Dolphins shut out Patriots

GiantsFan81

MIAMI (AP) -- As Tom Brady prepared to take a snap, he shouted and pointed across the line, anticipating a blitz from end Jason Taylor lined up at middle linebacker.

Maybe Brady's teammates didn't hear him. They failed to block Taylor, who swooped up the middle untouched to force a harried, errant pass.

It was that kind of day for Brady and the Patriots, who lost to the Miami Dolphins 21-0 Sunday.

"We just couldn't do anything right," Brady said.

The roving Taylor led a disruptive defense that sacked Brady four times, forced him to fumble twice and limited him to 78 yards passing. New England totaled 12 first downs and 189 yards, both season lows, and lost three fumbles, giving them 11 turnovers in the past three games.

The Patriots committed nine penalties. Their best play was an illegal forward pass.

"To get a shutout against a team like that is huge for our defense," said safety Yeremiah Bell, who had nine tackles and forced a fumble by Brady.

The last Miami team to shut out New England was the perfect-season Dolphins of 1972.

By the second quarter, Brady's frustration was evident. When the Patriots were stopped for the fifth possession in a row in the opening half, he screamed at teammates as he trotted off the field, and again after he reached the bench.

"He was pretty frustrated," Miami defensive tackle Vonnie Holliday said. "We saw him yelling at his linemen. It was a little bit uncharacteristic of Brady -- he's usually so cool and calm in the pocket. But we were able to fluster him a little bit."

Brady fell to 7-5 against the Dolphins, compared with 70-20 against the rest of the NFL.

The Patriots (9-4) still lead the AFC East, but the loss snapped their three-game winning and hurt their chances of earning a first-round bye in the playoffs. They lost on the road for the first time in six games this season.

"There are a lot of teams that would like to have our record," coach Bill Belichick said. "There might be a few who wouldn't, but most teams would love to be where we are."

Miami (6-7), virtually eliminated from the playoff race a week ago, won for the fifth time in six games.

"Hats off to them to be playing at that level when their future is kind of cloudy," Patriots defensive end Ty Warren said.

New England played without leading rusher Laurence Maroney, inactive because of a back injury, and lost top receiver Benjamin Watson in the third quarter with a leg injury.

And Taylor didn't make things any easier for the Patriots. He kept them guessing by lining up at different spots and frequently harassed Brady.

"He's the best player we've played against all year," Belichick said.

"He's relentless out there," Brady said. "He's got a great knack for the ball."

Taylor made six tackles, sacked Brady once, forced a fumble and broke up a pass.

The Patriots averaged only 2.0 yards per pass play. They did reach the end zone once, but the score in the fourth quarter was negated by a penalty for passing twice.

With Miami leading 13-0, Brady handed off to Kevin Faulk, who threw back across the field to Brady. The quarterback threw long to Daniel Graham for a 33-yard score. But after a lengthy discussion, officials ruled Faulk's throw was a forward pass rather than a lateral.

"If that was a touchdown, it's a whole different game," Taylor said. "The dynamic of the game is changed drastically."

Instead, Brady lost a fumble on a safety blitz three plays later, and Miami drove 61 yards for the clinching touchdown.

Sammy Morris rushed for a career-high 123 yards and a score for the Dolphins. Marty Booker caught a 32-yard touchdown pass from Joey Harrington.

Defense and special teams did the rest. Poor field position hurt the Patriots, who started their first eight possessions at the 30 or worse. Three punts by Miami's Donnie Jones were downed inside the 5-yard line.

Against the Patriots, Taylor said, a shutout was especially sweet.

"There's a rivalry here," Taylor said. "It's a division game. It's a team I consider one of the best two or three in the league. But it's great to get a shutout any time."




Amazing how the Phins come alive when the season is basically over for them.
Thoughts?

USMC 99-03 Corporal
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National League Fan

joeytheking23

This was a MAJOR MAJOR brain fart for us. We should've killed them by 40 points....we can beat a bad team like the Packers or Lions, but we can't be the Phins....ridiculous

"I didn't lose my mind, I sold it on Ebay!"

Styles™

Other than the Colts game this was the number 2 shocker of the week, Patroits are not suppose to lose to the Sea Animals! And then get shut out by them it was unbelievable...

Banner Credit goes to xWaynex

GiantsFan81

LOL.......I love when the pats get ownt!

USMC 99-03 Corporal
PS2 GameTag: Rattltrunk
National Football Conference Fan
National League Fan

Killswitch

I'm happy Brady couldn't survive a rival, seems like we are seeming a Patriots team we haven't sense Brady has been quarterback. Is it temporary? I hope not sense I hate seeing Brady get lucky and have the Patriots win. BTW, Miami is playing really well right now and should capture a Wild Card spot. I hope we see a Patriots lose in the playoffs becuase I'm sick of seeing them win due to last second feild goals.

joeytheking23

It's called skill.....and he has no recievers lol...we will draft/sign one though

"I didn't lose my mind, I sold it on Ebay!"

dave

Wow, this surprised me big time. I never expected the Patriots to lose to a divsion rival and expecially in such a big game. I would have imagined the Pats would have stepped out their and show us what they are made of but I guess not. Big lose but they need to put it in the past.

The Dolphins are on a role and looking very good.