MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. _ The Miami Dolphins gave it their best shot against New England in Sunday's regular-season finale, opting to play all of their healthy starters and not allowing anyone to rest in the last game before the playoffs begin next weekend. It didn't work to their advantage.
The Patriots hammered the Dolphins, 35-14, at Hard Rock Stadium.
That means the sixth-seeded Dolphins (10-6) will travel to third-seeded Pittsburgh (10-5) for next week's opening-round playoff game.
The Dolphins could have moved up to the No. 5 seed with a victory over New England combined with a San Diego victory over Kansas City.
The Dolphins, trailing, 27-14, had their best chance to make things interesting midway through the fourth quarter. But running back Damien Williams lost the ball trying to make a move after a catch at New England's 9-yard line. Patriots linebacker Shea McClellin scooped up the loose ball and returned it 69 yards to the Dolphins' 18-yard line.
Then Patriots running back LeGarrette Blount banged into the end zone for a touchdown and Julian Edelman had a reception for the two-point conversion and New England put the game away.
Edelman tormented the Dolphins, ending with 151 yards on eight receptions and one touchdown. Quarterback Tom Brady had his usual top-quality performance by going 25 of 33 for 276 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions.
New England rushed for 120 yards, becoming the 13th opponent to rush for more than 100 yards against the Dolphins this season, and they totaled 396 yards as a team.
The Dolphins, on the other hand, totaled 280 yards. Running back Jay Ajayi had 59 yards on 16 carries (3.7 yards per carry) while wide receiver Jarvis Landry had 76 yards on nine receptions, including a bruising touchdown. Quarterback Matt Moore was 24-of-34 passing for 205 yards, two touchdowns and one interception.
The Dolphins got on the scoreboard late in the second quarter, cutting its deficit to 20-7, when Moore hit Landry on an 8-yard touchdown pass. Landry shook off a brutal hit by Pro Bowl linebacker Dont'a Hightower, who didn't wrap up to complete the tackle, and made his way into the end zone. Landry celebrated the touchdown by whipping off his helmet and slamming it to the ground, which drew a 15-yard unsportsmanlike conduct penalty.
New England didn't take advantage, however, as kicker Stephen Gostkowski missed a 52-yard field goal attempt wide right shortly before halftime.
New England went ahead, 20-0 on a 26-yard field goal by Gostkowski with 3:21 left in the first half. Early in the second quarter New England went ahead, 17-0, when it capped an eight-play, 34-yard drive with a 40-yard field goal by Gostkowski. New England took a 14-0 first quarter lead when it drove 45 yards in five plays, capped by a 14-yard pass from Brady to wide receiver Michael Floyd.
The Dolphins fell behind 7-0 when Brady led the Patriots on a 13-play, 75-yard drive on the game's opening possession. The Dolphins used a no-cornerback formation on the touchdown pass, correctly guessing the Patriots would want to use the middle of the field. But the Dolphins didn't cover correctly, allowing tight end Martellus Bennett to leak out of the formation to the back out of the end zone for an easy touchdown.
Despite Sunday's loss this season is a success for the Dolphins, who earned their first playoff berth since 2008, and won 10 games for the first time since 2008.
And if they can defeat Pittsburgh next week the Dolphins will earn their first playoff victory since the 2000 season.
