McDaniel era starts with a win, Dolphins top Patriots 20-7

AP — Tua Tagovailoa handed for 270 yards and a landing and the Miami Dolphins supplied an early take a look at their capacity to contend within the AFC East as they beat Bill Belichick and the New England Patriots 20-7 Sunday.

Facing Belichick in a head teaching debut isn’t straightforward. But Mike McDaniel, the previous 49ers offensive coordinator who was employed because the Dolphins head coach in February, made use of a proficient protection and the speedy choices he introduced in in the course of the offseason to increase Miami’s successful streak towards the Patriots to 4 video games.

Miami swept the Patriots in 2021, together with a win in Foxborough within the season opener.

Second-year receiver Jaylen Waddle scored the Dolphins’ first offensive landing of the 2022 season, taking a fourth-down move from Tagovailoa into the top zone for a 42-yard rating. 

Waddle caught 4 passes for 69 yards.

Tyreek Hill, making his Miami Dolphins debut after the crew traded for him in the course of the offseason, led Miami’s receivers with eight receptions for 94 yards.

Patriots second-year quarterback Mac Jones threw for 213 yards with a landing and interception. 

Running again Ty Montgomery caught the Patriots’ solely landing of the sport. Damien Harris led New England’s rushers with 48 yards on 9 carries.

In the second quarter, Hill ripped a leap ball away from defensive again Jack Jones, who almost intercepted the move from Tagovailoa. Hill, who’s 5-foot-10, turned the play into a 26-yard achieve.

Dolphins security Jevon Holland made an instantaneous impression to begin what is predicted to be a breakout season.

On the Patriots’ opening drive, Holland intercepted Jones’ move, which was meant for DeVante Parker, the previous Dolphins receiver who was traded to the Patriots. 

Parker was working one on one towards cornerback Xavien Howard, who tipped the move away from Parker and into Holland’s fingers.

The takeaway stifled the Patriots drive by which they transformed 4 first downs to maneuver into Dolphins territory.

Former Chargers linebacker Melvin Ingram additionally performed his first recreation as a Dolphin and scored a defensive landing within the second quarter. 

Safety Brandon Jones, on a blitz, obtained a strip-sack of Jones. Ingram recovered the ball for a landing to offer the Dolphins a 10-0 lead.

Patriots receiver Jakobi Meyers made a contested catch over Dolphins defensive again Nik Needham for a 9-yard achieve within the second quarter. 

But the Patriots did little else on offense and confronted a 17-point deficit on the half.

The Patriots scored a landing on their opening drive of the third quarter after Montgomery caught a move within the flat from Jones on third-and-6 and rolled into the top zone to make it 17-7.

Miami answered with a 49-yard discipline aim from Jason Sanders to make it 20-7. 

On the drive, Raheem Mostert, whom the Dolphins signed as a free agent within the offseason, confirmed his shiftiness, catching a brief move from Tagovailoa and dodging a number of tacklers for a 16-yard achieve.

The Dolphins’ protection capped a dominant day with a fumble restoration by linebacker Jaelan Phillips with about 5 minutes left.

Rookie defensive again Kader Kohou knocked the ball out of Patriots receiver Nelson Agholor’s fingers. 

On the Patriots earlier drive, Kohou broke up a move to power a New England turnover on downs.

FAMOUS FACE

Former heavyweight boxer Mike Tyson was seen sitting subsequent to Patriots proprietor Robert Kraft.

WARM WEATHER

The Patriots arrived in South Florida a little early to get acclimated with the new climate, which reached the low 90s within the week main as much as Sunday’s recreation. 

New England arrived in Florida on Tuesday and practiced at Palm Beach Atlantic University in Palm Beach County, about an hour from the Dolphins’ amenities.

INJURIES

Dolphins: RT Austin Jackson left the sport with an ankle damage within the second quarter. 

TE Cethan Carter left the sport with a head damage within the second quarter and didn’t return.

Patriots: S Adrian Phillips left the sport with a rib damage within the second quarter.