New England Patriots Demolish Miami Dolphins In Week 18 To Lock Up No. 2 Seed
If you were wondering whether the New England Patriots were ready for postseason football, Sunday’s regular-season finale gave you a pretty loud answer. It wasn’t just a win; it was a statement.
In a game that felt like two teams heading in completely different directions, the Patriots absolutely dismantled a battered Miami Dolphins squad, 38-10. The victory secured the No. 2 seed in the AFC for New England (14-3), while Miami (7-10) heads into a very long, uncertain offseason.
The Dolphins were playing with one hand tied behind their back. No Tyreek Hill, no Jaylen Waddle, no De’Von Achane. They trotted out rookie Quarterback Quinn Ewers for just his third start, and he never stood a chance once the Patriots smelled blood in the water.
The Ground Game Was Unstoppable
You know your offense is humming when your quarterback throws for less than 200 yards, and you still put up nearly 40 points. The story of the day was the absolute clinic put on by the New England backfield.
Rhamondre Stevenson and TreVeyon Henderson combined for a staggering five rushing touchdowns. Stevenson was a man possessed, churning out 131 yards on just seven carries. He scored three times, twice on the ground and once through the air, and made the Dolphins’ tackling attempts look like polite suggestions rather than actual contact.
The highlight reel moment? A first-quarter flea-flicker that saw Henderson toss it back to Drake Maye, who found Efton Chism III deep. Moments later, Stevenson took a direct snap out of the Wildcat and walked into the end zone. It was that kind of day. Head Coach Mike Vrabel clearly emptied the playbook to have some fun before the playoffs start for real.
Drake Maye Cements His MVP Case
Speaking of Maye, can we talk about efficiency? The guy played three quarters, completed 14 of 18 passes, and casually broke a franchise record held by some guy named Tom Brady.
Maye finished the regular season with a 72.0 completion percentage, eclipsing Brady’s 2007 mark. He didn’t need to be a superhero on Sunday because the run game was doing the heavy lifting, but when he needed to make a throw, he was surgical. He finishes the year with over 4,300 yards and 31 touchdowns. If that doesn’t scream MVP, I don’t know what does.
A Tale Of Two Halves
Credit to Miami for making it interesting early on. Despite the injuries, they hung around. They even blocked an Andy Borregales field goal late in the second quarter. But in true “good team vs. bad team” fashion, the Patriots responded immediately. Borregales shook off the block and drilled a career-long 59-yarder right before halftime to make it 17-10. That kick seemed to suck the soul right out of the Miami sideline.
The second half was a total wash. On the opening drive of the third quarter, Ewers tried to force a ball into the end zone, only to be picked off by Jaylinn Hawkins. From that moment on, the rout was on. New England ripped off 21 unanswered points while the Dolphins’ offense couldn’t buy a first down.
What’s Next For New England?
While Miami heads home to figure out who their GM and head coach will be next year, the Patriots are staying put in Foxborough. They’ve locked up the No. 2 seed and are looking at a likely Wild Card matchup against the Chargers.
If Sunday showed us anything, it is that this team can beat you in a multitude of ways. They can air it out with Maye, or they can bludgeon you with the run game. That’s a scary proposition for the rest of the AFC.
