In a wild Week 2 showdown, the New England Patriots secured their first win of the season on Sunday, edging the Miami Dolphins 33-27. It was a messy game, riddled with 12 accepted penalties and special teams blunders that nearly cost them the victory. The Patriots’ defense had a tough time, especially without their defensive coordinator, Terrell Williams, who was out because of a health scare. Despite struggling, the defense rallied together to carve out a win, and later, HC Mike Vrabel talked about the mentality of the team.

When asked if the defense played well for Williams on The Greg Hill Show, Vrabel said, “No, I hope that they didn’t. I hope they did it for each other. And I don’t think that Terrell would want that either. I think that they are beginning to understand each other and how everything works, and each week is a new challenge. And so I hope that they did that for them and that they played hard for them and that they were selfless for each other.”

For the Dolphins game, Mike Vrabel gave the job of calling defensive plays to inside linebackers coach Zak Kuhr. The Dolphins’ quarterback, Tua Tagovailoa, took advantage of this, throwing for 315 yards and two touchdowns. He was especially good since the Patriots’ star cornerback, Christian Gonzalez, was also out with an injury. The Patriots’ linebackers, Robert Spillane and Christian Elliss, struggled mightily in coverage against the Dolphins, a very concerning sign for the heart of the New England defense.

Despite struggling for much of the game, the Patriots’ defense made the plays they needed to win. Their big offseason investments really came through in the final moments. Milton Williams, who signed a huge $104 million contract in March 2025, was a beast. He sealed the victory with a game-ending sack on quarterback Tagovailoa on a crucial fourth down. Marte Mapu also made a fantastic play, intercepting a bad pass from Tagovailoa after the Patriots’ defensive line put on the pressure.

The Patriots’ pass rush really stepped up during the final two drives, shutting down the Dolphins’ offense and securing their first win of the season. And their quarterback was the other big factor for the victory. 

Patriots quarterback Drake Maye was sharp in his Week 2 game

Drake Maye put his Week 1 struggles behind him with a standout performance against the Dolphins. He looked confident and in control, completing 19 of his 23 passes for 230 yards.

Maye wasted no time, leading the Patriots to touchdowns on their first two drives. He connected with Mack Hollins for the first score, and then found Kayshon Boutte for a beautiful one-handed catch in the end zone. Maye also proved to be a dual threat, adding 31 yards and a touchdown on 10 carries.

After the win, Maye was quick to give credit to his teammates. “That feels good,” he said. “It took everybody. Special teams, offense, defense, trainers, everybody who helps us out. It felt good. Proud of our guys for sticking with it. So many ebbs and flows of the game, and just proud of the guys. That one feels good,” he further elaborated, giving the props to the whole team.

Meanwhile, the Dolphins, who were coming off a disappointing season-opening loss, started flat once again. They punted on their first possession and quickly fell behind 12-0 in the first quarter. Though they try to catch up with the Patriots starting in the second quarter, the team ultimately loses.