Patriots vs Dolphins recap: New England loses to Miami 27-20 in worst game of the year

The New England Patriots struggled through a first half against the Miami Dolphins, trailing 13-10 at the halfway point. The third quarter was one of the worst quarters of Patriots football in 2017.

The Dolphins scored two touchdowns on their two drives, while the Patriots failed to do anything. Prior to the final two plays of the quarter, when Tom Brady found Danny Amendola on two consecutive plays for a total of 32 yards, the New England offense generated 7 yards. That’s not a typo; they had -3 rushing yards and 10 passing yards.

The fourth quarter was more favorable to the Patriots, with Brady capping off the drive that spanned the end of the third quarter and the start of the fourth with a 3-yard touchdown pass to James White to close the score to 27-17.

The New England defense forced a three-and-out to give the ball back to the offense with 11:49 left in the game and needing to close a 10-point deficit.

The Patriots offense immediately fell flat on its face as Tom Brady found Dwayne Allen for two yards, throwing an incomplete pass to Amendola, and then getting sacked on third down.

The two sides exchanged punts for the rest of the night until the Patriots scored a field goal to close the game to 27-20, but it was not enough. The Dolphins recovered the onside kick to end the game.

The Patriots fell to 10-3 and turned week 15 against the Pittsburgh Steelers into a must-win game if they hope to have homefield advantage in the AFC playoffs.