Dolphins-Patriots Preview – CBSSports.com

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (AP) It could have been a clash of exciting young quarterbacks, with Tua Tagovailoa and Drake Maye taking the field for the Dolphins and Patriots.

Instead we get Tyler Huntley and Jacoby Brissett.

The two once-proud franchises and longtime AFC East rivals are stumbling in Week 5 with their best quarterbacks on the sidelines: Tagovailoa on injured reserve recovering from a concussion and Maye — the No. 3 overall draft pick — waiting still confident in being behind the Patriots offensive line.

“We have to keep playing ball no matter what, no matter who the quarterback is,” said Dolphins receiver Tyreek Hill, who caught four different passes for Miami this season.

“(Huntley) has a chance to understand the system and how the guys play now,” Hill said. “It’s all connected, man. Once he’s had a chance to figure it all out, it’ll be smooth sailing back there.”

Although not much was expected of the Patriots (1-3) this year as they begin their rebuild after the dynasty of Tom Brady and Bill Belichick, Miami (1-3) was coming off an 11-win season and two consecutive playoff appearances Apparitions.

But the Dolphins’ chances fell when Tagovailoa was injured in Week 2 and was replaced first by Skylar Thompson, then by Tim Boyle and now by Huntley, who threw for 98 yards in Monday’s 31-12 loss to Tennessee – Miami’s third loss in a row.

Coach Mike McDaniel expressed confidence in Huntley, who started nine games in four seasons with the Ravens before being released from Baltimore’s practice squad when Tagovailoa suffered a concussion in Week 2.

“I don’t want to think that the best execution of the entire offense is the first week you run the offense,” the coach said. “He’s a professional and there were a lot of things that were very impressive when you put into context the schedule, the language and the way he’s able to do things that our guys are used to sets, and then there is a lot of room for growth and getting to know him.”

Patriots coach Jerod Mayo said he is also sticking with Brissett, who has averaged fewer than 135 yards per game. Maye came into cleanup in Week 3, completing 4 of 8 passes for 22 yards.

“Jacoby is our starter,” Mayo said. “He’s our starting quarterback this week.”

Mayo said he will consider a change at running back — if only to reinforce the message that Rhamondre Stevenson’s four fumbles in four games are unacceptable.

“Look, we can’t preach that ball security equals job security and still have him out there most of the time,” Mayo said. “I think it sends a stronger message to the players that there are certain things we just can’t do to win, especially with the team we have today.”

Stevenson was a reliable defender for the Patriots in his first three years, rushing for more than 1,000 yards in 2022 and earning a four-year, $36 million extension this offseason. He ran for 201 yards and two touchdowns in the first two games, trying to take on an even bigger role in the face of New England’s struggling passing offense.

But he has fumbled in every game this season. (The Patriots brought back two of them.) Mayo said moving Antonio Gibson, who ran for 96 yards on 11 carries in Week 2, into the starting lineup is “definitely being considered.”

McDaniel also said he would hold players accountable, especially as penalties and dropped passes take a toll on the offense. Miami had 10 penalties for 98 yards against the Titans last week.

“Most teams want to be part of the solution, not the problem,” McDaniel said. “This is not good football. You can’t go backwards before a game starts. You can’t turn the ball over.”

With starting pass rusher Jaelan Phillips sidelined this season with a partially torn ACL, the Dolphins need help from other players.

The Dolphins have veterans Emmanuel Ogbah and Quinton Bell, and they will also have to rely on rookies Chop Robinson and Mo Kamara, while Bradley Chubb is still nursing a torn ACL he suffered in Week 17 last season.

“They can do a lot of work together that they are absolutely prepared for,” McDaniel said. “There was a tremendous amount of reps gained in training camp to learn from and grow from, and the most important thing is not to try to be Jaelan Phillips.”

The Patriots said center David Andrews, an offensive captain and one of the longest-tenured players on the roster, will undergo season-ending shoulder surgery.

—

AP Sports Writer Alanis Thames in Miami Gardens, Fla., contributed to this report.

—

AP NFL: