Martellus Bennett Abuses Dolphins’ Byron Maxwell With Vicious Stiff-Arm

FOXBORO, Mass. — New England Patriots fans are accustomed to seeing Rob Gronkowski run over, around and through defenders at Gillette Stadium.

On Sunday, they watched Martellus Bennett do the same.

Early in the third quarter of a game against the Miami Dolphins, the 6-foot-7 tight end hauled in a pass from Patriots rookie quarterback Jacoby Brissett and scampered 37 yards down the left seam, embarrassing Dolphins cornerback Byron Maxwell with a powerful stiff-arm in the process.

It was the first NFL completion for Brissett, who entered the game after Jimmy Garoppolo went down with a shoulder injury late in the second quarter.

Bennett, who caught just three passes for 14 yards last Sunday against the Arizona Cardinals, added another 15-yard reception later in the drive. Two plays later, running back LeGarrette Blount plowed his way into the end zone to extend the Patriots’ lead to 31-3.

Bennett also caught two passes from Garoppolo before the quarterback switch, including a 20-yard touchdown.

Thumbnail photo via David Butler II/USA TODAY Sports Images