FOXBORO, Mass. — The New England Patriots usually are pretty good about ignoring the noise.
Not this week.
Patriots head coach Bill Belichick reportedly put quotes from Dolphins players all around the Gillette Stadium facility this week, reminding players what Miami was saying after beating New England 33-20 in Week 1. Apparently it worked, since the Patriots beat the Dolphins 41-13 on Sunday, scoring 27 unanswered points in the second half.
Cornerback Darrelle Revis was asked about that motivational tool after beating the Dolphins.
“I don’t know what they were saying after the first game, but there was a lot of talk — those guys were chirping,” Revis said. “The Miami Dolphins were chirping this week about they should’ve beat us by 50 and all of those type of things in the first game. If that’s what they want to do, that’s what they want to do. The one thing you gotta understand is, you get a second stab at them, because we’re in the same (division). You might need to watch what you say.”
It appears Revis is mistaken, and the quote he’s referencing came in September, when wide receiver Mike Wallace told the Miami Herald that the Dolphins could have scored 50 points against the Patriots.
“Honestly, it’s not bragging or boasting, but I honestly feel like we could have scored at least 50 points,” Wallace said after Week 1. “I had a fumble early in the game, Lamar (Miller) had a fumble, we had a double move that should have been a touchdown, we had an interception when I ran a post that should have been a touchdown, we had a throw to (Charles) Clay (which he dropped) that should have been a touchdown, we missed wide-open ones. That’s already 21 more points, so we could have had 50.”
Well, the Dolphins had a second chance to put a 50-spot on the board against the Patriots this week, and they failed.
Revis allowed just two catches for 18 yards to Jarvis Landry in the first half. Revis then switched to Wallace in the second half and personally blanked the speedy receiver.
Photo via Charles Krupa/Associated Press
