Blocked field goals, interceptions, laterals — and the Patriots offense fails to capitalize on any of them.

Patriot

The Patriots nearly came back from a double-digit deficit, only to fall short for the second straight week.

By Jimmy Golan, The Associated Press

September 18, 2023 | 2:09 AM

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (AP) — A blocked field goal prevented Miami from blowing a three-score lead. An interception that set the Patriots up for what could have been the game-tying drive. Another Miami field goal missed.

And none of that meant anything to New England on Sunday night.

“The defense continues to do a great job. They just have to keep doing their job,” said Patriots quarterback Mack Jones, who had the ball for the second straight week with a game-winning chance in the final minute. It is to be ascertained by.”

The Patriots’ offense provided some highlights in a 24-17 loss to Miami, which fell to 0-2 for the first time since Tom Brady took over as the starting quarterback. What’s Bad: Jones failed to capitalize on the big plays on defense and special teams that kept the Patriots in the game.

“It just wasn’t our day,” Jones said. “We haven’t had a day for the past two weeks.”

A week after falling behind the defending NFC champion Philadelphia Eagles 16-0, the Patriots trailed 17-3 late in the third quarter Sunday night when Miami lined up for a 49-yard field goal attempt. . New England’s Brandon Schooler set just right, then ran along the line of scrimmage and, when the ball was snapped, broke into the backfield to retrieve the kick.

Kyle Dugger picked it off deep in the Dolphins’ backfield, and only a quick tackle by Christian Wilkins stopped him from racing to the end zone. Jones then led the Patriots on a pair of first downs before lofting a pass toward the end zone, where Zavin Howard gained inside position on the receiver and pulled him down for an interception at the 3.

New England punted Miami, and Jones drove New England to the Dolphins 6 before hitting Hunter Henry in the end zone to make it 17-10. But when Christian Gonzalez picked off Tua Tagore, the Patriots went backwards, forcing Bryce Barringer to punt from his own end zone.

On Miami’s first play, Raheem Mostert broke through the line untouched and went 43 yards for a touchdown.

New England had one last chance when Dolphins kicker Jason Sanders missed a 55-yard field goal attempt with a seven-point lead and just over two minutes remaining. Jones drove the Patriots to the Miami 33 and connected with Mike Gaskey on a fourth-and-4 pass.

Stopped near the line of scrimmage, Gaskey threw the ball to offensive lineman Cole Strange, who ran four more yards before bringing it down to the 30. The play was originally ruled a first down, but replays showed Strange was stopped. lack of markers; The Dolphins took over on downs and killed the clock.

“We just have to do a better job when it matters most,” center David Andrews said. “And stop playing from behind. It’s playing from behind two weeks in a row. It’s hard to play catch-up in this league. … That’s not how you want to play the game.

The last time the Patriots lost their first two games with Drew Bledsoe at quarterback was in 2001 — coach Bill Belichick’s second season in New England. Bledsoe was injured and replaced by Brady in the Week 2 loss to the Jets, but the Patriots won the Super Bowl that season and two of the next three.

“I think we’re a great team. I feel like we’ve shown some really good things these last two games, really promising things,” defensive lineman Dietrich Wise said. “We just need to trust the process and things will turn around.”