Patriots Overcome 10-Point Deficit to Defeat Dolphins 24-19

Drake Maye threw two touchdown passes and rushed for another as the New England Patriots erased a 10-point halftime deficit to defeat the Miami Dolphins 24-19 on Sunday in Miami Gardens, Florida.

The Patriots (5-3) trailed 13-3 at the break but outscored the Dolphins 21-0 in the second half before holding off a late Miami surge. Maye completed 16 of 20 passes for 199 yards. He played without wide receivers A.J. Brown and Mack Hollins, who suffered a knee and ankle injury and a calf injury respectively, along with running back TreVeyon Henderson, who was sidelined by illness.

Coach Mike Vrabel noted that Maye found ways to win despite the missing personnel. "(If) you want to be a great quarterback in the National Football League, there's not a whole lot of excuses," Vrabel said. "You go out there and find ways to win for your football team. That’s who he is and that’s what he wants to continue to be."

New England took control in the fourth quarter when DeMario Douglas caught a 48-yard touchdown pass, extending the lead to two scores. Douglas finished the game with three receptions for 76 yards. Rhamondre Stevenson contributed 19 carries for 82 yards for the Patriots.

The Dolphins (1-6) responded with a 35-yard touchdown pass from Malik Willis to rookie Kevin Coleman Jr. with two minutes remaining. After a failed two-point conversion, Rhamondre Stevenson recovered Bradley Pinion's onside kick, allowing New England to run out the clock. Willis completed 21 of 32 passes for 211 yards while throwing two touchdowns and an interception.

A key moment in the third quarter involved a 43-yard touchdown pass from Maye to Kyle Williams. The play was initially ruled an incomplete pass but overturned to a touchdown after Vrabel challenged the call. Williams also scored on a 2-yard run late in the third quarter, giving Maye at least three total touchdowns in his fifth consecutive game.

Miami kicker Zane Gonzalez made field goals of 31 and 52 yards. The 52-yard attempt hit the left upright. The Patriots will host Green Bay next Sunday, while the Dolphins will host Detroit.