FOXBORO -- The Dolphins out-coached, outplayed, out-thought, out-executed, you name it they did it to the Patriots today. But mostly they administered a beatdown on New England, 38-13 the stirring result.
New England coach Bill Belicheat agreed with me.
"I thought that Miami played a real good football game," he said. "They did everything a lot better than we did. They outplayed us. They out-coached us. They certainly dominated on offense and defense. I thought we were competitive in the kicking game but that was about it, not on the offensive or defensive sides of the ball."
Ronnie Brown went crazy on the Patriots defense. Using what the Dolphins refer to as the "Wildcat" formation in which Brown lines up in shotgun and either runs, hands off or passes, the running back scored four touchdowns, threw for another touchdown and gained a game-high113 yards on 17 carries.
Ricky Williams contributed 98 yards on 16 carries. Wow.
Brown had TD runs of 62 yards, 5 yards, 15 yards and 2 yards -- all of them out of the "Wildcat" formation. Miami's other points came on a 39-yard field goal by Dan Carpenter.
Although the Patriots scored their first TD of the day on a Matt Cassel pass, the Dolphins defense clearly outplayed New England offense also. New England's TD was made possible primarily because Ellis Hobbs returned a kickoff 81 yards.
That kickoff came after Ronnie Brown threw a 19-yard touchdown pass to Anthony Fasano to give the Dolphins a 28-6 lead. That is not a misprint. Brown, who ran for three previous scores, lined up in the shotgun and took the direct snap. He rolled left, which is his dominant hand, and pass to Fasano.
The Dolphins have clearly found a chink in the New England defense's armor as Brown tied the team record for rushing TDs in a game with three.
Brown scored from 5 yards out iwth :54 seconds to play in the half. Three of the scores have come on a play in which Brown takes a direct snap from center as Chad Pennington lines up at WR. Brown simply keeps the ball and finds a running lane that one can fit a truck through. He's done this twice. The third time he passed.
New England early on was able to match Miami score for score. The difference was Miami was scoring touchdowns. New England has two field goals.
So the score here is 21-6 so far after Stephen Gostkowski connected on his second field goal of the day.
Ronnie Brown is on a tear! He went over from 15 yards out for his second touchdown of the day as the Dolphins stretched their lead over New England to 14-3 in the second quarter.
The Miami TD answered a 37-yard field goal by Gostkowski that New England used to close the gap with the Dolphins to 7-3 early in the second quarter.
The Dolphins took a 7-0 lead when Brown took a direct snap from center and ran in from 2 yards in the first quarter.
The Dolphins have shown a lot of fight so far. They got their first interception of the season -- that by Randy Starks -- to stop a first quarter New England drive. Then the Dolphins drove 74 yards for the go-ahead TD.
It was the first time this season the Patriots have allowed a first-quarter touchdown and the first time this year Miami takes a lead in a game. Anthony Fasano caught passes of 23 and 24 yards on the drive to help the Dolphins.
It's a beautiful day for a live blog and we will have that in the comment section today.
Meanwhile the news today is that Brown got his first start of the season ahead of Ricky Williams at running back.
As reported in this blog often this week, Renaldo Hill is starting for Chris Crocker at free safety.
I ran into future Dolphins owner and current partner Stephen Ross before the game. He is here. It is interesting, to me at least, that Wayne Huizenga is not here and I didn't see him on the road last week, either. I don't know what that means, but I just figured you'd like to know.
For the Patriots, meanwhile, starting running back Laurence Maroney is out. Backup Lamont Jordan is questionable. The starter will be former Dolphins running back Sammy Morris.
moss playing scared, what a punk!
Posted by: azfin | September 21, 2008 at 02:40 PM
DAMMIT! The ball hits Goodman in the face and he can't catch it. Guess that's why he plays Defense.
Posted by: Cote = Blah Blah Blah | September 21, 2008 at 02:40 PM
Moss just quit in the middle of a play. Charlie Casserly reported today that he thinks Moss is either hurt or has quit.
