Final, Patriots 31-24: Duron Harmon picks off a a fourth-down prayer by Ryan Tannehill in the end zone, and that will do it. The Patriots improve to 2-0 on the season despite nearly blowing a 31-3 second-half lead.
New England’s focus now will be on the health of quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo, who left the game in the second quarter after suffering a shoulder injury. Jacoby Brissett completed 6 of 9 passes for 92 yards in relief.
Fourth quarter, 1:04, Patriots 31-24: Some powerful running by LeGarrette Blount, a big reception by Martellus Bennett and two quarterback sneaks by Jacoby Brissett set the Patriots up for what should have been a game-sealing field goal.
Stephen Gostkowski missed his 39-yard attempt wide right, however, giving the back to Miami at its own 29 with just over a minute to play.
Hold onto your butts, this one is going down to the wire.
Fourth quarter, 6:06, Patriots 31-24: Ladies and gentlemen, we have ourselves a one-score game.
A 7-yard touchdown run by Kenyan Drake caps a nine-play, 74-yard drive that brings the Dolphins to within seven with just over six minutes left to play.
Tannehill went a perfect 6-for-6 on the drive and now has 364 yards passing today after failing to complete a single pass in the first quarter. He’s completed 20 of 21 passes thus far in the second half. — Z.C.
Fourth quarter, 10:49, Patriots 31-17: After a holding call on Joe Thuney wipes away a first-down scramble by Jacoby Brissett, the young Patriots quarterback takes a 14-yard sack and fumbles. James White recovers, but the Patriots are forced to punt it away. — Z.C.
Fourth quarter, 14:51, Patriots 31-17: Ryan Tannehill hits Jordan Cameron for a 12-yard touchdown pass, threading the needle between Patrick Chung and Jamie Collins. Chung and Collins both were slow to get up after colliding near the goal line. — Z.C.
End third quarter, Patriots 31-10: We’ve reached the end of the third. The Dolphins still trail by three touchdowns, but they’re driving and will begin the fourth with a first-and-10 from the Patriots’ 32-yard line.
Third quarter, 2:04, Patriots 31-10: The Patriots were forced to punt after picking up two first downs. The Dolphins have the ball on their own 12-yard line after being flagged for an illegal block in the back.
Third quarter, 5:45, Patriots 31-10: We’re back to a three-score game after the Dolphins drove down the field for a touchdown. Justin Coleman allowed a 24-yard touchdown to wide receiver Kenny Stills. Dolphins QB Ryan Tannehill is now 20 of 29 for 241 yards with one touchdown and one interception.
Third quarter, 8:44, Patriots 31-3: Jimmy Garoppolo has been ruled out of the game, but the Patriots aren’t done scoring yet.
The Patriots moved 68 yards down the field on five plays. Brissett’s first career NFL completion went for 37 yards to tight end Martellus Bennett. Blount scored on a 9-yard run.
Third quarter, 11:35, Patriots 24-3: The Dolphins were moving the ball pretty well then Jay Ajayi fumbled. Jonathan Freeny caused it, and Trey Flowers jumped on it.
Patriots QB Jimmy Garoppolo has been ruled out for the rest of the game with a shoulder injury. Julian Edelman is the emergency QB.
End half, Patriots 24-3: We will not see a shutout this afternoon.
The Dolphins capped their drive with a field goal.
The real story of the game is Garoppolo’s injury. It seems unlikely he’ll emerge out of the locker room after the first half, but we’ll see. He completed 18 of 27 passes for 234 yards with three touchdowns before leaving the game.
Second quarter, 0:58, Patriots 24-0: The Patriots just went three and out under Brissett. LeGarrette Blount picked up 5 yards on two carries, then Julian Edelman had his second drop from Brissett.
Second quarter, 1:49, Patriots 24-0: Ryan Tannehill just threw an interception directly at Jamie Collins.
Patriots ball.
Second quarter, 2:48, Patriots 24-0: The Patriots scored on a field goal, but Jimmy Garoppolo went down with a shoulder injury in the process.
Garoppolo landed hard on his right shoulder and was taken to the locker room. He’s questionable to return.
Rookie Jacoby Brissett went 0 for 1 in Garoppolo’s absence.
Garoppolo started to walk off the field then dropped to one knee. Trainers checked on his right shoulder on the field and helped him to the locker room.
In case you’re wondering:
Second quarter, 5:49, Patriots 21-0: And the ball goes right back to the Patriots.
Logan Ryan forced a fumble after a 6-yard reception by Jarvis Landry. Long recovered.
Second quarter, 6:02, Patriots 21-0: The Patriots’ offensive tear hit a speed bump. Danny Amendola lost a fumble after a 15-yard reception. The Dolphins have the ball on their own 42.
Second quarter, 8:09, Patriots 21-0: The Dolphins actually earned a first down on a 21-yard completion to Jarvis Landry, then they sputtered with an incompletion, a 4-yard run and a bad snap that resulted in a 19-yard sack by Chris Long.
Barkevious made a nice tackle from behind, showing off his speed, on Jay Ajayi’s 4-yard run.
Patriots ball on their 31.
