Pats end regular season with loss, top seed in AFC in jeopardy

Brady was battered every time he dropped back to pass due to the makeshift offensive line, so the coaches hoped the limit the damage- and running the ball could give him extra breathing room in the second half.

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Brady was hit multiple times in the game against the Miami Dolphins.

Brady was sacked twice and endured at least half a dozen knockdowns, including three on one series.

“I’m pretty sore”, Brady said after the game, “but it will be all right”. Wide receiver Danny Amendola hardly played (38% of the snaps), so Brady was again throwing to Rob Gronkowski, Brandon LaFell, and Keshawn Martin.

– Ryan Tannehill, Dolphins, threw for 350 yards and two touchdowns in Miami’s 20-10 victory over New England. The Patriots ran for 62 yards in the first half. The AFC No. 1 seed Denver Broncos (12-4) will host the Steelers, Chiefs or Texans on CBS at 4:40 p.m. ET. In many ways, the entire Patriots team has begun modeling themselves after their head coach and quarterback, in Belichick’s words “Do your job”. Now, their quarterback may be injured too following Sunday’s New England loss. In his weekly Boston radio appearance, Brady insisted he would be fine and that he has had worse injuries.

The Dolphins (6-10) wrapped up a disappointing season and are expected to embark on a search for their ninth coach since 2004. Afterward Ross spoke to the team about changes to come. “As the season went on he finally got healthy….He’s only going to continue to get better”.

Tannehill bested Tom Brady in the first half as he was 13-of-21 for 142 yards and 1 touchdown. “We’re trying to be effective, and to move the ball down the field, and to score points”, said the quarterback. “That was across the board”. For the Patriots, they wanted to win this game because they would’ve clinched home-field advantage throughout the playoffs. The run-first approach led to just five attempts in the first half, with four completions totaling just 20 yards. He took a hard hit from Dolphins defensive lineman Ndamukong Suh early in the second quarter.

“I didn’t see the replay”, Brady said. Maybe they wouldn’t have been good enough to win had they kept their normal offensive philosophy in place, but I would’ve like to see them try. They allowed a five-play, 80 yard game winning touchdown drive in overtime against the Jets.

An MRI exam administered Monday did not show any fractures, according to the ESPN report. Finally, the Fins standouts in the receiving department include DeVante Parker (5 catches for 106 yards, TD), Greg Jennings (4 catches for 74 yards), Jarvis Landry (6 catches for 72), and Jordan Cameron (2 catches for 6 yards, TD).

Tannehill Shines – It’s no secret that it’s been an up and down season for Ryan Tannehill, but on Sunday he was at his best.

NOTES: Dolphins WR Kenny Stills left the game with a hamstring injury….