Best and worst: What we learned from Patriots’ 38-10 blowout win over Dolphins

FOXBORO — The Patriots are riding high as they roll into the postseason.

Now riding a new three-game winning streak, the Patriots demolished the Dolphins 38-10 in Sunday’s Week 18 regular-season finale. They’ve now outscored opponents 80-20 in their final two games of the season.

Quarterback Drake Maye was efficient, but he played second fiddle to running back Rhamondre Stevenson, who exploded out of the backfield, producing his first 100-yard rushing performance of the season.

The Patriots’ defense had some concerning moments against a Dolphins offense led by rookie quarterback Quinn Ewers and without their top offensive playmakers, but overall, they settled down in the second half and forced two turnovers before the game truly got out of hand and backups entered the contest.

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The Patriots began the game by grounding and pounding. Running back Rhamondre Stevenson ripped off a 56-yard run on the second play of the game. TreVeyon Henderson got into the end zone from 5 yards out on the third play of the game to give the Patriots a 7-0 lead.

The Dolphins, with a lot of backups on the field, put together an impressive 12-play, 57-yard drive before getting stymied in the red zone and turning the ball over on downs with an incompletion into the end zone on fourth-and-1 from the Patriots’ 8-yard line. Patriots linebacker Jack Gibbens was in coverage on Dolphins wideout Cedrick Wilson on the incompletion.

The Patriots’ offense continued where they left off in last week’s win over the Jets with another scoring drive. They went 92 yards on eight plays, plus they got a free 8 yards on a face mask penalty. Stevenson scored from 2 yards out from the wildcat with Maye splitting off to wide receiver. The biggest play of the drive came when Maye hit rookie wide receiver Efton Chism for 35 yards on a flea flicker.

The Dolphins went on another impressive drive, going 65 yards on 10 plays. This time, they ended it in the end zone on a 2-yard touchdown completion from Ewers to Malik Washington.

The Patriots, leading 14-7, went three-and-out with three straight incompletions from Maye. The Dolphins then went three-and-out, themselves, with defensive tackle Cory Durden making a key run stuff on third-and-1. The Patriots then turned the ball over on downs, going for it on fourth-and-1 from their own 40-yard line when Henderson was stuffed for no gain.

The Dolphins’ possession was short-lived, however with Gibbens, along with help from cornerback Christian Gonzalez, forcing a fumble and outside linebacker Elijah Ponder recovering for an 18-yard return. The ball was coughed up by Dolphins running back Jaylen Wright, and the Patriots took over possession at the Dolphins’ 37-yard line.

The Patriots went just 17 yards after the turnover, with 15 yards subtracted by penalties. Andy Borregales’s 38-yard field goal was blocked by Dolphins defensive tackle Zach Sieler. The ball was recovered by Dolphins cornerback Jason Marshall Jr. and returned to the Patriots’ 40-yard line.

A sack from Christian Barmore helped put the Dolphins back, but they still scored on a 52-yard field goal from Riley Patterson to make the score 14-10.

The Patriots took a 17-10 lead into the half with a 59-yard field goal from kicker Andy Borregales after a three-play, 27-yard drive that saw Maye complete a 13-yard pass to Kayshon Boutte and scramble for 14 yards.

The Dolphins got inside the red zone again before Ewers was picked off in the end zone by Patriots safety Jaylinn Hawkins, who now has a team-leading four interceptions.

The Patriots capitalized on the takeaway with a seven-play, 80-yard drive. Maye found Stevenson in the end zone for a 15-yard touchdown pass.

After a Dolphins punt, Stevenson scored on the Patriots’ next offensive series, as well, rushing for a 35-yard touchdown, his third of the game.

The Patriots forced another three-and-out, thanks to a third-down sack from Ponder. They responded with a five-play, 51-yard drive that ended with Henderson’s second rushing touchdown of the game to give them a 38-10 lead.

BEST

RB Rhamondre Stevenson: Stevenson has been excellent for the final quarter of the season. On Sunday, he carried the ball seven times for 131 yards and two touchdowns and caught two passes for 22 yards and another touchdown.

QB Drake Maye: Maye wasn’t quite as prolific as he was in Week 17, when he threw for five touchdowns, but he ended Sunday’s win going 14-of-18 for 191 yards with a passing touchdown and four carries for 33 yards. Maye finished the regular season with a 71.9% completion percentage, 4,394 passing yards, 450 rushing yards, 35 total TDs, 8 INTs and a 113.48 passer rating.

RB TreVeyon Henderson: Henderson wasn’t as explosive as Stevenson, but he got into the end zone twice and carried the ball 12 times for 53 yards.

LB Jack Gibbens: Credit Gibbens with a pass breakup and forced fumble. He made an impact, continuing to fill in for starter Robert Spillane. Gonzalez was also in on Gibbens’ forced fumble.

S Jaylinn Hawkins: It was an easy pick, but let’s give Hawkins a shout here for his team-leading and career-high fourth interception.

WORST

Special teams: Borregales had a 38-yard field goal blocked. It’s also not a good sign that the Patriots seem to prefer kicking touchbacks rather than potentially giving up long returns.

First-half defense: Sure, the Dolphins only scored 10 points in the first half, but it was concerning to see how much ground the Patriots’ defense was giving up. They should get some reinforcements for the playoffs with Spillane, Harold Landry and Khyiris Tonga all currently out of action.

CB Carlton Davis: Davis was flagged for pass interference in the third quarter. He also allowed two key receptions in the game.

WHAT ELSE WE LEARNED

• The Patriots began the game in 12 jumbo personnel with RB Rhamondre Stevenson, WR Stefon Diggs, WR Efton Chism, TE Hunter Henry and jumbo TE Thayer Munford on the field. The first play of the game was a 9-yard run from Stevenson.

• The defense went heavy to start the game in base personnel with Barmore, Durden, Milton Williams, Anfernee Jennings, Jahlani Tavai, Christian Elliss and Gibbens making up the front seven. Ewers made them pay with a 9-yard scramble.

• The Patriots didn’t rest defensive starters until they had taken a 38-10 lead in the fourth quarter. Before that, as head coach Mike Vrabel said earlier in the week, everyone who was healthy played and played their normal set of snaps.

• Backup quarterback Josh Dobbs also entered the game in the fourth quarter with a 38-10 lead. Left tackle Will Campbell, center Garrett Bradbury and right tackle Morgan Moses also left the game with Maye.

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