Patriots at Dolphins final score: Miami rallies to top New England 33-20

Two AFC East rivals, the New England Patriots and Miami Dolphins opened their 2014 NFL seasons by squaring off at Sun Life Stadium on Sunday afternoon. Behind a huge game from Knowshon Moreno, the Dolphins rallied from a 10-point halftime deficit, outscoring the Patriots 23-0 in the second half to earn a 33-20 victory.

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Moreno rushed for 134 yards and a touchdown on 24 carries, torching the Patriots’ defense for the second time in less than a year. The Dolphins’ defense took advantage of poor offensive line play by the Patriots, holding the Patriots to just 315 total yards, including only 89 yards rushing. Tom Brady was under pressure all afternoon and completed 29-of-56 passes for just 249 yards and a touchdown. Brady was sacked four times and fumbled twice. The Patriots were also destroyed by penalties, committing nine for 100 yards compared to just four for 26 yards for the Dolphins.

The Patriots got off to a disastrous start.

After going three-and-out, the Patriots lined up to punt but the kick was blocked and the Dolphins took over the Patriots’ 15-yard line. From there, it took the Dolphins four plays to get into the end zone, scoring on a four-yard pass from Tannehill to Lamar Miller.

However, the Patriots quickly rebounded, going 80 yards in 13 plays capped by a two-yard touchdown rush by Shane Vereen.

After a Dolphins fumble, the Patriots got the ball back and got a 47-yard field goal by Stephen Gostkowski to make it 10-7. The Dolphins turned it over again and the Patriots made them pay once more as Tom Brady found Rob Gronkowski for a six-yard touchdown pass. The two teams then traded field goals and entered the half tied at 20. In the second half, the Dolphins came out on fire, getting a 24-yard field goal from Caleb Sturgis. After Tom Brady was sacked and fumbled, the Dolphins tied things up on a 14-yard touchdown pass from Tannehill to Mike Wallace.

They then took the lead when Sturgis knocked down his third field goal of the game. The Dolphins then all but clinched the game when they marched 85 yards on 12 plays capped by a six-yard touchdown by Moreno, making it 30-20 with just 3:29 to go.

The Patriots got the ball back, but Tom Brady was sacked and fumbled, which allowed the the Dolphins to add another field goal, making it 33-20.

The Patriots will be back in action Sunday when they travel to Minnesota to take on the Vikings while the Dolphins will head to Buffalo to battle the Bills.

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