Brady still had 1:17 to lead a comeback, but he was sacked by David Bowens for a 9-yard loss and then free safety Arturo Freeman finished it off with the fourth INT on a pass intended for David Givens at the Patriot 37.
"They got cocky today," Freeman said. "They felt they were the defending champions and could make plays all over the field. We are the only team, if you check history, that New England has a problem playing against."
For the first time since Halloween, when they bowed to the Steelers, the Patriots experienced the opposing quarterback taking a knee to end the game. And for the first time this year the Patriots were second-fiddle to the Steelers, who are 13-1 to the Patriots' 12-2. The Dolphins improved to 3-11.
Brown blamed himself for the Thompson catch, saying, "I didn't make the play. I've got to do everything I can to keep him from catching that."
The New England locker room was understandably quiet after the game. Brady, who was sacked twice and knocked down numerous times, said, "I found out a long time ago you're not going to win too many games throwing four interceptions."
Of the interception, to Ayanbadejo, Brady said, "It was just a bad play. I thought I could get it to Dan. I thought I had time to throw, but my arm got ripped and I just pulled it right to the guy. It's just not a good play, and if we want to win games we can't do that. We've got to play better and it starts with me."
Brady's poor night overshadowed a good game by Corey Dillon, who carried 26 times for 121 yards. Dillon had his eighth 100-yard game and helped eat up 4:57 of a 65-yard drive that gave the Patriots a 28-17 lead with 3:59 remaining in the game.
Dillon set up the score with a 20-yard rumble up the middle to the Dolphins' 2, from where Brady threw his third touchdown pass of the night, this one to Graham.
