdowns.
The pass fell incomplete, however, the Dolphins were called for pass interference, setting New England up inside the five-yard line.
Gostkowski would kick a field goal with 16 seconds left to put the Patriots up 33-28.
Miami would have one more possession with just nine seconds left, Tannehill threw a short pass to Stills who then lateralled it to Kenyan Drake.
Drake ran 50 yards for a touchdown to give the Dolphins the 34-33 walk-off win.
Missed Opportunities
New England missed out on as many as seven points in the game.
After the Patriots scored a touchdown on their opening drive, kicker Stephen Gostkowski missed the extra point, keeping the score 6-0.
Af the end of the first half, the Patriots miss managed the clock.
On 3rd & 2 from the Dolphins two-yard line with 14 seconds left and no timeouts, Brady took a sack, as opposed to throwing the ball away.
New England would not get another snap off before the half.
In the third quarter with the Patriots up 27-21, Gostkowski missed a 42-yard field goal that would have given New England a two-score lead.
Next Up
The Patriots return to action on Sunday, December 16 when they visit the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Game time is set for 4:25 p.m.
