“We never gave up on one another and never said anything negative to one another,’’ defensive captain Vince Wilfork said. “Going down, 17-0, is a pretty big deficit, but this team showed its character. We believed in one another and stepped up.
“It was a great win for us and we still have room for improvement.’’
“We didn’t finish,’’ interim Miami coach Todd Bowles said. “First half we came out and played our tempo, our ballgame, and second half they made us play theirs. Our guys fought, but we didn’t finish.’’
In the second half, the Patriots made the necessary adjustments, with the offense getting on track, the defense making some timely plays, including a crucial fumble recovery by Wilfork, and Dolphins quarterback Matt Moore becoming the inconsistent passer he wasn’t for the first two quarters.
It was, without a doubt, the worst first half of the season for New England. Brady went 7 for 19 for 87 yards - though before the Patriots’ final possession of the second quarter he was 3 for 14 for 37 yards - and the defense was flagged for two pass-interference plays on one drive, both on third-down plays.
The second came on third and 3 inside New England territory, when the Dolphins tried a trick play: the direct snap went to Reggie Bush and the back floated a pass to the opposite sideline, where Moore was the waiting receiver. Rob Ninkovich was in Moore’s face as he waited for the pass and knocked the quarterback down, drawing the penalty and giving Miami a fresh set of downs at the 3.
On third down, Moore got time from his line and found fullback Charles Clay in the end zone from a yard out for the TD. That put the Dolphins ahead, 17-0.
“We didn’t really do anything well,’’ Patriots coach Bill Belichick said of the opening two quarters. “We didn’t throw, we didn’t catch, we couldn’t get open, we couldn’t block, we couldn’t tackle, we couldn’t cover, we couldn’t rush, couldn’t return kicks, couldn’t cover them.
“Pick a winner.’’
