Patriots rout Dolphins in 38-10 blowout win

Doug Kyed, Boston Herald on Jan 4, 2026

Published in Football

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FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — The New England Patriots are riding high as they roll into the postseason.

Now riding a new three-game winning streak, the Patriots demolished theMiami Dolphins 38-10 in Sunday’s Week 18 regular-season finale. They’ve now outscored opponents 80-20 in their final two games of the season.

Quarterback Drake Maye was efficient, but he played second fiddle to running back Rhamondre Stevenson, who exploded out of the backfield, producing his first 100-yard rushing performance of the season.

The Patriots’ defense had some concerning moments against a Dolphins offense led by rookie quarterback Quinn Ewers without their top offensive playmakers, but overall, they settled down in the second half and forced two turnovers before the game truly got out of hand and backups entered the contest.

The Patriots began the game by grounding and pounding. Stevenson ripped off a 56-yard run on the second play of the game. TreVeyon Henderson got into the end zone from 5 yards out on the third play of the game to give the Patriots a 7-0 lead.

The Dolphins, with a lot of backups on the field, put together an impressive 12-play, 57-yard drive before getting stymied in the red zone and turning the ball over on downs with an incompletion into the end zone on fourth-and-1 from the Patriots’ 8-yard line. Patriots linebacker Jack Gibbens was in coverage on Dolphins wideout Cedrick Wilson on the incompletion.

The Patriots’ offense continuing where they left off in last week’s win over the Jets with another scoring drive. They went 92 yards on eight plays, plus they got a free 8 yards on a face mask penalty. Stevenson scored from 2 yards out from the wildcat with Maye splitting off to wide receiver. The biggest play of the drive came when Maye hit rookie wide receiver Efton Chism for 35 yards on a flea flicker.

The Dolphins went on another impressive drive, going 65 yards on 10 plays. This time, they ended it in the end zone on a 2-yard touchdown completion from Ewers to wide receiver Malik Washington.

The Patriots, leading 14-7, went three-and-out with three straight incompletions from Maye. The Dolphins then went three-and-out, themselves, with defensive tackle Cory Durden making a key run stuff on third-and-1. The Patriots then turned the ball over on downs, going for it on fourth-and-1 from their own 40-yard line when Henderson was stuffed for no gain.

The Dolphins’ possession was short-lived, however with Jack Gibbens, with help from cornerback Christian Gonzalez, forcing a fumble and outside linebacker Elijah Ponder recovering for an 18-yard return. The ball was coughed up by Dolphins running back Jaylen Wright, and the Patriots took over possession at the Dolphins’ 37-yard line.

The Patriots went just 17 yards after the turnover, with 15 yards subtracted by penalties. Patriots Kicker Andy Borregales’s 38-yard field goal was blocked by Dolphins defensive tackle Zach Sieler. The ball was recovered by Dolphins cornerback Jason Marshall Jr. and returned to the Patriots’ 40-yard line.

A sack from Christian Barmore helped put the Dolphins back, but they still scored on a 52-yard field goal from Riley Patterson to make the score 14-10.

The Patriots took a 17-10 lead into the half with a 59-yard field goal from Borregales after a three-play, 27-yard drive that saw Maye complete a 13-yard pass to Kayshon Boutte and scramble for 14 yards.

The Dolphins got inside the red zone again before Ewers was picked off in the end zone by Patriots safety Jaylinn Hawkins, who now has a team-leading four interceptions.

The Patriots capitalized on the takeaway with a seven-play, 80-yard drive. Maye found Stevenson in the end zone for a 15-yard touchdown pass.

After a Dolphins punt, Stevenson scored on the Patriots’ next offensive series, as well, rushing for a 35-yard touchdown, his third of the game.

The Patriots forced another three-and-out, thanks to a third-down sack from rookie Elijah Ponder. They responded with a five-play, 51-yard drive that ended with Henderson’s second rushing touchdown of the game to give them a 38-10 lead.

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