Pats Pulpit
The New England Patriots ended the regular season in the win column on Sunday. Hosting the Miami Dolphins at Gillette Stadium, they celebrated a 38-10 victory.
Here is who caught our eye for better or worse upon live-viewing the Patriots’ 14th win of the season.
RB Rhamondre Stevenson: Stevenson set the tone out of the gate for the Patriots with a 56-yard run on the second play from scrimmage to kickstart a game that he totaled 131 yards on seven carries and two touchdown, while adding two receptions for 22 yards and another score. Stevenson was a force to bring down as he generated +104 rushing yards over expected, the seventh-most by a running back in a game this season, as he continued to be one of the team’s best players over the last month.
OLB Anfernee Jennings: The veteran edge defender continued to impress while taking on a larger workload for Harold Landry (knee). Against a diverse Miami run game, Jennings was his usual dominant self in the run game highlighted by a pair of tackles for loss — including a seven-yard stop in the third quarter.
Stefon Diggs, Hunter Henry, and K’Lavon Chaisson: In addition to several Patriots’ players finalizing play-time incentives on Sunday, three earned some cash due to their performance. That started with Stefon Diggs, who’s 34-yard catch in the third quarter put him over the 1,000-yard mark to earn him $500k. The Patriots then made sure to get Hunter Henry his five receptions to bring his total to 60 on the year, cashing the tight end $250k.
In the fourth quarter, K’Lavon Chaisson extended his career-high sack total to 7.5 as he chased down Quinn Ewers which earned the pass rusher $500k. Each player was greeted by hugs and smiles as they returned to the sideline after each mark was hit.
CB Carlton Davis III: The Patriots corner started his 17th game of the season for the first time in his seven-year career and was on scene for a fourth-down stop on the first possession of the game. But, Davis started the second half by losing downfield and committing a pass interference to prevent a big completion and allowed a pair of other catches in big situational spots — including a 3rd-and-6.
Field goal protection: With the amount of field goal blocks rising this season across the NFL, the Patriots took pride in their protection unit holding strong through 17 weeks. But the damn broke in the finale, as the Dolphins got home — through practice squad elevation Brenden Jaimes and Vederian Lowe — to block Andy Borregales’ 38-yard field goal near the end of the first half.
“I’m just frustrated with the blocked field goal,” Vrabel said. “We went all 17 weeks, and all we did was become the 38th or 39th blocked field goal in the NFL this year.”
