Top 5 Patriots Changes Since Playing the Dolphins in Week 5

The New England Patriots and Miami Dolphins play on Sunday for the second time this season. Their first game was played in Week 5, with the Dolphins prevailing 15-10 on the road. But a lot has changed for both teams in the seven weeks since that game.

Both teams entered their previous meeting with 1-3 records. The game was poorly played, with neither team truly deserving a win. The Dolphins were 2-for-11 on third-down conversions, threw an interception, fumbled three times, missed a field goal, and had a punt blocked. The Patriots committed 12 penalties that were accepted, costing them 105 yards. There are occasions when a low-scoring game is a credit to great defense. That game was indicative of neither team capable of sustaining quality play.

Miami has starting quarterback Tua Tagovailoa back and won their last two games. His future was in serious doubt when the teams last played. Tagovailoa was on injured reserve after suffering his latest concussion. Many people voiced opinions that he should retire for his health’s sake. But the Dolphins QB was back in Week 8 and has played the past four weeks. Miami is averaging 27.8 points since his return. They averaged only 13.4 in his absence.

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The Dolphins haven’t been the only team to change since Week 5. Miami poses a tougher challenge for New England than seven weeks ago, but there is reason for optimism that the Patriots are up to the challenge. Here are the Top 5 changes the New England Patriots have made since Week 5.

More Experienced Coaching Staff

The struggles of the New England Patriots first-year coaching staff showed up in two obvious ways in Week 5. The team’s lack of discipline was painful to watch. Getting flagged for 12 penalties, costing the team 105 yards, is unacceptable. It was an obvious place to begin pointing fingers after a five-point loss. Many of these mistakes were self-inflicted presnap penalties. Ultimately, the responsibility for such errors falls on the players. But if a coaching staff is applauded for a team playing disciplined football, they deserve some criticism when the opposite occurs.

Another area that was confusing from a coaching standpoint in the first meeting was New England not sticking with the running game. They had preached being a “run first” team many times and their rushing attack was working against Miami. The Patriots rushed 19 times for 151 yards and a touchdown. Despite averaging 7.1 yards per carry, they attempted 36 passes. It resulted in 18 of 34 passing with two sacks, for 148 net yards.

New England’s coaching staff has more experience and knows their personnel better in Week 12. It is a good opportunity for them to show improvements since Week 5.

Special Teams

There have been a lot of positive improvements to New England’s special teams play in 2024. This included the first Miami game when Brenden Schooler beautifully blocked a Jake Bailey punt. But things were not all positive for the Patriots’ third unit against the Dolphins. Joey Slye missed a 33-yard field goal. Bryce Baringer booted three punts into the end zone for touchbacks.

The blocked punt should have helped give New England a significant special teams advantage over Miami in the game. But sloppy play took away that edge. New England’s special teams play has lacked consistency this season. This would be a great week for them to win their battle.

Receiving Options

New England Patriots receivers were unhappy with how things were going early in the season. Did this play a part in the team not relying more on the run game in Week 5? New England made an obvious attempt to get DeMario Douglas more involved. His nine targets resulted in six receptions for 59 yards. Ja’Lynn Polk caught one of his six targets for 13 yards. His most notable play was an incompletion in the end zone originally ruled a touchdown.

Ja'Lynn Polk catches the TD for the #Patriots, but it is called an incomplete. pic.twitter.com/SfZ8NgOps4

— New England Sports Fellow (@NESportsFellow) October 6, 2024

Kendrick Bourne and Kayshon Boutte received three total targets in the first game against the Dolphins. It resulted in three receptions for 40 yards. It is likely both see significantly bigger roles in the second Miami meeting. New England’s tight ends combined for three receptions in Week 5 but had ten last week. The Dolphins will need to prepare for a different approach to the passing game from the Patriots.

Pass Protection

New England’s offensive line has struggled throughout this season. One factor has been the lack of continuity within the unit. This was especially true early in the season. The Patriots Week 5 game against the Dolphins was the fifth different starting offensive line they had used in 2024. Things have settled down a bit on that front in recent weeks. The same five players have started the past four games for New England.

The center position was particularly worrisome in the teams’ first meeting this season. New England starting center David Andrews was injured in Week 4 and lost for the season. Nick Leverett replaced him in Week 5 against Miami, and it did not go well. It ended up being Leverett’s lone start of the season. New England released him soon after. Ben Brown has been starting at center since Week 6. Although Brown has not been great, the Patriots should count on him to provide more protection than Leverett did the last time they faced the Dolphins.

Nick Leverett allowed ten pressures, including four quarterback hits, in that Week 5 game. If Ben Brown puts up a similar number today, New England is in trouble. The less Dolphins defensive lineman Zach Sieler‘s name is called on Sunday, the better it is for the Patriots.

Drake Maye

No change will affect how today’s game unfolds more than the quarterback changes. When they played seven weeks ago, it was Jacoby Brissett for the Patriots and Tyler Huntley for the Dolphins. Miami gets a significant boost from the return of Tua Tagovailoa but New England’s quarterback change provides a significant boost as well.

Drake Maye is the New England Patriots starting quarterback now. Maye is more likely to make mistakes than his predecessor (Brissett committed no turnovers in Week 5), but he’s also far more likely to make something positive happen. The Miami Dolphins defense limited Jacoby Brissett to 160 yards passing and no touchdowns on 34 throws. Maye poses a significant upgrade in terms of big-play potential.

The Miami Dolphins (4-6) are playing at home and remain a better overall team than the New England Patriots (3-8). Their second meeting might not have a different result for New England in the win column, but there should be significant improvement from the Patriots’ perspective. If the team’s discipline, coaching, special teams, pass protection, and offensive explosiveness are not improved from their 15-10 loss, there is significant cause for concern. The safest prediction for Week 12’s Patriots-Dolphins game is that better football will be played than the last time these division rivals met.