The New England Patriots delivered a decisive victory against the Miami Dolphins, winning 38-10 in what marked the conclusion of the season. This remarkable transformation showcases how no team has ever transitioned from four wins to 14 in just one season—until the Patriots hired Mike Vrabel, setting a new trajectory for the franchise.
In this particular game, the Patriots thoroughly outperformed the Dolphins, showing dominance across almost every facet of play, aside from special teams, where Zach Sieler, a standout defensive tackle for Miami, managed to block a field goal attempt. Offensively, quarterback Drake Maye was nearly flawless, completing the majority of his passes with only four incompletions and amassing over 230 total yards. Rhamondre Stevenson also had an outstanding performance, scoring three touchdowns and proving to be a significant factor in the game’s outcome.
On the defensive front, the Patriots were equally impressive, allowing the Dolphins a mere 200 yards while forcing two turnovers. The Dolphins’ only touchdown came in the second quarter, courtesy of a short two-yard pass from Quinn Ewers to Malik Washington. Ewers completed 70% of his attempts for a total of 137 yards before suffering an injury to his knee late in the match.
As the Dolphins reflect on the end of the 2025 season, they face critical questions about their future, especially with the impending search for a new general manager and possibly a franchise quarterback. Linebacker Jordyn Brooks commented on the Patriots' remarkable turnaround: "It’s that can be done. The mindset for us as players in the offseason is how can we get better? As men. As football players. As leaders."
RUN DEFENSE CONTINUES TO STRUGGLE
The Dolphins' run defense once again faltered, surrendering a staggering four rushing touchdowns and accumulating 243 yards on the ground. TreyVeon Henderson and Rhamondre Stevenson exploited this weakness, showcasing their skills effectively. Brooks, who led his team with nine tackles, noted, "They ran the ball well. Their o-line blocked for them well. They made more plays than we did today, and that was the result."
This lack of effectiveness on defense should come as little surprise, as the Dolphins have struggled in this area throughout the season. Interestingly, their previous game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers marked one of their best performances, allowing just 53 rushing yards.
Stevenson topped the rushing charts with 131 yards and two touchdowns off just seven carries, while Henderson contributed another 53 yards and two scores. Quarterback Maye also added valuable scrambling yards, collecting 41 yards himself.
OFFENSE STRUGGLES WITHOUT DE’VON ACHANE
The absence of De’Von Achane proved to be a significant setback. Over the course of 16 games, he led the team with 1,350 rushing yards and was the top receiver with 67 catches, earning him a spot in the Pro Bowl. Unfortunately, due to a shoulder injury, Achane was unable to play, and his replacements, Jaylen Wright and Ollie Gordon II, fell short of expectations. Wright managed only 23 yards on 13 carries, while Gordon didn’t break past 10 yards, finishing with nine attempts for nine yards. Receiver Malik Washington was the runner-up in rushing yards, totaling 22.
TURNOVER MARGIN - A CRUCIAL STATISTIC
When it comes to determining the outcome of games, one of the most telling factors is turnovers. Sadly for the Dolphins, they found themselves on the losing end of this battle during the game.
Wright’s fumble in the second quarter marked the first turnover for Miami, followed by Ewers’ interception in the red zone during the opening drive of the second half—an unfortunate event, particularly because the Dolphins were in a scoring position at that moment. This interception led directly to a Patriots touchdown and was certainly a pivotal moment in the game. Ewers reflected, "It goes back to the interception I threw. We came out third quarter and I thought we responded well after we had a pretty decent distance to get the first down on the first three plays. We started to drive down the field, we were in great position, and then I just tried to force a throw at the end of the day which was kind of the turning point in the game which is unfortunate."
THIRD QUARTER ISSUES PERSIST
The Dolphins’ struggles in the third quarter reached new lows when they were outscored 14-0 by the Patriots during this period. Coach Mike McDaniel remarked on the game’s dynamics, saying, "This game, it didn’t feel on the field like Pittsburgh and Cincinnati game, however, it kind of played out that way," referring to previous back-to-back games where the Dolphins were outscored 35-0.
What exacerbated the situation was the fact that the Dolphins had the chance to keep the game competitive in the final moments. They started the third quarter with a promising drive deep into Patriots territory, trailing by only seven points. Had they converted a touchdown and extra point, they would have tied the game and shifted pressure onto the Patriots. Unfortunately, the Dolphins concluded their season with a staggering third-quarter scoring deficit of 130-27.
McDaniel expressed his determination to analyze the offseason thoroughly, stating, "I have a strong motivation to take the offseason to kind of figure out what we can do from a controllable standpoint, from a schematic standpoint, from how we operate because the game is won in the second half. When things don’t fall in your favor, you have to be able to adjust."
This article was originally published on January 4, 2026, at 7:26 PM. C. Isaiah Smalls II, a writer focused on sports and culture, covers the Miami Dolphins. Previously, at the Miami Herald, he reported on race and culture and created 'The 44 Percent,' a newsletter dedicated to Black voters in Miami. He holds degrees from both Morehouse College and Columbia Graduate School of Journalism and has experience working with ESPN’s Andscape.
