MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — The New England Patriots had no excuses or earth-shattering explanations for their second-half collapse in Sunday’s season opener.
Cornerback Darrelle Revis said the Patriots had confidence going into the game, and defensive tackle Sealver Siliga said the team maintained it through halftime. Perhaps cockiness can be partially blamed for a second half that included just 67 net yards on offense and 222 yards allowed, but overconfidence can’t tell the entire story.
The Patriots were, as usual, nondescript in answering what went wrong after the second quarter.
“We just didn’t play well enough,” defensive tackle Vince Wilfork said after the 33-20 loss to the Dolphins. “First half we went out, we created plays, we made plays, we played together — good football. But second half we just didn’t make enough plays. They made a lot. They capitalized on our mistakes. That was the ballgame.
“We have to do better. We can’t hold our heads down. It is a long season, but we definitely have to get better, and we will get better.”
“We didn’t execute,” said wide receiver Julian Edelman, who caught six passes for 95 yards in the first half but none in the second half.
The Patriots, who had rotations on the offensive line, in the secondary, on the defensive line and at wide receiver, running back and tight end, couldn’t maintain consistency. The Patriots looked like a team that hadn’t just gone through four games of the preseason. They played like it was Aug. 7, not Sept. 7.
That makes sense, too. The Patriots have regained tight end Rob Gronkowski and Siliga for the regular season, and they acquired Tim Wright and traded Logan Mankins two weeks ago. Linebackers Jerod Mayo and Dont’a Hightower missed the last two preseason games, and the Patriots still appear to be sorting out their starting offense and defense — something they should have done before Sunday, not through the start of the regular season.
Ryan Wendell, Dan Connolly and Jordan Devey rotated at guard and center, Kenbrell Thompkins and Brandon LaFell each played snaps at receiver, Patrick Chung, Duron Harmon and Tavon Wilson saw time at safety, and Alfonzo Dennard, Malcolm Butler and Logan Ryan all played opposite Darrelle Revis. Head coach Bill Belichick said it was his plan to play everyone.
“I think we played just about everybody in this game,” Belichick said. “That was the plan, and that’s what we did.”
The Patriots have a talented roster, but their depth and lack of obvious starters might have hurt them against the Dolphins. Playing matchups can be helpful, but so can continuity, and the Patriots’ chemistry appeared to suffer on offense and defense.
The Patriots obviously are a talented football team, but perhaps it was the first half, not the second half, that was a mirage. Everything went right for the Patriots from fumbles (and a flying shoe) to interceptions. In the second half, even when Chandler Jones was able to pressure quarterback Ryan Tannehill, he was flagged for personal fouls — twice.
The Patriots were penalized nine times for 100 yards, and that didn’t help them maintain long drives or keep the Dolphins from driving down the field. The Patriots have some changes to make, but without an obvious answer to the question “what went wrong?” that might be difficult.
