The Miami Dolphins relied on big games from running back Knowshon Moreno and quarterback Ryan Tannehill as they leveraged a strong second half to upset the New England Patriots, 33-20, in Week 1 NFL action at the Sun Life Stadium in Miami Gardens, Fla.
After trailing 20-10 in the first half, the home team scored 23 points and gained 222 yards in the second half, outgaining the Patriots by over 150 yards, with that total including a rather inconsequential 37-yard run in the final drive of the game. According to Dolphins wide receiver Mike Wallace, Miami made the necessary adjustments after the first half after realizing they were beating themselves. “We knew what was killing us – ourselves,” he admitted.
The Patriots’ opening week loss was their first since 2003, and this also marks the first time New England doesn’t have at least a share of the AFC East lead since Week 3 2012.
New England started strong in the first half, with quarterback Tom Brady throwing a touchdown pass to tight end Rob Gronkowski and Shane Vereen rushing for one touchdown. It was downhill from there on in, as the Patriots weren’t able to score in the second half, and got outscored by 23 points or more for the first time in almost six years and 100 games. “We need to do a better job than we did today,” lamented Patriots head coach Bill Belichick. “It’s as simple as that.”
Though Moreno’s 134-yard, one touchdown game made him one of the key players on offense, it was the Miami Dolphins defense that also played a key part in their remarkable comeback. “We made a statement as a team,” said rookie linebacker Chris McCain. “We had three or four turnovers and we were down, but we knew we could do something. We had to calm down, get our poise and come out and ball. We came back real well and shut them out in the second half. That’s unheard of. With Tom Brady out there you expect about 35 points.”