Patriots vs. Dolphins: Full Report Card Grades for New England
Week 17 of the 2015 season against the Miami Dolphins didn't treat the Patriots too well.
The Patriots spoiled a chance in the 2015 season to win home-field advantage and ended up losing on the road to the Broncos. Some blame the Week 17 loss as the reason the team didn't win a Super Bowl last year.
They weren't going to make the same mistake twice.
This year, the Patriots sought out vengeance and they crushed the Dolphins to clinch the AFC's No. 1 seed.
Tom Brady, Julian Edelman and the defense capped off an amazing 14-2 season and a perfect road record with an exclamation point.
The road to the Super Bowl runs through Foxborough, Massachusetts in the AFC.
Read on for the full report card grades from the New England Patriots' 35-14 win over the Miami Dolphins to finish off the regular season.
Quarterback
1 of 10
Tom Brady missed four games this year, but give him the MVP.
Brady capped off a great season with a grand finale against the Dolphins.
He dissected them for 276 yards and three touchdowns on 25-of-33 passing. Those are MVP numbers.
Brady has the best TD-to-INT ratio with 28 touchdowns to just two interceptions.
He was flawless with his throws and at 39 years old, Brady looks better than ever. He is in prime form to tear up the AFC playoffs.
Grade: A+
Running Back
2 of 10
Statistics can be a bit deceiving.
On the box score, LeGarrette Blount had 14 carries for 51 yards and his 18th rushing touchdown of the season which is the NFL's top mark and the most rushing touchdowns since Adrian Peterson in 2009. His yards per carry was a lowly 3.6, which is sub-standard for the powerful back.
But, Blount was more effective than the stats suggest. He was quick to get to the outside, decisive and had a few nice runs.
Dion Lewis ran like he was covered in oil and set on fire as he was slippery between the tackles.
James White did the usual with a handful of catches.
Grade: B+
Wide Receiver
3 of 10
The Patriots have themselves another steal in Michael Floyd.
Floyd was highly involved in the offense and made plays that prove he is a Patriot-type player. He caught a ball and dragged four Dolphins defenders into the end zone for a touchdown. There was no way Floyd was going to be denied a taste of the end zone. He couldn't be stopped.
Floyd followed up that score with a toe-touch grab on the sideline that was one of the most athletic catches by a Patriots receiver this season.
Then, Floyd delivered the absolute boom as he sent Dolphins defensive back Tony Lippett back to 2016 with a thunderous block that gave Julian Edelman the open field for his 77-yard touchdown.
As the long touchdown shows, it wasn't all Floyd as Edelman had eight catches for 151 yards. Edelman was dominant and now has some great momentum to carry into the playoffs.
Grade: A+
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Tight End
4 of 10
The Patriots might have a secret weapon in Matt Lengel. OK, just kidding. But, shoutout to Lengel who followed up his first career catch for a touchdown last week with a four-yard reception today.
Martellus Bennett deserves big props for a block in the first quarter that sprung Blount free for his biggest run of the day. Bennett also hauled in a touchdown and made some contributions in the passing game.
Bennett is healthy and playing well. He isn't Rob Gronkowski. But, solid, all-around games like this out of Bennett are what the Patriots like to see.
Grade: A-
Offensive Line
5 of 10
As the grounds for this week's grade for the offensive line, we have to take into account the Dolphins have a fearsome line that is a strong pass-rushing force but also a presence on the ground.
The Patriots didn't have a flawless game as a whole, but the run-blocking was effective. LeGarrette Blount and Dion Lewis were able to spring some runs with big blocks from David Andrews on an early game run. Blount only averaged 3.6 yards per carry, but as a team the Patriots chipped away at the Dolphins on the ground and a lot had to do with the continuity of the line.
Brady wasn't sacked. But, he did take some big hits. It's too scary to see Brady take hits in week 17 from guys like Cameron Wake, Ndamukong Suh and Jordan Phillips.
Grade: B
Defensive Line
6 of 10
Every week, Trey Flowers catches my attention. He did it again this week right from the start of the game with a QB hit and some great pressure.
Flowers altered throws, rushed from various spots on the line and had five total tackles. He was excellent, and he is quickly evolving into one of the most important and versatile defenders on the defense.
Alan Branch was stout with a pair of run stops, and he deflected a pass.
Jay Ajayi was held to 59 yards on 16 carries and the Dolphins averaged 3.3 yards per carry. The Patriots are so tough to run on and while they didn't record a sack, the pass rush was generating some pressure when they decided to send it.
Grade: A
Linebacker
7 of 10
Kyle Van Noy provided the only debacle for the linebackers when he had a coverage miscommunication or lapse against Kenny Stills. Stills blew right through the defense for an easy, uncontested touchdown that actually made the game a bit interesting at the time.
Whether that play was all on Van Noy is something the game review film will tell.
Elandon Roberts had seven total tackles on the day.
As a unit, the linebackers helped to lock up the Dolphins rushing attack led by Ajayi.
Grade: A
Secondary
8 of 10
It's time to stop all of the hate toward Logan Ryan. He is an excellent No. 2 cornerback, and it shows on the field.
Ryan intercepted Matt Moore, which blew open the game for New England early on.
In a twist, the secondary did most of its work with tackles. Logan Ryan had a game-high seven total tackles along with Devin McCourty. Meanwhile, Malcolm Butler had six total tackles of his own.
The secondary struggled a bit with crossing routes by Jarvis Landry and DeVante Parker, namely Eric Rowe. But, some of the issues where from illegal pick plays that were not flagged.
The defense blew coverage on the second half touchdown to Kenny Stills, but that seemed to be the safeties and Kyle Van Noy having a miscommunication.
Devin McCourty forced the fumble that ended the game once and for all. Huge play from the defensive leader.
Grade: A-
Special Teams
9 of 10
Stephen Gostkowski looked like his usual self other than a miss from 52 yards out to close the first half. But, it's not fair to knock Gostkowski for the miss as the field at Hard Rock Stadium was in terrible condition. Gostkowski couldn't plant well, pushed the kick to the right and that's perfectly OK given how poor the turf was. I think Gostkowski makes that kick if it wasn't on a field with more divots than a golf course after I have set foot on it with my awful swing.
Geneo Grissom had a bad penalty on a punt return.
Grade: B+
Coaching
10 of 10
In 2016, the Patriots spoiled the golden opportunity to lock up home-field advantage in the postseason with a week 17 win over the Miami Dolphins. The Patriots faltered and ended up losing to the Broncos on the road. And maybe the Patriots wasted a potential Super Bowl title.
Bill Belichick was not going to make the same mistake twice.
The offense attacked the secondary and got rid of the ball quickly to offset the Dolphins pass rush. Meanwhile the defense stayed stout against the run and made the proper adjustments that the NFL's top scoring defense needs to make.
Belichick wanted this win as bad as anyone.
His only mistake was leaving some starters in a little too long in the fourth quarter, but everyone escaped harm free.
Grade: A-
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