Posted by: Armando Salguero | September 21, 2008 at 02:41 PM
Hell yeah, baby!!!!!!! Great stop.
Posted by: LAPhins | September 21, 2008 at 02:41 PM
Have you considered relocating?
Posted by: Alex C | September 21, 2008 at 02:41 PM
Besides, if we do lose, Mando will talk about how the Fins are chokers, too young, out of shape, do not have the players etc. Blah, Blah, Blah.
Posted by: Hayden Fox | September 21, 2008 at 02:41 PM
the db's need to work on catching some balls
Posted by: dmac72 | September 21, 2008 at 02:41 PM
Big break for the Dolphins on the illegal touch penalty. Instead of having the ball at the 2 yard line there will be another punt.
Posted by: Armando Salguero | September 21, 2008 at 02:42 PM
Watching game in bar without sound... what was that penalty for????
Posted by: matt | September 21, 2008 at 02:42 PM
Dolphins dodge a bullet with the illegal touch by NE
Posted by: Cote = Blah Blah Blah | September 21, 2008 at 02:42 PM
Fins are getting the bounces today.
Posted by: LAPhins | September 21, 2008 at 02:42 PM
Hayden Fox, I can speak for myself, thank you.
Posted by: Armando Salguero | September 21, 2008 at 02:43 PM
Alex, YES! Nothing to do with the Pats, but you should see my heating oil bill...I am being serious with you. Crazy. I want to go below the the Mason-Dixon Line.
Posted by: Hayden Fox | September 21, 2008 at 02:43 PM
Thanks Armando. It seems that some breaks are going our way today.
Posted by: matt | September 21, 2008 at 02:43 PM
Well damn, it's about time that the Dolphin get some breaks.
Posted by: David | September 21, 2008 at 02:43 PM
fins suck
Posted by: dan ad | September 21, 2008 at 02:43 PM
good job phins way to play hard. some one was askingabout dave wandstad earlier and all i have to say is worst coach in nfl history, not because of his win loss records but because of what he did to the bears, same thing he did to the dolphins.... completely skrewed up the entire roster for both teams and put them in rebuilding mode 4 years to come.
Posted by: robt | September 21, 2008 at 02:43 PM
That was a 19 yard penalty turns out.
Posted by: Armando Salguero | September 21, 2008 at 02:44 PM
Hayden Fox...... BURN!!!!!!!
Posted by: Andyrew | September 21, 2008 at 02:44 PM
I'm sure Armando persuaded the refs to make that call.
Posted by: LAPhins | September 21, 2008 at 02:45 PM
Mando, we will see what your article looks like IF they do come back. I better ONLY see articles about how the Fins are "getting better".
BTW, this league is about WINS...and we have had how many lately. Excuse me if I would like to see the Fins get the job done here via the scoreboard.
Posted by: Hayden Fox | September 21, 2008 at 02:45 PM
Wow, did not catch it live, on the replay it showed Goodman left the ball just go through his hands on the third down pass... Not to complain, but... a play there could have been a dagger...
Posted by: Alex C | September 21, 2008 at 02:46 PM
can i get some moose
Posted by: Jimmy Johnson | September 21, 2008 at 02:46 PM
ginn and family showed up today, nice!
Posted by: azfin | September 21, 2008 at 02:46 PM
Ted Ginn and his Family does it again.
Posted by: LAPhins | September 21, 2008 at 02:47 PM
ricky running hard downhill today!
Posted by: azfin | September 21, 2008 at 02:47 PM
If the Dolphins don't make mistakes on offense -- interceptions, fumbles -- I would think it will be very difficult for NE to win this game with Cassel at QB.
Posted by: Armando Salguero | September 21, 2008 at 02:47 PM
There we go Ricky!
Posted by: LAPhins | September 21, 2008 at 02:48 PM
teddy ginn....has arrived at least today
Posted by: | September 21, 2008 at 02:48 PM
ricky just punishing them now
Posted by: fin fan in illinois | September 21, 2008 at 02:49 PM
Pennington burns the safety blitz.
