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Live Gameday Thread: Patriots vs. Dolphins | Week 1

Your hub to chat about Sunday's season opener between the Patriots and Dolphins.
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The New England Patriots are set to take on the AFC East rival Miami Dolphins in their season opener at Gillette Stadium at 1 p.m. ET today. 

The last time these two teams met, it resulted in a rare loss for New England at home versus the Dolphins. Ryan Fitzpatrick was under center for Miami in that Week 17 game last season, and it resulted in a 27-24 win for a Dolphins team that finished the 2019 regular season with a 5-11 record. A lackluster finish to the regular season for the Patriots carried over into the first round of playoffs, with New England getting knocked out by the Tennessee Titans in the wild card round.

Now, things are different. 

Tom Brady left, along with several key defensive pieces this offseason, which has this season's Patriots squad looking different in several ways. Veteran quarterback Cam Newton is the Week 1 starting quarterback for the six-time Super Bowl champions. Along with that, the Patriots have several rookies slated to take on large workloads due to roster turnover during free agency and some opt outs. 

As for Miami, Fitzpatrick is the Week 1 starter, and they will wait to debut first-round pick and quarterback, Tua Tagovailoa. The Dolphins upgraded in several spots this offseason, adding former Patriots linebackers Kyle Van Noy and Elandon Roberts and center Ted Karras, for example. Their improvements this offseason have them pointing in the right direction as a team that is rebuilding mode. 

However, despite being in a rebuild, Miami will present quite a challenge to the Patriots in the season opener. 

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, NFL teams did not get to play in preseason games or hold joint practices this summer. Because of that, they have not played in a competitive setting against another team yet this season. So, when the Patriots and Dolphins hit the field Sunday afternoon there could be some rust that needs to be shaken out. 

Because of that, the playing field will be more even in this matchup. 

How to Watch

Sunday's game will be available on CBS via your television or app store. Check your local TV listing to find out where you can watch the game. 

Patriots-Dolphins Story Links

Patriots Inactives  

  • LB Josh Uche
  • LB Cassh Maluia
  • OT Korey Cunningham
  • QB Jarrett Stidham 
  • TE Dalton Keene 

Dolphins Inactives

  • WR Malcolm Perry 
  • WR Lynn Bowden Jr. 
  • S Clayton Fejedelem
  • DE Jason Strowbridge
  • T Adam Pankey

We will continue to update this page with information that comes out during pre-game. 

1st QUARTER

15:00 The Patriots defer and kickoff to start the game.

13:40 New England forces three-and-out after Stephon Gilmore tackles DeVante Parker short of first down

12:56 Muffed punt by Damiere Byrd, recovered by J.C Jackson 

10:41 Four straight rushes from Cam Newton and Sony Michel for positive yardage

9:00 Newton sacked, brings up 3rd and 19, Patriots then forced to punt

7:40 12-yard gain to DeVante Parker off an RPO, Gilmore in coverage 

5:10 Tackle for a loss on second down by Chase Winovich

4:40 Pass break-up in coverage by Jonathan Jones on 3rd and 12, Dolphins forced to punt 

3:12 Michel picks up 3rd and 1 off read-option from Newton

2:23 25-yard gain by Ryan Izzo off Newton pass on 1st down

2nd QUARTER

15:00 Newton picks up seven yards on 3rd and 5 for first down

14:09 Julian Edelman records his 600th career catch, first of game 

13: 16 Newton scores on a 4-yard run, Nick Folk PAT is good 

7-0 Patriots

13:12 Parker with 12-yard catch on J.C Jackson on first down, third catch of game

12:30 Brandon Copeland makes tackle for a loss, loss of one yard for Miami

11:41 Stephon Gilmore INT at 50-yard line, returned to 35-yard line

10:09 Newton sacked on third-down, brings up 4th and 12

7:48 Parker reals in fourth catch of game, 18-yard gain against Devin McCourty in zone coverage

6:04 Preston Williams with a 20-yard catch against Gilmore in coverage, brings Dolphins to the 28-yard line

3:57 Fitzpatrick throws incompletion on 3rd and 10 into man coverage versus Gilmore, brings on field goal team for Miami

3:53 Jason Sanders 46-yard field goal is good

7-3 Patriots

3:06 James White with a five-yard run on 3rd and 6, brings on the punt team

2:13 Jake Bailey's punt has Dolphins taking over pinned at the 8-yard line 

1:38 Myles Gaskin with a 15-yard gain to the Miami 41-yard line

0:40 Jakeem Grant picks up first down to move the chains

0:37 Fitzpatrick intercepted again, Adrian Phillips INT, New England takes over at the 44-yard line

0:18 Edelman with 16-yard gain, inching into field goal range

0:06 Nick Folk 45-yard field goal attempt is no good, Dolphins take over with 0:01 left for kneel down

HALFTIME

3rd QUARTER

15:00 Edelman gains ten yards on first play of second half

14:18 Edelman with another catch, off play-action from Newton, 16-yard gain, already to Dolphins' 49-yard line

12:19 Newton with another read-option play for six yards on first down, down to Miami 24-yard line

10:14 Newton with an 11-yard rush for another touchdown, second rushing touchdown for him today, Nick Folk PAT is good

Patriots 14-3

8:54 Joejuan Williams makes huge pass breakup on 3rd and 5, in coverage against tight end, Mike Gesicki. Dolphins forced to punt on three-and-out

6:01 J.J Taylor with three straight positive plays

5:18 N'Keal Harry muscles his way to the first down on 2nd and 5, gain of five

3:54 Taylor with an 11-yard gain on 2nd and 8

0:54 Harry makes yet another catch, however, fumbles ball into back of the endzone for touchback, Miami takes over

4th QUARTER

14:16 Miami goes for it on 4th and 2, pick up a 23-yard pass interference call on Gilmore in coverage against Williams

12:32 Fitzpatrick sneaks forward for two yards to get to the New England 6-yard line

10:31 Jordan Howard punches in 1-yard run for touchdown on 3rd and goal, Fitzpatrick rushes in for 2-pt conversion

Patriots 14-11

10:31 Edelman with a 23-yard rush on first down, 15 yards added to the play after a tackle out of bounds by Jerome Baker

8:36 Newton rushes to the Miami 14-yard line, 12-yard gain by him  

6:27 Newton scrambles for six, looks inches short of first down, brings up 4th and inches

6:08 On 4th and inches, Newton scrambles forward to one-yard line, four-yard gain

5:23 Sony Michel one-yard touchdown, Folk PAT is good

Patriots 21-11

4:05 Fitzpatrick is sacked on 2nd down by Derek Rivers, loss of nine

3:30 19-yard pass interference call on Gilmore, in coverage against Williams, first down

2:20 Preston Williams with another big gain, 21-yard grab in coverage versus Gilmore, down to the New England 14-yard line

1:28 Fitzpatrick pass intended for Gesicki is intercepted by J.C Jackson, Patriots take over from the 25-yard line with a little more than a minute remaining

0:37 Newton kneel down will end it, Patriots victory

END OF GAME, PATRIOTS 21-11 IS FINAL