Welcome to the Week One Live Blog! Here we are, 46 minutes from the kickoff to the Patriots 2020 season. Business as usu…just kidding. Brady and Gronk are in Tampa, and the best player in the history of the Panthers, Cam Newton, is now the starting quarterback for the Patriots. It’s all insane, but a change in life is inevitable, and we seem to be in the midst of a revolution everywhere we look in our current lives. This is no different.
Patriots fans are excited to see what Newton can do with this offense, an offense that isn’t much different than the 2019 edition. Rookie tight ends Devin Asiasi and Dalton Keene are two new faces that will get a chance to shine, and wide receiver Damiere Byrd is going to endear himself to Patriots fans over the next 16 games with his speed and no-nonsense attitude.
Check out the inactive players below:
Patriots- QB Jarrett Stidham, LB Josh Uche, OT Korey Cunningham, TE Dalton Keene, LB Cassh Maluia
Dolphins- WR Malcolm Perry, WR Lynn Bowden Jr., S Clayton Fejedelem, DE Jason Strowbridge, T Adam Pankey
QB Jarrett Stidham, LB Josh Uche, OT Korey Cunningham, TE Dalton Keene, LB Cassh Maluia
Get your popcorn ready, open up a second tab on your browser and stay with our Week One Live Blog for entertaining and detailed updates. Enjoy the game everyone!
FIRST QUARTER
15:00- Having no fans is weird. There, I said it. Ok, Newton and the Patriots, let’s do this. The Patriots will kick off…
14:55- Gain of four by Jordan Howard to open the 2020 Patriots season, 2nd & 6…
14:25- Howard picks up three more and the Patriots defense has their first third-down opportunity of the season…3rd & 3…
13:40- Gain of two isn’t enough and the Dolphins will punt; the punt was fumbled by the Damiere Byrd, but New England recovered. 1st & 10…
12:52- Michel runs for a gain of seven, 2nd & 3…
12:07- Read option by Newton who runs for 12 and a first down; 1st & 10…
11:33- Newton again on the read-option sweep; 2nd & 5…
10:54- Another run, this time by Michel for just under five; 3rd & inches…
10:41- Michel slams ahead for three and another first down. Five plays, five runs; 1st & 10…
9:43- Newton made a nice throw but Edleman coughed up the catch; 2nd & 10…
9:37- Sack on the blitz, which Newton needs to pick up on. 3rd & 19…
8:52- James White picks up ten on the catch, but that drive stalled because of one thing- Edelman dropping an easy catchable ball at the Miami 30. Newton looked good, other than missing the check on the A-gap blitz. The Dolphins offense will make their way back on the field…
Sorry for the technical difficulty on the last drive. It was recorded but technology is, well, technology. We’re back on!
4:00- Burkhead runs for a gain of five, 2nd & 5…
3:30- Burkhead for four more; 3rd & 1…
3:05- Michel runs for four and a first down; 1st & 10…
2:22- Newton hits Izzo for 25, 1st & 10…
1:45- Burkhead takes the read-option for 15; 1st & 10…
1:07- Burkhead loses one; 2nd & 11…
:32- Harry picks up six and gets drilled on the tackle; 3rd & 5…
SECOND QUARTER
15:00- Newton runs for seven; 1st down…
14:09- Edelman picks up six on the catch; 2nd & 4…
13:36- Michel runs for 10 and sets the Patriots up at the four; 1st & Goal…
13:12- TOUCHDOWN, PATRIOTS!! Cam Newton runs a power sweep right on the snap, which is as basic as it gets. It is also unstoppable if you have the personnel to do it, which New England clearly does. If this first half is an indication of what Newton can be in New England, lookout. Patriots 7, Dolphins 0
13:05- Gain of 14 by Parker on the catch; 1st & 10…
12:24- Loss of one of the catch; 2nd & 11…
11:47- Incomplete pass on the coverage by Jackson; 3rd & 11…
11:39- Interception!! Gilmore with the pick and the offense takes over…
11:25- Gain of three by Michel; 2nd & 7…
10:48- White picks up one on the run; 3rd & 6…
10:09- Newton slips and the Patriots are forced to punt; big mistake by Cam moves the Patriots out of field goal range.
