The Patriots’ 20-year run of dominance may never be matched, but the ahead-of-schedule Dolphins have confirmed a new day has indeed arrived in the AFC East
Ding-dong, the Pats are dead! The Pats are dead, The Pats are dead. Ding-dong, the wicked Pats are deaaad!
OK, maybe the official end of the New England Patriots’ remarkable dynasty wasn’t quite so dramatic, but for a brief moment Sunday, anyone observing football for the past 19 years had to wonder if there was a sliver of Belichickian magic left. The Patriots marched to the locker room at the half up 6-0 over the Miami Dolphins thanks to a cocktail of clunky play by the hosts and sheer luck. A Cam Newton fumble, recovered by Xavien Howard and returned for 86 yards and a score that was reversed because it had touched a Dolphins defender. A 52-yard field goal missed by Dolphins kicker Jason Myers. Would the Pats somehow pull off this elimination game with Newton channelling his 2015 self and all the bounces going Bill Belichick’s way? Not exactly.
Related: NFL roundup: Brady channels Super Bowl magic as Falcons stunned by Bucs
Derrick Henry with the MEAN stiff arm!
: Watch #DETvsTEN on CBS pic.twitter.com/1jhPLFZncg