Second quarter, 10:02, Patriots 21-0: The Patriots’ offense finally stalled. Garoppolo hit Chris Hogan for a 4-yard gain, then James White carried the ball for 2 yards. Garoppolo then missed White on a deep pass down the sideline.
The Dolphins have the ball on their own 14 after a Patriots punt.
Second quarter, 11:33, Patriots 21-0: The Patriots just forced another three and out. The Dolphins have 17 net yards so far.
Second quarter, 13:10, Patriots 21-0: No joke, Jimmy Garoppolo might be the second best quarterback in the AFC East.
He just finished the Patriots’ third drive with a 10-yard touchdown pass to Danny Amendola.
Garoppolo is now 14 of 17 for 195 yards with three touchdowns.
End first quarter, Patriots 14-0: Garoppolo is now 12 of 15 for 177 yards with two touchdowns in the first quarter. Julian Edelman leads the team with five catches on five targets for 61 yards. Garoppolo has yet to throw an incompletion to Edelman this season.
Ryan Tannehill, meanwhile, is 0 of 2.
First quarter, 4:31, Patriots 14-0: The Dolphins aren’t doing themselves many favors so far. They picked up 9 yards on two plays then didn’t come close to picking up the first down on a QB sneak on third down. The Patriots have the ball on their own 24 after a Dolphins punt.
First quarter, 6:22, Patriots 14-0: So, last week wasn’t a fluke: Jimmy Garoppolo is really good.
The Patriots just drove down the field with ease, and Garoppolo finished off the series with a 20-yard touchdown pass to Martellus Bennett.
Garoppolo is now 9 of 10 for 136 yards with two touchdown passes.
Bennett, Chris Hogan and Edelman all have over 30 yards receiving.
First quarter, 9:32, Patriots 7-0: The Patriots forced a punt after a first-down holding penalty by linebacker Jonathan Freeny. Arian Foster then ran for three yards, followed by two incomplete passes by Ryan Tannehill.
Of note: Justin Coleman is playing over Logan Ryan when the Patriots have two cornerbacks on the field. Coleman is covering Kenny Stills early.
First quarter, 10:53, Patriots 7-0: The Patriots breezed down the field for seven points.
Garoppolo went 5 for 5 for 64 yards with a 12-yard touchdown pass to Danny Amendola. Martellus Bennett picked up 26 yards on a catch and run aided by a key block by Julian Edelman, who had two catches for 24 yards.
First quarter, 15:00: The Dolphins won the coin toss and chose to defer. The Patriots will receive.
1 p.m: The Patriots honored Boston Red Sox designated hitter David Ortiz before the game and presented him with a No. 34 Patriots jersey.
12:28 p.m:
11:33 a.m: Here are the Patriots’ inactives:
TE AJ Derby
CB Eric Rowe
LB Dont’a Hightower
TE Rob Gronkowski
G Jonathan Cooper
OT LaAdrian Waddle
DT Anthony Johnson
This means cornerback Malcolm Butler, offensive tackle Marcus Cannon, defensive end Trey Flowers, guard Shaq Mason, linebacker Shea McClellin, offensive tackle Nate Solder and wide receiver Chris Hogan are active.
Rookie running back D.J. Foster and rookie linebacker Elandon Roberts are active and will make their NFL debuts. Tight end Clay Harbor also will make his Patriots debut after being a healthy scratch last week.
Here are the Dolphins’ inactives:
11:08 a.m: On the defensive side, it appears we will not see linebacker Dont’a Hightower or D-lineman Anthony Johnson today.
Offensively, A.J. Derby reportedly was seen leaving the stadium, meaning Clay Harbor likely will be the No. 2 tight end behind Martellus Bennett. Harbor was inactive for last Sunday’s game in Arizona.
Hightower’s absence was expected after he did not practice this week, but Johnson’s and Derby’s are surprises. — Zack Cox
10:30 a.m: It appears guard Jonathan Cooper won’t play again this week. That will leave the Patriots with Shaq Mason and Ted Karras at right guard. Rookie Joe Thuney is expected to start at left guard.
8:50 a.m. ET: Jimmy Garoppolo made his NFL starting debut last week. Now it’s time for Garoppolo to make his NFL home starting debut.
The New England Patriots take on the Miami Dolphins at 1 p.m. The game will air locally on CBS.
The Patriots only have ruled out one player for Sunday afternoon’s game so far: cornerback Eric Rowe. Tight end Rob Gronkowski, who was listed as questionable, also won’t play, a source told Adam Schefter.
Linebacker Dont’a Hightower is listed as doubtful, meaning he likely won’t suit up.
Cornerback Malcolm Butler, offensive tackle Marcus Cannon, guard Jonathan Cooper, defensive end Trey Flowers, guard Shaq Mason, linebacker Shea McClellin, offensive tackle Nate Solder and wide receiver Chris Hogan also are questionable to play. Butler, Cannon, Flowers, Mason, McClellin and Hogan are likely to suit up, while the statuses of Cooper and Solder still are up in the air. We’ll find out who’s inactive at 11:30 a.m.
After beating the Arizona Cardinals in Week 1, many expect the Patriots to have no problem with the Dolphins. But as long as Garoppolo is under center there is uncertainty. Here are the Patriots’ keys to victory.
Stay here for updates and analysis throughout the game.
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