All good things must come to an end, even the Miami Dolphins’ 2025 NFL season. The Dolphins (7-9) travel to face the New England Patriots (13-3) on Sunday, Jan. 4 in an AFC East matchup in Week 17.
Miami rookie Quinn Ewers is poised to make his third consecutive start after taking over for benched franchise quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, who has not taken a snap since the Dolphins’ playoff elimination on Dec. 15. Ewers has brought a glint of optimism to an otherwise sour 2025 for the Dolphins thanks to a two-touchdown performance in Miami’s win over Tampa Bay on Dec. 28.
New England, meanwhile, has plenty to play for in the final week of the regular season. Drake Maye’s Patriots clinched the AFC East title last week and are vying to secure the No. 1 overall seed and homefield advantage against the Dolphins. The Dolphins have had the upper hand in this division rivalry over the past five seasons, winning eight of the last 10 meetings.
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Final: Patriots 38, Dolphins 10
Miami faded in New England and was shut out in the second half.
The Dolphins will finish the campaign with a 7-10 record and a litany of major questions entering the offseason.
Patriots score | New England 38, Miami 10, 12:39 4Q
The rout is on in New England.
Running back Treveyon Henderson plunges in from 2 yards out to blow this game wide open.
Scoring drive: 5 plays, 51 yards, 3:00
Patriots score | New England 31, Miami 10, 2:18 3Q
The Dolphins’ third-quarter woes are back once again.
Rhamondre Stevenson plows through defenders for a 35-yard touchdown to put the Dolphins in a huge hole.
Stevenson is dominating with 131 rushing yards and a pair of touchdowns on just 7 carries. He also has a receiving touchdown.
Scoring drive: 4 plays, 63 yards, 2:06
Patriots score | New England 24, Miami 10, 7:30 3Q
Drake Maye threw a 15-yard touchdown pass to Rhamondre Stevenson after Dolphins quarterback Quinn Ewers threw an interception on the first drive of the half.
Scoring drive: 7 plays, 80 yards, 4:08
Halftime: Patriots 17, Dolphins 10
Miami has not quit after a putrid start that saw the Dolphins fall behind 14-0.
Quinn Ewers has been sharp, completing 9 of 11 passes for 84 yards and a touchdown.
Patriots score | New England 17, Miami 10, 00:00 2Q
The Dolphins were unable to protect the field goal they’d just added to the scoreboard.
Drake Maye completed a pass and scrambled to put New England into range for a 59-yard field goal by Andy Borregales.
Scoring drive: 4 plays, 27 yards, 00:28
Dolphins score | New England 14, Miami 10, 00:28 2Q
Riley Patterson converts a 52-yard field goal as the Dolphins grab points off the blocked field goal.
Scoring drive: 4 plays, 6 yards, 1:03
Miami Dolphins block Patriots field goal
Zach Sieler was able to get a piece of Andy Borregales’ short field goal attempt to keep the Dolphins’ deficit at just seven points.
Miami takes over on offense with less than 2 minutes until halftime.
Jaylen Wright fumble spoils momentum
The Dolphins forced a turnover on downs against the Patriots but the momentum did not last long.
Running back Jaylen Wright lost a fumble on the Dolphins’ ensuing drive and the Patriots recovered in MIami territory.
Dolphins score | New England 14, Miami 7, 10:14 2Q
Quinn Ewers is off to a fast start leading the Dolphins offense.
Ewers threw a 2-yard touchdown pass to a wide-open Malik Washington in the end zone to get the Dolphins on the board.
The Dolphins’ rookie quarterback is 8 of 9 for 71 yards with a touchdown.
Scoring drive: 10 plays, 65 yards, 5:41
End first quarter: Patriots 14, Dolphins 0
Miami’s defense was nowhere to be found in the first quarter.
The Patriots are outgaining the Dolphins 154-82 after the first 15 minutes of regulation.
Patriots score | New England 14, Miami 0, 0:55 1Q
The hole is getting bigger already for the Dolphins.
New England converts a long flea flicker play and marches down the field for a 5-yard Rhamondre Stevenson rushing touchdown.
Scoring drive: 9 plays, 92 yards, 4:56
Dolphins turnover on downs
A promising Miami drive ends with an incompletion in the end zone on fourth down.
The Dolphins’ defense is back onto the field looking to improve on a dismal first drive.
Patriots score | New England 7, Miami 0, 13:14 1Q
A terrible start for the Dolphins in New England.
Treveyon Henderson rolls in for a short touchdown after a three-play opening drive.
Scoring drive: 3 plays, 70 yards, 1:46
Miami Dolphins minus De’Von Achane, Jaylen Waddle, Chop Robinson vs. Patriots
The Miami Dolphins will be minus several key playmakers against the Patriots.
Leading rusher De’Von Achane, who hasn’t practiced all week because of a shoulder injury, is inactive.
So is receiver Jaylen Waddle, who leads the team with 910 receiving yards.
Tight end Darren Waller (groin) is already on injured reserve.
The good news is that center Aaron Brewer (neck) and leading tackler Jordyn Brooks (hamstring) are active. But the offensive line will be missing right tackle Austin Jackson (back, groin). And the linebackers are minus Chop Robinson (concussion).
Safety Minkah Fitzpatrick (calf) also is inactive.
The running attack will now be in the hands of Jaylen Wright, Ollie Gordon and Jeff Wilson, who was elevated from the practice squad.
Receiving targets for rookie Quinn Ewers should include Malik Washington, Theo Wease, Cedrick Wilson, Tahj Washington and Nick Westbrook-Ikhine.
MIAMI DOLPHINS INACTIVES
QB Tua Tagovailoa (emergency third QB)
QB Cam Miller
WR Jaylen Waddle
RB De’Von Achane
S Minkah Fitzpatrick
LB Chop Robinson
OL Austin Jackson
NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS INACTIVES
OLB Harold Landry
ILB Robert Spillane
T Marcus Bryant
G Jared Wilson
G Caedan Wallace
NT Khhyiris Tonga
QB Tommy Devito (emergency third QB)
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Dolphins injury updates
Running back De’Von Achane did not practice throughout the week with a shoulder injury and was listed as doubtful. Receiver Jaylen Waddle (ribs) and linebacker Chop Robinson (concussion) were questionable, as were the following players:
Dolphins inactives
Patriots inactives
Who is starting for Dolphins at quarterback?
Rookie Quinn Ewers is making his third NFL start after coach Mike McDaniel benched Tua Tagovailoa. The seventh-round draft pick from Texas went 14 of 22 for 172 yards and two touchdowns in last week’s 20-17 win against Tampa Bay.
Dolphins schedule 2025
Here is Miami’s schedule and results. All times Eastern:
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Dolphins vs Patriots recap: New England blasts Miami in second half
Reporting by Eric J. Wallace, Palm Beach Post / Palm Beach Post
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
