• About
  • Contact
Thursday, June 19, 2025
The US Inquirer
No Result
View All Result
  • Login
  • Home
  • National
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Tech
  • Crime
  • World
PRICING
SUBSCRIBE
  • Home
  • National
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Tech
  • Crime
  • World
No Result
View All Result
The US Inquirer
No Result
View All Result
Home National

Dolphins top Patriots 33-24 in regular-season finale

by The US Inquirer
January 10, 2022
Reading Time: 4 mins read
0
Dolphins top Patriots 33-24 in regular-season finale

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (AP) — — They came running off the sideline after the last play, one final sprint of the season, one final moment of joy.

The Miami Dolphins aren’t going to the playoffs. But they went into the offseason happy.

RELATED POSTS

Man accused of burning woman to death on a subway train is set to be arraigned

Rare patroller strike in Park City fouls operations at the biggest US ski resort

Jaylen Waddle had a touchdown grab and set the NFL record for receptions in a rookie year, Tua Tagovailoa used his legs — not his arm — to get a critical first down in the final moments and the Dolphins finished their season by defeating the playoff-bound New England Patriots 33-24 on Sunday.

A team that started 1-7 won eight of its last nine games, finishing 9-8.

“That just shows who we are as men and as a team,” linebacker Jaelan Phillips said. “That’s the story of our season. It’s just perseverance.”

Xavien Howard returned an interception for a touchdown and Duke Johnson rushed for 117 yards and a score for Miami, which finished with a winning record for the second consecutive season and once again didn’t have a playoff berth to show for it.

Brandon Bolden two touchdowns — one rushing, one receiving — for the Patriots (10-7), who are headed to the playoffs as a wild card. But they were swept by the Dolphins for the first time since 2000 and the outcome handed the AFC East title to the Buffalo Bills, whose game against the New York Jets had not gone final when the Patriots-Dolphins game ended.

The Bills won 27-10, so the Patriots wouldn’t have won the division anyway.

“Played poorly, coached poorly, didn’t do anything very well,” Patriots coach Bill Belichick said. “Just too many mistakes. Way too many. We’ll go look at the film, turn the page here, make some corrections and move on to next week. That’s really about it.”

The Patriots have played in wild-card games before under Belichick — but have never been to the playoffs in the Belichick era as a wild card. All 17 of the previous playoff appearances in his years there have come after a division title.

Until now.

That streak didn’t end easily, though.

New England needed only eight minutes to cut a 27-10 fourth-quarter deficit to 27-24. Mac Jones connected with Bolden for an 18-yard score on a screen to get New England within 10, Damien Harris rumbled in from a yard out a few minutes later and just like that the Patriots were within three.

“I think it says a lot about our character,” Patriots receiver Matthew Slater said. “We’re not going to quit but you know as well as I do, at this time of year, going out there and competing to the end doesn’t mean anything if you don’t have more points than the other team.”

Miami took over with 2:53 remaining, on its 25, with no timeouts and Tagovailoa having thrown for the grand total of 2 yards in the second half.

He wound up sealing matters with his feet, not his arm. Facing third-and-8 from his 42 with just inside of two minutes to go and New England poised to get the ball back, Tagovailoa scrambled for 11 yards.

First down.

“He got to show off his speed a little bit,” Waddle said.

And soon, game over.

“We just beat a tough team,” said Tagovailoa, who passed for 109 yards. “All week, that’s what we’ve been harping on. We wanted to end this season with a bang and that’s what we went out there and did.”

Jones completed 20 of 30 passes for 261 yards for New England. The Patriots got the ball back with 3 seconds left, needing 98 yards for a score, and Miami’s Sam Eguaoven was credited with recovering a fumble that became a game-ending touchdown after a lateral went awry.

“Just proud of this team,” Dolphins coach Brian Flores said. “I’m proud of their fight, their resiliency, their ability to deal and battle adversity. We’ve had ups and downs. It’s a year I’ll certainly remember. But yes, very proud of this team.”

It was 14-0 Miami in a flash. Waddle entered Sunday three catches from breaking Anquan Boldin’s NFL rookie record of 101 grabs set in 2003 — and the Dolphins got him that in their first four plays. He capped the drive with his sixth touchdown of the year, catching a 7-yard pass from Tagovailoa to opening the scoring.

