For all your nuts-and-bolts coverage of New England's second win of the season – written, video, and otherwise – you've come to the right place on patriots.com. Some of our media colleagues, though, have offerings worth consuming, if you still need more.
There were several big stories yesterday, and WR Josh Gordon's Patriots debut was one of them. **The Boston Globe,** **ESPN,** and the **Boston Herald** examine his performance in particular, while a **WEEI.com** report seeks reaction from Gordon's new teammates.
A **Boston Herald opinion piece** declares that with this win, the Patriots put their detractors in their proper place.
"Facing the unbeaten Dolphins and the closest thing to a must-win game in the regular season, it's like the Patriots put up a collective middle finger to all of the naysayers and detractors," the author writes in part.
"If history tells us anything, the Pats have always been money with their backs up against the wall. This was no exception."
A beat writer from **The Athletic website** voices similar opinions about the premature declaration of the Patriots' demise.
"There would be no eulogy for the 2018 New England Patriots Sunday afternoon at Gillette Stadium, where they staved off the death of their dynasty with a 38-7 victory against the Dolphins.
"No undertaker. No pall bearers. No flowers. No prayers."
Rookie ball carrier Sony Michel had a memorable day with 112 yards and a touchdown. **The Nashua Telegraph** focuses on Michel, while **The Worcester Telegram & Gazette** looks closer at both Michel and his fellow running back James White and his contributions to the big win Sunday. White gained 112 total yards (rushing and receiving combined) and had two touchdowns, one on the ground and another through the air.
It wasn't all about New England's offense, of course. The defense nearly pitched a shutout, and LB Dont'a Hightower's play contributed to this, as **NBC Sport Boston** points out.
"Last week in Detroit… Hightower, who played both on the edge and at linebacker in the first two games, had a poor game – didn't deliver the kind of work he's been known for since 2012.
"This week, Hightower was almost exclusively at linebacker. Further, he played the pre-snap traffic cop, getting people where they should."
The **Boston Sports Journal** website also offers a lengthy analysis of how the Patriots' defense dominated Sunday's game.
"The common theme in the losses to the Jaguars and Lions, at least on the defensive side of the ball, was that the Patriots couldn't get off the field because they were being bled to death by little dinks, dunks and crossing patterns to backs, tight ends and others.
"In meaningful game action, [QB Ryan] Tannehill's safety valves caught one pass on four targets for 9 yards…. As a result, the Patriots' defense looked like a totally competent unit. In my mind, it was the biggest reason why New England won the game."
Finally today, **Boston.com** gives five takeaways from the demolition of the Dolphins, and the **Mass Live blog** doubles that with 10 things learned from the victory.
