With their 22-21 victory yesterday over the Patriots, the Miami Dolphins may have peeled away another layer of the dynastic aura the Patriots carried for years. In the Dolphins’ locker room afterward, linebacker Joey Porter leaned close to a teammate and said, “Times have changed.’’ The Patriots, before yes terday, had not lost three times in four games since October 2002.
“When things don’t go your way, you have to fight back,’’ Brady said. “That’s a challenge for all of us. I think at times we do. And at times I don’t think we fight very hard.’’
Both the Patriots’ offense and defense had a chance to ensure Dan Carpenter’s winning field goal with 1 minute 2 seconds remaining never occurred. Charged with milking the fourth-quarter clock, the offense stalled. Charged with stopping an opponent when it meant victory, the defense wilted against Chad Henne, who threw 52 times and gained 335 yards.
For the first time since Nov. 12, 2006, the Patriots lost consecutive games, yesterday’s defeat coming on the heels of their meltdown in New Orleans. That game stripped the Patriots of their Super Bowl-caliber status. This one may have endangered their playoff status. At 7-5, they hold a one-game lead over the Dolphins and New York Jets in the AFC East.
The Patriots don’t beat good teams - only one of their defeated opponents, the 6-5 Ravens, currently owns a winning record. They don’t win on the road - they dropped to 0-5 in games played at their opponent’s stadium, their only away victory coming in London over hapless Tampa Bay.
“You have to be mentally tough to win on the road,’’ safety Brandon Meriweather said. “And right now our team is not mentally tough like we are supposed to be.’’
On the first drive of the fourth quarter, the Patriots, leading, 21-19, marched to the Dolphins’ 5-yard line. With less than 10 minutes remaining, a touchdown may have sealed the game. Split wide right, rookie cornerback Vontae Davis stood across from Randy Moss, who had burned Davis on a 58-yard touchdown for the game’s first score.
“I figured Moss, Brady - they were going to try and go up top,’’ Davis said.
