Filed under: Dolphins, Patriots, AFC East
The New England Patriots entered Sunday's game having not lost a regular season game since December 10, 2006, a 21-0 loss at the hands of ... the Miami Dolphins. Since that loss, the Patriots went on a run of 21 consecutive regular season wins, dominating just about every team they came in contact with.
By comparison, since that game all the way back in 2006, the Dolphins had gone 1-20. Talk about your polar opposites. Of course, that's what made it hilarious when Miami linebacker Joey Porter had the stones to come out this week and tell the world it wouldn't be all that difficult to prepare for Matt Cassel, and that it "would be nice to get our first win."
Laughter followed from pretty much everyone -- including yours truly -- but nobody is laughing now, except maybe Porter and Ronnie Brown. This game was never even close, and Miami did indeed pick up its first win of the season with a 38-13 dismantling of the Patriots at Gillette Stadium.
The story of the day was Brown, who accounted for all five of Miami's touchdowns, rushing for four -- including three in the first half -- and throwing a 19-yard score to tight end Anthony Fasano. He finished the day with 113 yards on 17 carries, scoring on plays of two, 15, five and 62.
Meanwhile, on defense, Porter helped to back up his guarantee with six tackles and three sacks. It was his first three-sack game since December 24, 2005, when he was still a member of the Steelers.
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Matt Cassel, making his second career start, finished the day 19 of 31 while averaging less than five-yards per pass attempt. The loss marks the fourth consecutive game where the Patriots failed to score 20 points, while Randy Moss was held in check, again, catching four passes for just 25 yards.
