Brady throws for 3 scores to help Pats beat Miami 35-14
MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (AP) The New England Patriots finished the regular season with a perfect road record, and are hoping their next trip is to the Super Bowl.
Tom Brady threw for 276 yards and three scores Sunday to help the Patriots clinch home-field advantage throughout the AFC playoffs by beating the Miami Dolphins 35-14.
New England took a 20-0 lead in the first half, and turned away Miami's comeback bid with the help of a 77-yard touchdown catch-and-run by Julian Edelman and a 69-yard fumble return by linebacker Shea McClellin .
The Patriots (14-2) were already assured of a first-round bye but played all-out, as coach Bill Belichick had promised.
''It's just important to keep that foot on the gas pedal,'' Brady said.
New England became the ninth team since 1972 to go undefeated on the road during the regular season.
The Dolphins (10-6), beaten for only the second time in the past 11 games, had already earned an AFC wild-card berth and will play their first postseason game since 2008 next weekend at Pittsburgh. That made the thumping by New England much easier to take.
''Flush it,'' safety Michael Thomas said. ''We're still in it. Last year at this time we were going home.''
If the Dolphins beat Pittsburgh, they'll face New England again in two weeks.
''Can't wait,'' Dolphins receiver Jarvis Landry said.
The Patriots had lost their past three games in Miami, and appeared intent from the outset on snapping that streak. By the time they led 20-0, they had advantages of 238 to 30 in yards, and 17 to one in first downs.
''This has always been a challenging place for us, for one reason or another,'' Brady said. ''But we just found a way to beat a good football team.''
After Miami mounted consecutive 75-yard touchdown drives to make it 20-14, Edelman caught a short pass from Brady, broke free thanks to a crushing downfield block by Michael Floyd and scored on the longest reception of his career.
When the Dolphins threatened early in the fourth quarter, Devin McCourty forced a fumble by Damien Williams, and McClellin returned it 69 yards to set up a touchdown for the game's final score.
The Dolphins were steamrolled by a Brady-led offense that wasn't forced to punt until late in the third quarter.
''He's a Hall of Famer,'' Miami coach Adam Gase said. ''It happens. A lot.''
Brady went 25 for 33 with no turnovers . He finished the regular season with 28 touchdown passes and two interceptions, the highest TD/INT ratio in league history.
He also has 51 career games with at least three touchdown passes and no picks, tying Peyton Manning for most in NFL history.
Edelman had a career-high 151 yards on eight catches.
Miami's Matt Moore, subbing again for injured starter Ryan Tannehill, went 24 for 34 for 205 yards.
INJURIES
Miami's Jay Ajayi went to the X-ray room after the game but said he was fine. He ran for 59 yards and finished his breakout season with 1,272.
NEWCOMER
Floyd scored his first touchdown with the Patriots when he caught a short pass and powered into the end zone for a 14-yard score to make it 14-0. Floyd was acquired last month after the Cardinals released him following a DUI arrest in Arizona.
''To come in at this point is very tough,'' Brady said. ''There's not really the time to make the mistakes anymore. But he's a veteran, he has played for a long time.''
CLIMBING THE LIST
Brady increased his career yardage total to 61,582 to surpass former Dolphins quarterback and Hall of Famer Dan Marino for fourth place on the NFL's career list. Next is the Saints' Drew Brees, who went into Sunday's game with 65,761 yards.
UP NEXT
Dolphins: The Dolphins will have a rematch against the AFC North champion Steelers, who lost 30-15 at Miami in Week 6.
Patriots: The Patriots swept the regular-season series against Miami for the first time since 2012, and could now face the Dolphins in consecutive games. If the Dolphins beat the Steelers, they'll play at New England the weekend of Jan. 14-15.
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Passing | CP/ATT | YDS | TD | INT | FPTS |
T. Brady
12 QB
31 FPTS
|
T. Brady | 25/33 | 276 | 3 | 0 | 31 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
J. Garoppolo
10 QB
0 FPTS
|
J. Garoppolo | 0/1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Rushing | ATT | YDS | TD | LG | FPTS |
L. Blount
29 RB
11 FPTS
|
L. Blount | 14 | 51 | 1 | 19 | 11 | ||||||||||||||||||||
D. Lewis
33 RB
4 FPTS
|
D. Lewis | 11 | 48 | 0 | 12 | 4 | ||||||||||||||||||||
J. White
28 RB
2 FPTS
|
J. White | 2 | 9 | 0 | 7 | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||
J. Edelman
11 WR
23 FPTS
|
J. Edelman | 1 | 6 | 0 | 6 | 23 | ||||||||||||||||||||
T. Brady
12 QB
31 FPTS
|
T. Brady | 1 | 6 | 0 | 6 | 31 |
Receiving | TAR | REC | YDS | TD | LG | FPTS |
J. Edelman
11 WR
23 FPTS
|
J. Edelman | 13 | 8 | 151 | 1 | 77 | 23 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
M. Floyd
14 WR
9 FPTS
|
M. Floyd | 4 | 3 | 36 | 1 | 14 | 9 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
M. Bennett
88 TE
9 FPTS
|
M. Bennett | 5 | 3 | 33 | 1 | 20 | 9 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
C. Hogan
15 WR
2 FPTS
|
C. Hogan | 4 | 4 | 27 | 0 | 13 | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
J. White
28 RB
2 FPTS
|
J. White | 4 | 4 | 21 | 0 | 8 | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
M. Lengel
82 TE
0 FPTS
|
M. Lengel | 2 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
D. Lewis
33 RB
4 FPTS
|
D. Lewis | 2 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 4 |
