Recap: Tom Brady Leads Patriots Over Dolphins 36-7
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- Tom Brady and the undefeated New England Patriots rolled over the Miami Dolphins 36-7 at Gillette Stadium on Thursday night.
Brady, continuing what looks like a season of revenge against anyone in his way after going through his Deflategate ordeal, threw four touchdown passes, and running back Dion Lewis returned from injury with a strong game as the Patriots cruised to their seventh straight victory.
The loss brought the Dolphins crashing back to Earth after Miami had scored 82 points and won its first two games under interim coach Dan Campbell.
New England's Stephen Gostkowski kicked three more field goals in as many tries and has made 27 straight in the regular season, breaking Adam Vinatieri's team record of 25.
The Patriots scored in each quarter for the sixth straight game. In fact, after failing to score in the first quarter of the season, against the Pittsburgh Steelers, the defending Super Bowlchampions have scored in 27 straight quarters.
Brady, 9-0 on Thursday night, threw two touchdown passes to wide receiver Julian Edelman and one each to tight end Rob Gronkowski and Lewis. He finished 26 of 38 for 356 yards, recording his 69th 300-yard game - which ranks third all-time -- and his 24th game with four TDs or more, which also ranks third.
It was Brady's 19th career game with at least four TDs and no interceptions, an NFL record.
Lewis, who didn't play this past Sunday because of an abdominal injury, ran for only 19 yards on five carries, but he caught six passes for 93 yards and the touchdown.
Gronkowski caught a 47-yard catch and run for the first score of the game and later added a 30-yard grab. He finished with six catches for 113 yards, his 19th career game with at least 100 yards, tying him with Shannon Sharpe for sixth place all-time among tight ends.
Miami quarterback Ryan Tannehill, coming off a career game and a two-game stretch that saw him complete an NFL-record 25 straight passes, wasn't playing against the Tennessee Titans or Houston Texans on Thursday night.
Tannehill, who wasn't looking when he was hit with a shotgun snap that led to a safety, finished 28 of 44 for 300 yards and two interceptions. He was sacked five times. His Dolphins were just 2 of 11 on third downs and netted just 15 rushing yards for the game.
The Patriots led 19-0 at the half and New England running back Lamar Miller scored from a yard out to cap an 80-yard drive that opened the second half.
Running back LeGarrette Blount bulled his way to 72 yards on 17 carries for New England.
To add insult to injury, the Dolphins (3-4) lost offensive tackle Ja'Wuan James and defensive end Cameron Wake to injury. Wake was helped off the field and then taken by cart to the locker room after suffering an Achilles injury.
NOTES: Patriots RB Dion Lewis, who missed a game with an abdominal injury and was questionable for Thursday's game, played, while G Shaq Mason missed his second straight game with a knee injury. ... LB Chris McCain, who said he wanted to "crush" Patriots QB Tom Brady's head when the teams got together, was inactive for the game. ... CB Brice McCain, listed as questionable by the Dolphins, did not dress. ... S Dewey McDonald, claimed by the Patriots off waivers from the Indianapolis Colts on Wednesday, was not active. ... The Dolphins came in having scored 38 or more points in two straight games for the third time in team history, the first time since 1984 -- and interim coach Dan Campbell became the first NFL coach to run up 82 points in his first two games since Mike Holovak of the Boston Patriots in 1961. ... Willie McGinest, a new member of the Patriots Hall of Fame and in town working for the NFL network, was honored at halftime. ... The Dolphins are at Buffalo and the Patriots host the Washington Redskins when the teams resume play on Nov. 8.
