MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — In a season of lows, the Patriots’ offensive line might have hit rock bottom in Sunday’s 34-15 loss to the Dolphins.

The unit was charged with seven penalties and let up 16 total pressures to the Dolphins, per PFF’s in-game charting.

Left tackle Vederian Lowe was penalized four times with three false starts and one holding penalty and allowed a strip sack, and he wasn’t the offensive tackle who wound up getting benched. That was right tackle Demontrey Jacobs, who was flagged once for a false start and once for a hold while also allowing a sack and seven pressures.

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“He was having a tough game,” head coach Jerod Mayo said of Jacobs. “Whether it was penalties or blocking the edge, he was having a tough game. We’ve got to protect the quarterback. As an offensive lineman, that’s what we do. We protect quarterbacks and we have to open up holes for the backs.”

In all, Patriots quarterback Drake Maye was sacked four times. Guard Michael Jordan also allowed a sack.

Maye didn’t have his best game of the season, but line play made the offense inoperable at times. They strung together three straight three-and-outs in the first half. Pressure also caused both of Maye’s turnovers.

“Just a lack of technique,” Jacobs said of his issues. “Just got to be better in those moments really. I wouldn’t say it was nothing too extraordinary, just have to be better.”

Jacobs was claimed off waivers from the Broncos in late August. Beginning the season as a deep reserve on the roster, he’s gone on to start seven games at right and left tackle. He was replaced by Sidy Sow late in the game.

On top of strip-sack and four penalties, PFF charted Lowe with three hurries. When healthy, he’s been the Patriots’ top left tackle dating back to training camp.

“I need to do better with cadence,” Lowe said of his false starts. “I’m trying to time up the snap and get a jump to get in the best position to be able to block these edge rushers. And I just need to be better with my operation. Those are things that I can control. Pre-snap penalties are something that you could control, it’s something nobody else did. So I know I need to be better with that.”

Lowe wouldn’t blame his shoulder injury and trying to get an extra step on defenders or the crowd noise for his false starts.

The starting left tackle appeared to disagree with his holding penalty. He said that it’s a trap technique he’s coached to do and one he’s performed throughout the season, but this is the first time he’s been flagged for it.

“I don’t know what he saw,” Lowe said. “I’ll just go back and watch the film and try to see what he saw.”

The Patriots are expected to get rookie tackle Caedan Wallace back off of injured reserve at some point this season, and he could potentially replace Jacobs. They could also slide Mike Onwenu back over from guard to right tackle.

They have more depth at guard with Cole Strange returning to practice off of the PUP list and Sow and Layden Robinson as options in reserve roles. Tackles Caleb Jones and Jalen McKenzie and guard Liam Fornadel are on the practice squad.

Sow, Onwenu and center Ben Brown appeared to have steady performances in Sunday’s loss.