The final score in Sunday’s game between the Patriots and Dolphins mapped out a 34-15 loss for New England.
But in reality, this game was far more uncompetitive than whatever can be gleaned from a 19-point disparity.
New England spotted Miami 31 unanswered points to open the game, with porous offensive-line play keeping Drake Maye’s aerial attack grounded and a regressing defense dissected by Tua Tagovailoa (four touchdowns, 317 passing yards).
“The last thing I told the guys, ‘It’s all about us,’ and this is before the game,” Jerod Mayo said after a lackluster showing in Miami Gardens.