10:01- The punt lands out of bounds at the 13 and the Dolphins will take over on offense; 1st & 10…
9:01- Seven yard run on first down, one of Miami’s best plays of the game; 2nd & 3…
8:26- Gaskin runs for three; 1st & 10…
7:41- Parker gains 18 on the catch; 1st & 10…
7:14- Gaskins runs for five more; 2nd & 5 and the Dolphins are moving…
6:42- Breida picks up six and another first down; 1st & 10 from the Patriots 48…
5:56- Gain of 20 on the catch by Preston Williams; 1st & 10 from the New England 28…
5:17- No gain on the run; stout defense, 2nd & 10…
4:27- Cowart with a nice play on the tackle; 3rd & 10…
3:57- Incomplete pass to Williams and the Dolphins will attempt a field goal; 4th & 10…
3:53- Ball was tipped but it still barely makes it and the Dolphins have their first points of 2020. Good job by the defense to tighten up after Miami got rolling; Patriots 7, Dolphins 3
3:50- Pass is knocked down; 2nd & 10…
3:45- JJ Taylor runs for four; 3rd & 6…
3:02- James White gains five when they needed six; he simply doesn’t break tackles.
2:13- Dumb play on the return pins the Dolphins way back. The defense needs to help the offense here and get a stop.
2:06- Eight yard run on first down after the missed tackle in the backfield; 2nd & 2, and we have reached the two-minute warning.
2:00- Run of 10 for Gaskin; 1st & 10…
1:38- Incomplete pass; 2nd & 10…
:45- Breida runs for the first down, but a holding penalty wipes that out; 3rd & 5…
:36- 1st down on the catch; big play by Miami…
:31- INTERCEPTION! Adrian Phillips with the huge play and the Patriots offense will take over at their own 40.
:25- Newton hits White for eight; 2nd & 2…
:18- Crossing route to Edelman and he picks up 14 more; 1st & 10 from the Miami 31…
:15- Newton takes another bad sack that may take them out of field goal range; 2nd & 12…
:13- Pass is knocked down; 3rd & 12…
:11- Burkhead runs for seven up the middle and Folk will make his way out for a 45 yard field goal attempt…
:06- Folk shanks the kick and we still have one second remaining on the clock. The Patriots have left many opportunities on the table to score, but that is not a surprise. There is clearly rust, but there is also some good stuff here. Patriots fans aren’t used to this, but it will take time and get better every time they’re on the field. Patriots 7, Dolphins 3
HALFTIME
THIRD QUARTER
15:00- JJ Taylor is back to receive and the Patriots will take over at the 25 after the touchback; 1st & 10…
14:52- Gain of 11 by Edelman on the catch; 1st & 10…
14:10- Edelman again, gains 11 more; 1st & 10…
13:28- James White gains 13 yards on the catch; great read by Newton, 1st & 10…
12:56- Michel runs for four on a scary handoff; 2nd & 6…
12:14- Sweet catch by Edelman for 10 more; 1st & 10 from the Miami 24…
11:37- Newton takes the read-option pass for seven; watch for the RPO pass next; 2nd & 3…
10:56- Michel runs hard for 10 yards and another Patriots first down; 1st & 10 from the Miami 11…
10:30- TOUCHDOWN, PATRIOTS!! Newton takes this one from 11 yards out, although it is under review…and it counts (bad call though). Strong drive gives the Patriots a two-score lead. Patriots 14, Dolphins 3
10:14- Gain of two on the run; 2nd & 8…
9:27- Winovich with the tackle after the gain of three; 3rd & 5…
8:49- Pass broken up by JoeJuan Williams and the Dolphins are forced to punt; the Patriots offense will take over at the 20.
