BOSTON — After what felt just like the longest offseason in New England soccer historical past, the Patriots lastly performed an actual dwell recreation on Sunday afternoon in Miami. After months of speculating and prognosticating and, in lots of circumstances, doomsaying, it was lastly time for the Patriots to place forth a efficiency the place they could be answerable for the story.

The outcome, although, was … nicely … form of horrible.

Positive, there are the wouldas and the couldas of the sport. Invoice Belichick stated afterwards that it was actually simply two large performs that actually “skewed” a recreation that was in any other case “fairly even.” And if individuals wish to dangle their hat on that line of pondering, then dangle away.

However the actuality of Sunday’s recreation is that the Patriots by no means actually threatened to win. And there is not a complete lot to be ok with from the 20-7 loss.

Actually, for all the pieces optimistic the Patriots did on Sunday, one thing unfavorable adopted.

A surprisingly efficient opening drive from Mac Jones and the offense had Patriots followers poised to strut in entrance of the critics who spent the summer time loudly doubting an offense being led by Matt Patricia, Joe Choose, and a second-year quarterback. But after shifting the ball 53 yards on seven performs, Mac Jones … underthrew a jump-ball try and DeVante Parker, and it was picked off.

Xavien Howard did get away with go interference on the play, however clearly, not each name goes to be revamped the course of a recreation. Taking that shot towards that cornerback on a primary down on the opposing 22-yard line was riskier than Patriots’ sideline realized, they usually paid for it.

On the opposite facet of the sector, there was really some motive for positivity with the New England protection — notably Kyle Dugger. The third-year security was the group’s finest participant, making open-field tackles (towards Tyreek Hill, no much less) and enjoying a hybrid function that figures to be an issue for opposing offenses all season.

It was all fairly good … however then the Patriots allowed a 42-yard landing on a fourth-and-7 earlier than halftime. Dugger could have been most at fault for the play going for a landing as an alternative of a average achieve.

The Patriots did conduct an expert, 92-yard landing drive, aided by two Miami penalties — the second of which negated a fourth-down incompletion.

But instantly after scoring that landing to chop Miami’s result in 10 factors, the Patriots’ protection allowed 16 yards on the Dolphins’ subsequent play and 18 yards on the next play.

The Miami drive traveled 50 yards and led to a Dolphins area purpose to stretch the result in 13.

Late within the recreation, when the Patriots had been nonetheless technically within the recreation, they went forward and determined to make use of Kendrick Bourne, arguably their finest huge receiver who’s been locked in Invoice Belichick’s doghouse underneath considerably mysterious circumstances for the previous month. It was a case of higher late than by no means, as Bourne made a direct influence, catching a 41-yard go alongside the left sideline after straight-up burning cornerback Nick Needham.

It was a time to marvel if the teaching workers is certainly making selections which are in one of the best curiosity of the group, certain, nevertheless it was additionally a second which briefly provided some hope that the Patriots may pull off a gutsy comeback. Rating a landing and get a cease, and the Patriots could be driving with an opportunity to win the sport within the ultimate minutes.

That fantasy lasted all of a minute, although. Two performs after the Bourne catch, Nelson Agholor fumbled. The sport was over.

Making issues worse was the truth that on two events, a Dolphins go rusher entered the New England backfield utterly untouched. On each events, Jones was sacked, and he clearly coughed up the soccer on Miami’s defensive landing. The opposite occasion would possibly have contributed to the again damage that despatched Jones to the X-ray room after the sport.

In fact, the Patriots may have made issues no less than considerably fascinating by forcing a Miami punt after the Agholor fumble. However on a third-and-9, Mack Wilson and Jalen Mills each missed tackles on Chase Edmonds, permitting the working again to scamper ahead for a primary down. Afterward the drive, the Patriots’ protection each allowed a three-yard run on a third-and-2 and dedicated a too many males penalty on the similar time. That got here after Tua Tagovailoa and Mike McDaniel felt comfy sufficient to name rollout passes within the crimson zone with a minute left to play.

An unsightly finish to an unsightly recreation.

When it comes to actual components to really be ok with from this recreation, the record is brief. The Patriots ran the ball nicely — Damien Harris and Rhamondre Stevenson mixed for 73 yards on 17 carries. They defended the run nicely, too, because the Dolphins rushed for simply 65 yards on 23 makes an attempt.

Jake Bailey was excellent, too.

So there’s that.

In the end, Sunday’s loss could be sweet-talked a number of alternative ways. Belichick appears to be leaning on the “two large performs” concept, which can assist buoy positivity within the locker room within the coming week. (The Patriots, although, had been on the dropping finish of each of these large performs, which … does matter.) Add in the truth that the Patriots seemingly all the time lose in Miami — they’re 2-8 of their final 10 journeys to South Florida and 9-14 general through the Belichick period — and anybody who needs to dismiss this loss can and can accomplish that.

However if you actually have a look at each angle, it is quite tough to digest Sunday’s recreation and really feel nice about something the Patriots did. Their season is not doomed. Not precisely. But when comparable performances observe subsequent week in Pittsburgh (who beat the reigning AFC champs in dramatic trend on Sunday) after which the next week at dwelling towards Baltimore (who blew out the Jets on Sunday), then the area will certainly be coping with the prospect of staring down an extended, lengthy soccer season.