FOXBORO — The Patriots’ offense, as currently constructed with Jacoby Brissett at quarterback and Alex Van Pelt calling plays, elicits zero confidence.

Case in point: The Dolphins went ahead 15-10 with 4:24 left in the game, and the five-point lead felt insurmountable for the Patriots.

It was. The Patriots got down to the Dolphins’ 12-yard line and passed the ball four straight times despite having three timeouts in their comeback attempt. They lost five yards on a penalty before turning the ball over on downs to lose. Brissett appeared to throw a game-winning touchdown pass to wide receiver Ja’Lynn Polk, but the rookie could get one foot and a toe inbounds, but his second heel landed out for an incompletion.

The Patriots were averaging 7.9 yards per carry and just 3.1 yards per dropback.

They got the ball back one more time with 29 seconds left but made it down to the Dolphins’ 11-yard line before time expired as Brissett’s final pass to Henry was inbounds with no timeouts left in the 15-10 loss.

The Dolphins took the lead with an epic 15-play, 80-yard drive. They actually had to gain 95 yards because they were called for two penalties. The Dolphins’ running backs did most of the damage, as they did all game. Fullback Alec Ingold finished the drive with a 3-yard touchdown run.

Six different Dolphins offensive players carried the ball, finishing with 184 yards and a touchdown on 37 carries.

The Patriots were effective on the ground, carrying the ball 19 times for 150 yards with a touchdown, but they insisted on trying to move the ball through the air too often. Brissett was 18-of-34 for 160 yards and took two sacks for a 12-yard loss.

The Patriots allowed a field goal on the Dolphins’ opening drive. On third-and-17 from the Patriots’ 49-yard line, New England’s defense played a soft zone and allowed a 13-yard completion from Dolphins quarterback Tyler Huntley to tight end Jonnu Smith, putting Miami in field goal range. Dolphins kicker hit a 54-yard field goal to take a 3-0 lead.

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Brissett took two sacks on the Patriots’ opening possession, and New England was forced to punt.

The defense had forced a three-and-out on the Dolphins’ second drive, but the Patriots were flagged for 12 men on the field on the punt. It didn’t matter. Patriots budding superstar cornerback Christian Gonzalez jumped Odell Beckham Jr.’s route on a throw from Huntley and intercepted it.

It took just four plays for the Patriots to get into the end zone on a 33-yard run from running back Rhamondre Stevenson, who was benched to start the game after fumbling in each of the first four games of the season for Antonio Gibson.

A sack from Josh Uche on third down forced the Dolphins to attempt a field goal on their next series. Sanders’ 41-yarder hit the left upright and was no good.

The Patriots’ offense beat itself on their third drive. Right tackle Demontrey Jacobs was flagged for holding on first down. After making up for it with a 9-yard completion from Brissett to tight end Austin Hooper and a 10-yard scramble from Brissett, setting up third-and-1, center Nick Leverett was flagged for a false start for moving the ball up before the snap. A deep incompletion to rookie wide receiver Ja’Lynn Polk forced a punt. The Patriots were flagged for a delay of game before they could get it off. Bryce Baringer’s punt traveled 70 yard, still pitting the Dolphins a the Patriots’ 30-yard line.

Patriots special-teams ace Brenden Schooler blocked Jake Bailey’s punt on the Dolphins’ next series, but even the kicking game failed New England on their ensuing drive. Kicker Joey Slye’s 33-yard attempt was wide right. The Patriots managed just 8 yards on seven plays after getting called for two holding penalties.

The ugly football continued with Dolphins center Aaron Brewer skying a snap over Huntley’s head while the offense was also getting flagged for an illegal shift. The 22-yard loss knocked the Dolphins out of field goal range and forced them to punt after a nine-play, 30-yard drive.

The Patriots went three-and-out, and Baringer shanked a 43-yard punt that was returned 12 yards by Braxton Berrios. The defense got out of the situation unscathed because Dolphins long snapper Blake Ferguson rolled his snap to Bailey on Sanders’ field goal attempt, botching the play and causing the Dolphins to lose 9 yards. The Patriots went three-and-out on their final drive of the half. The Dolphins ran out the clock to mercifully end the half.

Coming out of the half, the Patriots went on a 10-play, 50-yard drive that ended with Slye hitting a 38-yard field goal to increase the lead to 10-3.

The Dolphins matched the Patriots with a field goal of their own to cut the lead to 10-6. Patriots defensive end Keion White had two costly penalties on the drive, getting flagged for an illegal horse collar tackle and for roughing the passer after head-butting Huntley on a QB hit. The Patriots followed that up with a three-and-out.

The Dolphins continued to eat away at the Patriots’ lead with field goals. A sack from defensive tackle Jaquelin Roy in his Patriots debut pushed the Dolphins back. Sanders’ attempt from 47 yards was good, making it a 10-9 game.

The Patriots managed two first downs before punting again. It was Baringer’s third touchback of the game.

UP

CB Christian Gonzalez: The Patriots’ top defender had one interception and should have had another. He allowed four catches on 10 targets for 66 yards with an interception and a pass breakup, per PFF.

RB Rhamondre Stevenson: Head coach Jerod Mayo benched Stevenson for his fumbling issues. It seemed to motivate him. He had 12 carries for 89 yards with the Patriots’ lone touchdown.

ST Brenden Schooler: The special-teams ace blocked a punt. He knows the Dolphins well. He blocked a field goal against them last season.

DOWN

C Nick Leverett: PFF charged Leverett with a sack, QB hit and eight total pressures allowed. He struggled replacing David Andrews in his first start of the season, also taking penalties for a false start and holding.

DE Keion White: The second-year pro was flagged twice on one drive, once for an illegal horse collar and once for roughing the passer. He’s not providing enough pressure to excuse those mental errors.

WR Ja’Lynn Polk: The rookie wide receiver dropped a pass and was flagged for holding. He couldn’t get both feet in bounds on a pass from Brissett into the end zone during the comeback attempt.