Patriots Are Absolutely Melting Down, and a 13-3 Halftime Deficit Is Far From Their Only Problem

Malik Willis zipped a one-yard touchdown pass to Malik Washington with eight seconds to play in the first half, pushing the Dolphins’ lead to 13-3 before the halftime break in Miami. That late score capped off a huge swing, extending Miami’s lead and leaving the Patriots in a serious hole heading into the locker room.

Dolphins Get a Taste for Victory

The Dolphins are riding high after getting their first win of the season back in Week 7, and it clearly looks like they’ve developed a taste for victory. Willis has been strong, completing five passes on that crucial final drive of the half. His connection with Malik Washington for the touchdown was just clinical, a perfect capstone to a half where the Dolphins capitalized on every opportunity. Zane Gonzalez also tacked on a couple of field goals, building on the momentum. These guys are playing like they want to stack wins, and it’s showing.

Patriots’ Costly Errors Pile Up

Honestly, the Patriots are making it way too easy for Miami. This wasn’t just a Willis masterclass, it was a string of self-inflicted wounds from the Patriots. Kicker Andy Borregales missed a 40-yard field goal right before the two-minute warning, which completely opened the door for that Dolphins touchdown drive. Then, Patriots linebacker Christian Elliss got flagged for a personal foul, lighting up Washington away from the play. Talk about a drive killer! And if that wasn’t enough, wide receiver Efton Chism fumbled the ball after a short gain, leading directly to one of Gonzalez’s field goals. These errors are massive, and they’ve put the Patriots in a desperate situation.

Second Half Fight Needed

With all these mistakes and a strong half from Willis, the Patriots are looking at needing a huge comeback to avoid a second straight loss. Things aren’t getting any easier for them, either. Tight end Hunter Henry is questionable to return with a foot injury, which is just another blow to an offense that desperately needs to find some rhythm. Can they pull it together, or are the Dolphins going to keep running away with this thing? The second half is going to be wild, and the Patriots better come out swinging if they want to turn this around.

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Originally reported by Pro Football Talk.