Patriots beat Miami, secure home playoff advantage
There were certainly things that could’ve been better on it, but in the end we have some flexibility in our coverages, and we make adjustments in coverages from time to time based on a formation or based on the type of pattern that another team is running.
Miami fell to 10-6 but the Dolphins, who haven’t won a playoff game since 2000, will make their first post-season appearance since 2008 next week at the Pittsburgh Steelers.
The Patriots do, indeed, need either a win in Miami or an Oakland loss – later in the day – to clinch home field advantage throughout the playoffs. They chose to take things into their own hands by putting on an offensive clinic on their way to a 35-14 win over Miami. Of course, the better seed is usually preferred, but even more with 2016’s postseason participants.
As a result, Brady (25-33, 276 yards, 3 TDs, 0 INTs, 130.4 QBR) put the cap on a historic season, finishing with the best touchdown-interception ratio in league history with 28 scores and only two picks. As you can see, it would take more than backups like Charlie Whitehurst, Jared Goff, Matt Moore and Landry Jones to throw a scare into Brady and Belichick.
The previous record was held by Nick Foles, who threw 27 touchdowns and two interceptions in 2013 with the Philadelphia Eagles. The records didn’t stop there on Sunday.
Ryan Fitzpatrick, likely making his final appearance for the team, threw a pair of short touchdown passes as NY routed Buffalo in their season finale at MetLife Stadium.
The visitors then closed out the win after forcing a Miami fumble, returning the ball to the redzone and seeing LeGarrette Blount run in yet another touchdown for the season. It’s clear that the team and coaching staff are still adjusting to Moore as their starter, and unfortunately they have just one more week to finish tweaking.
The Dolphins were the latest team that couldn’t take advantage.
With three touchdown passes Brady added some very impressive milestones to his already legendary resume. Kicker Andrew Franks failed to attempt a field goal, but was ideal on the afternoon by going 2-for-2 on extra points. That kind of effort won’t go unnoticed by the coaching staff.
Miami’s Jay Ajayi went to the X-ray room after the game but said he was fine.
Brady and Martellus Bennett connected on a two-yard pass to get New England on the board in the first quarter.
A pair of Patriots field goals made it 20-0 New England in the second quarter. The Patriots, on the other hand, continued to spend the majority of their time on offense in Miami’s zone.
Extra Point (s) – With the bye week coming up, rest is going to be the most crucial thing for the Patriots going forward.
The Dolphins, however, could not contain Julian Edelman.
Pro Bowl defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh is one of the few players on the Dolphins’ young roster with playoff experience.