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The New England Patriots’ Week 1 loss to the Miami Dolphins is one that Damien Harris wishes he could take back.
The Patriots were driving in the final minutes with a score of 17-16 and Harris fumbled the ball at Miami’s 11-yard line. The Dolphins ran the clock down and eventually won the season-opener in Gillette Stadium by one point.
Mac Jones finished his rookie debut throwing for 281 yards and a touchdown — while Tua Tagovailoa threw for 202 yards, a touchdown and an interception. The game came down to the final minutes and it was the start of a year that had huge ups and downs for both teams.
The Patriots are now 10-6 and heading to Hard Rock Stadium to face the Dolphins in a late-season game that is always interesting. New England has a much-improved defensive unit and the Dolphins understand this.
On Wednesday while speaking with reporters, Tagovailoa discussed the difference with the Patriots from Week 1.
“We always knew that they were a good team, well-coached,” Tagovailoa said, via NESN. “I think they found their rhythm playing with each other. They have a good front, they have good ‘backers, they are a good overall team in all three phases. It’s going to be a challenge and to me, this isn’t the same team that we saw in early September. They look a lot more confident, so it’s going to be a challenge for us.”
He dove specifically into the Patriots’ defense and explained what made this unit so good.
“I think they force the quarterback to get the ball out of their hands quick,” Tagovailoa said. “They force quick decisions. They don’t give up big plays. They want you to work for your touchdowns. If it’s a checkdown that works for 10 yards, that’s the kind of game they want to play, I think. It’s a take what they give you and when you have your shots, you’ve got to take your shots when they arise.”
The Dolphins are out of the playoff race, but the Patriots have clinched and can make the path easier with a Week 18 victory.
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