Dolphins Dominate Patriots in Season Opener 20-7

McDaniel and Company Dolphins Debut

The Miami Dolphins opened up their regular season and a new era Sunday in a matchup against the Patriots. Mike McDaniel made his NFL head coaching debut for the Dolphins. After coming from an offensive coordinator spot in San Francisco, fans were excited to see a new offensive look in Miami. The third youngest coach in the league arrived with lots of expectations.

The team made some notable off-season moves, highlighted by the addition of speedster wide receiver Tyreek Hill. There were other big off-season moves as well. Offensive tackle Terron Armstead was signed in free agency along with pro bowl defensive end Melvin Ingram. All of these new faces made significant contributions to Sunday’s victory.

Scoring Summary

The first quarter was mainly a defensive battle. The only score was a 43-yard Jason Sanders field goal putting the Dolphins up 3-0. Next, with 7:34 remaining in the half, the defense came alive. A Brandon Jones sack led to Melvin Ingram scooping up a Mac Jones fumble and walking untouched into the end zone making it a 10-0 game.

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Next, it was time for the offense to shine. With just 24 seconds left in the first half, the Dolphins appeared to be setting up another Sanders field goal. Second-year standout receiver Jaylen Waddle had different plans. He took a pass over the middle starting from QB Tua Tagovailoa and split the safeties for an electrifying 42-yard score adding to the Dolphins’ lead.

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The second-half scoring was pretty quiet, with a lone patriot touchdown from Ty Montgomery and another Dolphin field goal leading to a final score of 20-7. In the end, Dolphins fans got answers. They saw an accurate Tua going 23-33 for 270 yards through the air. Hill was kept out of the end zone but still made his presence known. He had eight catches for 94 yards.

What’s Next

Next Sunday the Dolphins travel to Baltimore to take on the 1-0 Ravens. Another big test for the defense facing a former MVP quarterback in Lamar Jackson. The offense looks to capture more early season momentum.