FOXBOROUGH, Mass. _ Gillette Stadium is typically where Miami Dolphins' seasons _ and hope _ get buried, and Sunday's beatdown by the New England Patriots was no exception.
The Dolphins (4-7) struggled in every facet of the game Sunday, losing, 35-17, to a Patriots (9-2) team that accumulated 417 total yards before calling off the dogs, which led to Miami's fifth straight loss.
As a testament to how one-sided Sunday's game was, New England punted for the first time all game with 5:13 left in the third quarter. But even that punt wasn't necessary considering Bill Belchick's team was well into Miami's territory, sitting on the 39-yard line, and the only netted 19-yards on the punt since it went into the end zone.
The win extended New England's winning streak to seven consecutive games, and the way the Patriots have been rolling it is quite possible that Belichick's team might not lose another game in 2017 considering four of their final five games are against AFC East opponents, which includes a rematch between these two teams in a Dec. 11 game that will be played inside Hard Rock Stadium on Monday Night Football.
The Dolphins better hope they get healthier, and their coaches find some answers for the team's struggling offense, defense and special teams units by then.
Miami played the Patriots with Matt Moore, a 10-year veteran, making his 31st NFL start because of the concussion Jay Cutler suffered in last week's loss to Tampa Bay, and even through Moore had a hot hand coming into Sunday's game he was extremely ineffective _ and poorly protected _ against the Patriots, who sacked him seven times.
The Dolphins' offense, which was suffocated by lackluster play from the offensive line, produced 221 total yards. The most troublesome aspect of the game _ outside of the constant pressure placed on Moore _ was the two first-half drives that stalled in the red zone.
On the first, the Dolphins squandered scoring opportunity as Miami failed to gain a yards on three consecutive passes, leading to a 28-yard Cody Parkey field goal.
And on the second one, a pass intended for receiver DeVante Parker was picked off inside the end zone by Patriots cornerback Stephon Gilmore, preventing the Dolphins from closing the 21-10 halftime deficit.
Miami's first score of the game was produced by a Tom Brady fumble that safety Reshad Jones picked up and returned 14-yards for a touchdown. That was Jones' second score of the season, and the fifth of his career.
Miami scored another touchdown early in the fourth quarter when tailback Kenyan Drake scored on a 8-yard reception, capping an 8-play, 73-yard drive. But that was the only time Miami's offense seemed effective all game.
Drake was the only healthy tailback left at that point because Damien Williams, who has served as Miami's starting tailback since the Dolphins traded Jay Ajayi to the Philadelphia Eagles for a fourth-round pick four weeks ago, suffered what appeared to be a serious shoulder injury.
Senorise Perry, the Dolphins third tailback, was diagnosed with a concussion in the third quarter.
If Williams' shoulder injury is season-ending, and Perry isn't cleared to play in next Sunday's game against the Denver Broncos, the Dolphins will likely have add another tailback to the roster.
Miami has three homes games remaining in December, and must win all five to produce a second-consecutive winning season.
Another loss would ensure that the Dolphins have just two winning seasons this past decade.