Defense | T-A | SACK | INT | FF |
D. McCourty
32 FS
|
D. McCourty | 6-1 | 0.0 | 0 | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||
E. Roberts
52 OLB
|
E. Roberts | 6-1 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
L. Ryan
26 CB
|
L. Ryan | 6-1 | 0.0 | 1 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
T. Flowers
98 DE
|
T. Flowers | 4-1 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
M. Brown
90 DT
|
M. Brown | 3-0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
M. Butler
21 CB
|
M. Butler | 3-3 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
A. Branch
97 DT
|
A. Branch | 2-0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
K. Van Noy
53 OLB
|
K. Van Noy | 2-0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
R. Ninkovich
50 OLB
|
R. Ninkovich | 2-1 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
P. Chung
23 SS
|
P. Chung | 1-2 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
D. Harmon
30 FS
|
D. Harmon | 1-0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
J. Jones
31 CB
|
J. Jones | 1-0 | 0.0 | 0 | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||
N. Ebner
43 DB
|
N. Ebner | 1-0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
V. Valentine
99 DT
|
V. Valentine | 1-0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
S. McClellin
58 OLB
|
S. McClellin | 1-2 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
E. Rowe
25 CB
|
E. Rowe | 1-1 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
C. Long
95 DE
|
C. Long | 1-0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
D. Hightower
54 MLB
|
D. Hightower | 1-0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
M. Slater
18 WR
|
M. Slater | 1-0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
J. Sheard
93 DE
|
J. Sheard | 0-1 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 |
Kicking | FG | LG | XP | PTS |
S. Gostkowski
3 K
0 FPTS
|
S. Gostkowski | 2/3 | 40 | 3/3 | 9 |
Punting | NO | AVG | IN20 | LG |
R. Allen
6 P
|
R. Allen | 3 | 48.7 | 0 | 56 |
Kickoff Returns | NO | AVG | LG | TD |
J. Develin
46 FB
0 FPTS
|
J. Develin | 1 | 15.0 | 15 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
D. Lewis
33 RB
4 FPTS
|
D. Lewis | 1 | 12.0 | 12 | 0 |
Punt Returns | NO | AVG | LG | TD |
J. Edelman 11 WR
23 FPTS
|
J. Edelman | 1 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 |
Passing | CP/ATT | YDS | TD | INT | FPTS |
M. Moore
8 QB
18 FPTS
|
M. Moore | 24/34 | 205 | 2 | 1 | 18 |
Rushing | ATT | YDS | TD | LG | FPTS |
J. Ajayi
23 RB
7 FPTS
|
J. Ajayi | 16 | 59 | 0 | 11 | 7 | ||||||||||||||||||||
K. Drake
32 RB
1 FPTS
|
K. Drake | 4 | 10 | 0 | 4 | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||
D. Williams
26 RB
0 FPTS
|
D. Williams | 2 | 5 | 0 | 5 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
J. Grant
19 WR
0 FPTS
|
J. Grant | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
Receiving | TAR | REC | YDS | TD | LG | FPTS |
J. Landry
14 WR
13 FPTS
|
J. Landry | 12 | 9 | 76 | 1 | 14 | 13 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
D. Parker
11 WR
4 FPTS
|
D. Parker | 7 | 5 | 45 | 0 | 18 | 4 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
K. Stills
10 WR
10 FPTS
|
K. Stills | 7 | 4 | 41 | 1 | 25 | 10 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
D. Williams
26 RB
0 FPTS
|
D. Williams | 4 | 3 | 23 | 0 | 16 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
J. Ajayi
23 RB
7 FPTS
|
J. Ajayi | 3 | 3 | 20 | 0 | 11 | 7 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
D. Sims
80 TE
0 FPTS
|
D. Sims | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Defense | T-A | SACK | INT | FF |
B. McCain
28 CB
|
B. McCain | 5-1 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
S. Paysinger
42 LB
|
S. Paysinger | 5-2 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
B. Rambo
30 FS
|
B. Rambo | 4-3 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
N. Suh
93 DT
|
N. Suh | 3-1 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
M. Hull
45 LB
|
M. Hull | 3-0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
N. Hewitt
46 OLB
|
N. Hewitt | 3-2 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
X. Howard
25 CB
|
X. Howard | 3-0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
J. Phillips
97 DT
|
J. Phillips | 2-0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
M. Thomas
31 FS
|
M. Thomas | 2-2 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
T. Lippett
36 CB
|
T. Lippett | 2-6 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
J. Jones
98 DE
|
J. Jones | 2-0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
K. Alonso
47 MLB
|
K. Alonso | 2-3 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
C. Wake
91 DE
|
C. Wake | 1-0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
D. Williams
26 RB
|
D. Williams | 1-0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
T. Fede
78 DE
|
T. Fede | 1-2 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
D. Butler
56 OLB
|
D. Butler | 1-2 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
T. Reilly
57 LB
|
T. Reilly | 1-0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
D. Sims
80 TE
|
D. Sims | 1-0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
A. Branch
50 DE
|
A. Branch | 0-2 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 |
Kicking | FG | LG | XP | PTS |
A. Franks
3 K
0 FPTS
|
A. Franks | 0/0 | 0 | 2/2 | 2 |
Punting | NO | AVG | IN20 | LG |
M. Darr
4 P
|
M. Darr | 5 | 41.2 | 3 | 53 |
Kickoff Returns | NO | AVG | LG | TD |
Punt Returns | NO | AVG | LG | TD |
J. Grant 19 WR
0 FPTS
|
J. Grant | 2 | 7.0 | 14 | 0 |