Brown scores in debut, Pats eviscerate Dolphins 43-0
Seven-time Pro Bowl wide receiver Antonio Brown scored a touchdown in his New England Patriots debut, helping his new team to a 43-0 rout over the host Miami Dolphins on Sunday afternoon.
Miami, which made just two first downs through the first three quarters, ultimately pulled starting quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick after he completed 11 of 21 passes for 89 yards and three interceptions, including two pick-sixes.
Stephon Gilmore (54 yards) and Jamie Collins (69 yards) returned those interceptions for touchdowns. Collins added a second interception off Josh Rosen, who finished 7 of 18 for 97 yards in place of Fitzpatrick.
The Patriots (2-0) and Dolphins (0-2) are AFC East rivals but are also at opposite ends of the NFL spectrum. The Patriots have won three of the past five Super Bowls. The Dolphins have been outscored 102-10 through two weeks.
Former Patriots assistant Brian Flores, who now runs the Dolphins, has yet to win a game as a head coach.
Brown, a Miami native, finished with four catches for 56 yards and one run for 5 yards.
Patriots quarterback Tom Brady threw two touchdown passes and also had a 1-yard TD run. He completed 20 of 28 passes for 264 yards.
New England running back Sony Michel -- who is also a South Florida native -- ran 21 times for a game-high 85 yards and one touchdown. He did lose a fumble, as well.
The Patriots prevailed despite a shaky performance by Stephen Gostkowski, who missed two extra points and a 48-yard field-goal attempt. He did not miss a kick of any kind in Week 1.
New England scored on its first possession, traveling 60 yards in 10 plays. Brown caught three passes for 36 yards on the drive and also drew a defensive-holding penalty. Michel's 1-yard run capped the march.
The Patriots went up 13-0 on Brady's 20-yard touchdown pass to Brown, who got away with a slight shove of Dolphins cornerback Jomal Wiltz, formerly of the Patriots. After making the contested catch, Brown dove into the end zone stands, where he was greeted by fans.
New England opened the third-quarter scoring on Gostkowski's 28-yard field goal, and the Patriots went up 23-0 later in the period as Brady scored on a quarterback sneak.
The Patriots started the fourth quarter with those two interception returns, and the rout was on from there.
--Field Level Media