8:36- One yard run by Michel; 2nd & 9…
7:45- Newton to Harry for for 12; 1st & 10…
7:12- Flare to Taylor for four; 2nd & 6…
6:33- Taylor shows the burst he showed at Arizona on the eight-yard run; 1st & 10…
5:57- Taylor runs for five more and looks like he belongs, just like in camp; 2nd & 5…
5:08- Newton to Harry again, and Harry did a tremendous job battling for the extra two yards; 1st & 10…
4:27- That looked like a throw by White to Harry but it wasn’t there, so White smartly cut up and took the two yards. 2nd & 8…
3:46- JJ Taylor is tearing it up, this time running for 13 yards; 1st & 10…
3:10- Newton keeps on the RPO; 2nd & 8…
2:24- Newton to Harry for seven on the slant; great throw, 3rd & 1…
1:39- Newton picks up the first down on the tough one-yard run; 1st & 10 from the Miami 20…
1:03- Harry fumbles out of the end zone and the ruins the terrific drive he was having. These are the types of things he has to fix. The Patriots should be blowing Miami out, but now the Dolphins take over at their own 25 down just 11. Newton had a TERRIFIC drive and has been awesome; everyone else needs to help him finish this thing. Patriots 14, Dolphins 3
:24- The Dolphins pick up three to end the third quarter, a quarter dominated by Cam Newton. The fumble by Harry is the only reason this game isn’t over. Patriots 14, Dolphins 3
FOURTH QUARTER
15:00- No gain by Gaskin; 4th & 2 and the Dolphins will go for it…
14:11- Obvious DPI on Gilmore; 1st & 10 from the NE 35…
14:05- Gain of 15; 1st & 10…
13:23- Run for four by Brieda; 3rd & 1…
12:19- 1st down run by Fitzpatrick; 1st & Goal…
11:48- DPI called makes it 1st & Goal from the two…
11:26- No gain, 2nd & Goal…
11:05- Closer, but still not there; 3rd & Goal…
10:31- Touchdown, Dolphins. Now we have a three-point game when it should have been 21-3 going away. Turnovers will kill you, especially in the red zone, and that is exactly what has occurred in this game. Patriots 14, Dolphins 11
10:24- End-around to Edelman goes for 28 and 15 is added at the end on the late hit. The Patriots will set up at the Dolphins 36…
9:59- Newton throws it away under pressure; 2nd & 10…
9:52- Option to White for the seven yards; great play design. 3rd & 3…
9:10- Burkhead runs for four up the middle; 1st & 10 from the Dolphins
8:24- Newton drops to throw but nobody is open, so he takes it 12 yards for a 1st down; 1st & 10…
7:47- Michel (I think) runs for five more; 2nd & 5…
7:04- Cam keeps on the RPO and loses one; 3rd & 6…
6:22- Newton is close to the 1st down on the run, but he appeared to be short. It is a tough call to make, so they may not reverse this…and he’s short; 4th & short…
5:58- Newton runs for five and the Patriots are at the goal line. Apparently Baker took a shot at Newton; 1st & Goal…
5:23- TOUCHDOWN, PATRIOTS!! Michel slams it in from about 1.5 feet out and the Patriots respond with an impressive drive.
Any more questions about whether Cam Newton can play quarterback for a Bill Belichick coached team? He has been great, and this is just his first real game in a new system. Patriots 21, Dolphins 11
5:23- Miami takes over at their own 25. Fitzpatrick to Ford for eight on the first play of the drive; 2nd & 2…Parker is done for the day…
4:45- Five more for the 1st down; 1st & 10 from the Miami 36…
4:29- Butler tackles Fitzy after a gain of one; 2nd & 9…
3:24- SACK!! Rivers makes the sack! It’s about time he makes a play. 3rd & 18…
3:24- & Gilmore gets called for DPI. That was awful. 1st & 10.
3:20- Pass incomplete to Ford, broken up by Jones; 2nd & 10…
3:13- Fitzy runs for 11, 1st & 10 from the NE 40…
2:39- Five yard run on the draw; 2nd & 5…
2:!2- 15 more and the secondary is getting torn up right now; there is also no pressure whatsoever. You have to stay aggressive and keep coming after him. 1st & 10 from the Patriots 14…
2:00- Incomplete pass to the end zone; 2nd & 10…
1:56- Fitzy runs for four; 3rd & 6…
1:28- INTERCEPTION, PATRIOTS!! JC Jackson makes the play in the end zone, and now the Patriots are a first down away from sealing the deal. 1st & 10, Patriots from their own 25…
1:22- Burkhead loses two on the run; 2nd & 12…
1:12- Newton takes the direct snap, runs left and picks up 12 more to end this.
:30- Newton takes the snap, downs it and the Patriots win their first game of the season.
The game is over, but something clearly went down at the end with Newton. It looks like there was a cheap shot taken and he was livid. Newton was also grabbing at his hamstring, which is never a good sign.
FINAL SCORE- NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS 21, MIAMI DOLPHINS 11
Thank you for joining us and be sure to join us again next week!