Posted by: Armando Salguero | September 21, 2008 at 02:50 PM
Nice blitz pick up/hot read.
Posted by: Hayden Fox | September 21, 2008 at 02:50 PM
Great blitz read and dump off by Pennington
Posted by: Cote = Blah Blah Blah | September 21, 2008 at 02:50 PM
Ricky! Ricky!
Posted by: LAPhins | September 21, 2008 at 02:50 PM
On that 2 and 12 I was expecting the worst, but this game just has a different feel to it.
Posted by: matt | September 21, 2008 at 02:50 PM
this stadium is dead silent and the Dolphins are on offense. I've never seen it like this.
Posted by: Armando Salguero | September 21, 2008 at 02:50 PM
The first time I miss the dolphins' first half in 15 years and they're up 21-6! How ironic...
Posted by: Fred | September 21, 2008 at 02:50 PM
WILFORD!!!! HOLY CRAP!!
Posted by: Cote = Blah Blah Blah | September 21, 2008 at 02:51 PM
wilford makes a play WOW
Posted by: | September 21, 2008 at 02:51 PM
It really looks like Miami's day today. Amazing.
Posted by: Armando Salguero | September 21, 2008 at 02:51 PM
Pennington can do no WRONG today.
Posted by: | September 21, 2008 at 02:51 PM
WHY oh why do they have a man crush on Ricky?
Posted by: Marc | September 21, 2008 at 02:51 PM
Can I just say... wow
Posted by: LoRyder | September 21, 2008 at 02:51 PM
NICE! last year that play would have resulted in a sack & fumble, this year it goes for 15 yards & a first down!
Posted by: azfin | September 21, 2008 at 02:52 PM
Are u guys excited or what??? Let's go Dolphins!!!
Posted by: | September 21, 2008 at 02:52 PM
Need 3 here...agree?
Posted by: Hayden Fox | September 21, 2008 at 02:52 PM
looks like pats coaches forgot to film the phins...
Posted by: robt | September 21, 2008 at 02:52 PM
Watching clock tick away... Awesome
Posted by: Alex C | September 21, 2008 at 02:52 PM
Ted Ginn and his Family!!!!!!!!!
Posted by: | September 21, 2008 at 02:53 PM
faking the injury to get the D some rest, typical dirty pats tricks...
Posted by: azfin | September 21, 2008 at 02:53 PM
Bruschi was hurt but he's fine. He'll be back, it seems.
Posted by: Armando Salguero | September 21, 2008 at 02:53 PM
what the hell is goin on are we actually playin a good game..is that Ted Ginn? did i just see Ernest Wilford? AM I DREAMING MANDO?
Posted by: Slickback | September 21, 2008 at 02:54 PM
anybody know a link 2 hear it online???
Posted by: EF Cuttin | September 21, 2008 at 02:54 PM
Bellicheat rarely ever looks happy, but he is visibly ticked off on the sidelines. This is PRICELESS!
GO DOLPHINS!
Posted by: LoRyder | September 21, 2008 at 02:54 PM
Can't say I've kept up with Moss's efforts this year, but has the man quit now that Brady's out for the year...what a freaking self-serving piece of crap if that's the case
Posted by: Mike in Houston | September 21, 2008 at 02:54 PM
I agree about the "dirty tricks"...
Posted by: Hayden Fox | September 21, 2008 at 02:54 PM
what the hell is goin on are we actually playin a good game..is that Ted Ginn? did i just see Ernest Wilford? AM I DREAMING MANDO?
Posted by: Slickback | September 21, 2008 at 02:55 PM
what?????
Posted by: | September 21, 2008 at 02:55 PM
Holy hell!
Posted by: Marc | September 21, 2008 at 02:55 PM
Set up beautifully!!!!!!!!!
Posted by: Cote = Blah Blah Blah | September 21, 2008 at 02:55 PM