Howard jumped in front of a pass by Jones and returned it 37 yards on the third play of the ensuing New England possession. It was 17-7 at halftime, Johnson rumbled in early in the fourth for a 27-10 lead and it looked as if Miami had the job done.

Looks were deceiving, but the Dolphins held on.

“We lost,” Bolden said. “Simple as that.”

INJURIES

New England lost OL Isaiah Wynn to an ankle injury in the second quarter. He walked up the tunnel leading to the locker room without much difficulty. RB Rhamondre Stevenson (head) and DB Sean Davis (shoulder) also had first-half injury issues for the Patriots and DL Christian Barmore was hurt on the Tagovailoa scramble with 1:48 remaining. For the Dolphins, S Eric Rowe limped off in the third quarter with a back injury and didn’t return.

SWEEPERS

Miami became only the second team to win both of its AFC East meetings against New England in the past 21 years. Buffalo did it in 2020; before that, Miami and the New York Jets both did it in 2000.

UP NEXT

Patriots: Wild-card game next weekend.

Dolphins: Quarterback speculation season begins.

Share6Tweet4Share1

The US Inquirer

The US Inquirer was founded in 2007, published in 3 editions weekly, one on Tuesday, one on Thursday, and a weekend edition on Saturday. These papers were delivered to newspaper racks in various public places across Midwest City, Oklahoma and Tinker Air Force base, as well as a second-class direct mail subscription.

Related Posts

Man accused of burning woman to death on a subway train is set to be arraigned
National

Man accused of burning woman to death on a subway train is set to be arraigned

January 7, 2025
Rare patroller strike in Park City fouls operations at the biggest US ski resort
National

Rare patroller strike in Park City fouls operations at the biggest US ski resort

January 7, 2025
Biden administration bans unpaid medical bills from appearing on credit reports
National

Biden administration bans unpaid medical bills from appearing on credit reports

January 7, 2025
Biden to announce creation of 2 new national monuments to protect tribal lands
National

Biden to announce creation of 2 new national monuments to protect tribal lands

January 7, 2025
Gunfire at Chiefs’ Super Bowl parade kills 1 and wounds over 20 others
Crime

Gunfire at Chiefs’ Super Bowl parade kills 1 and wounds over 20 others

February 14, 2024
Bodycam footage released of altercation between Lexington Police and Cleveland County Sheriff officers in Oklahoma
National

Bodycam footage released of altercation between Lexington Police and Cleveland County Sheriff officers in Oklahoma

February 8, 2024
Next Post
‘The Rise’ book recounts Kobe Bryant’s high school years

'The Rise' book recounts Kobe Bryant's high school years

Dolphins owner Ross has faith in Tua; explains why he fired Flores

Dolphins owner Ross has faith in Tua; explains why he fired Flores

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recommended Stories

NYC Comptroller Brad Lander arrested and released by ICE agents

NYC Comptroller Brad Lander arrested and released by ICE agents

June 17, 2025
Democrats say Trump admin. weaponizing law enforcement to silence foes

Democrats say Trump admin. weaponizing law enforcement to silence foes

June 19, 2025
Break-in reported at home of slain lawmaker Melissa Hortman

Break-in reported at home of slain lawmaker Melissa Hortman

June 18, 2025

Popular Stories

  • Zach Beech is Redefining What It Means to Be a Fitness Coach in the Digital Age

    Zach Beech is Redefining What It Means to Be a Fitness Coach in the Digital Age

    15 shares
    Share 6 Tweet 4
  • NYC Comptroller Brad Lander arrested and released by ICE agents

    15 shares
    Share 6 Tweet 4
  • From Bedroom Dreams to Breakout Success: How Soluh Became One of Roblox’s Fastest-Growing Creators

    18 shares
    Share 7 Tweet 5
  • ‘How Did We Catch It?’ Spread Of COVID Baffles Locked-down Shanghai Residents

    17 shares
    Share 7 Tweet 4
  • Trump calls for “real end” to Iran nuke program, hints war to escalate

    15 shares
    Share 6 Tweet 4
The US Inquirer

© 2023 The US Inquirer

Navigate Site

  • Home
  • About
  • Contact
  • Ethics
  • Fact Checking and Corrections Policies
  • Copyright
  • Privacy Policy
  • ISSN: 2832-0522

Follow Us

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • National
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Tech
  • Crime
  • World

© 2023 The US Inquirer

Are you sure want to unlock this post?
Unlock left : 0
Are you sure want to cancel subscription?