Grading the Dolphins’ 24-17 win over Patriots; plus stock up, stock down

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — The Miami Dolphins are capable of winning in different ways.

They already showed they can win a back-and-forth barnburner with quarterback Tua Tagovailoa throwing all over the field, like Week 1 in Los Angeles. Sunday night at Gillette Stadium, they won behind their defense and a run game that complemented Tagovailoa’s efforts through the air.

Miami is off to a 2-0 start against a pair of playoff hopefuls — with both wins coming on the road. A difficult feat in the NFL.

Here’s how the South Florida Sun Sentinel grades the Dolphins’ performance in key areas of Sunday’s 24-17 win over the New England Patriots:

Passing game: B

It doesn’t have to be 466 passing yards every game to be good enough to win. Tagovailoa was never going to be able to throw the ball wherever he wanted against the Bill Belichick-coached Patriots defense. And with New England playing off Dolphins receivers and showing three-safety looks from the start, it was clear Sunday night was going to be about taking what the defense gave Tagovailoa.

He did, for the most part, going 21 of 30 for 249 yards, a touchdown and an interception. The pick was thrown in one of the rare instances where he tried to force it deep, although it was single coverage for Tyreek Hill. Several drives were kept alive on third downs where Tagovailoa took the simple throw at the sticks for the first down. He was masterful on the end-of-half drive for the touchdown to Hill.

Tagovailoa was only sacked once after not getting sacked in the opener. Kendall Lamm has held up well at left tackle with Terron Armstead out, and Tagovailoa’s quick release kept the Patriots pass rush off him.

Running game: A

With Jeff Wilson Jr. already out and Salvon Ahmed getting hurt during the game, Raheem Mostert shouldered a larger workload and handled it well. Mostert had 18 carries for 121 yards and two touchdowns. The later 43-yarder on the inside zone to put the Dolphins up two scores looked like a backbreaker against New England had Miami not kept the Patriots in the game with ensuing miscues.

As a team, the Dolphins went for a 4.8 average — 145 yards on 30 attempts — as they took advantage of the Patriots daring them to run. Center Connor Williams, despite another snap issue, was a strong run blocker. He and right guard Robert Hunt created the huge hole for Mostert’s touchdown. Ahmed had three carries and ran hard on long of 10 yards before he went out. De’Von Achane’s first NFL carry went for 5 yards. And the Erik Ezukanma package was seen again with the wide receiver getting rushing attempts from different spots, including in the backfield.

Defending the pass: B+

The Dolphins held Mac Jones to 231 yards on 31-of-42 passing. Although the Patriots stayed in the game, Miami got the stop on the late-game drive. And the touchdown to tight end Hunter Henry early in the fourth involved multiple uncalled penalties, as noted on the NBC broadcast.

Cornerback Xavien Howard got his first interception of the season, with great position defending DeVante Parker in single coverage. It was all DeShon Elliott at strong safety, with Brandon Jones not receiving a defensive snap, and Miami deployed Eli Apple again as the boundary corner in the nickel package where Kader Kohou slides into the slot. Apple has to improve with his open-field tackling.

The pass rush was splendid, especially with Andrew Van Ginkel a menace in place of the injured Jaelan Phillips. Van Ginkel had a sack, along with another hit on Jones where he barely got his arm moving forward for an incomplete pass. Christian Wilkins, Bradley Chubb and David Long Jr. also had sacks.

Defending the run: A-

Big improvement from the league-worst run defense exhibited in the opener. The Dolphins held the Patriots to 88 rushing yards on 25 attempts, a 3.5 average. And it was better earlier in the game before big tailback Rhamondre Stevenson started gashing the defense a bit as fatigue set in late.

Nonetheless, Stevenson was held to 50 yards on 15 carries. Jones had New England’s longest run on a scramble. Chubb, Wilkins, Long, Van Ginkel, Raekwon Davis all stood out in the front seven. Safety Jevon Holland shot a game on one tackle of Stevenson in the backfield for a 3-yard loss.

Special teams: F

Chances to finish off the Patriots were squandered. New England does have to be credited for the unique pre-snap motion on the field goal block by Brenden Schooler, but that resulted from specialists being too predictable to time on the snap. When Miami adjusted the snap cadence for the following 55-yard field goal, kicker Jason Sanders, who was 2 of 6 from 50-plus last season, missed wide left.

Just avoid colossal mistakes, and we’d be analyzing punter Jake Bailey’s 44-yard net average on three boots or Braxton Berrios’ 27 punt return yards over two tries. Instead, it’s about those near-costly errors.

Coaching: C+

Exceptional game planning schematically on both sides of the ball. Mike McDaniel’s misdirection runs opened things up. He had Tagovailoa correctly taking what the defense gave him against Belichick’s unique defensive strategy. Strong bounce-back for new defensive coordinator Vic Fangio, who had his front seven prepared to hold firm against the run and had defensive standouts in position to make plays.

The blocked kick, in large part, falls on special teams coordinator Danny Crossman. McDaniel’s failed challenge in the second quarter was highly questionable. He missed on his first challenge of his second season after he was 1 of 6 in that area as a rookie head coach.

Stock up: Bradley Chubb

There was a lot of talk about Chubb not performing to standard since the Dolphins sent a first-round pick to the Denver Broncos for him at the past trade deadline, including from analyst Rodney Harrison pregame on the NBC broadcast. Chubb showed up with what is likely his best game with Miami. Seven tackles, a sack, another tackle for loss and a forced fumble that resulted in a recovery from safety DeShon Elliott. He made an impact, along with Van Ginkel, as Miami was without Phillips. Long should also be credited for his seven tackles, sack and pair of quarterback hits. He was sensational in 62 snaps after playing just 17 against Los Angeles.

Stock down: Jason Sanders

Critical misses at the end of games two weeks straight. He’s fortunate they haven’t sunk the Dolphins in either outing because Miami made a defensive stop to follow. Sanders was 1 for 3 on field goals Sunday night, with one blocked and the miss from 55 yards that could’ve sealed it. This after he missed a critical extra point at the end of the Week 1 win.