SHUT OUT
The Patriots were shut out today, marking the first time New England had been shut out since dropping a 31-0 decision to the Buffalo Bills at Ralph Wilson Stadium on Sept. 7, 2003. Before that, the last time the Patriots were shut out was on Nov. 28, 1993, when they lost 6-0 to the New York Jets at Foxboro Stadium.
ROAD STREAK BROKENToday's loss to Miami broke the Patriots' string of seven straight regular-season road victories, a string that tied the longest road winning streak in team history. Prior to today, the last time the Patriots lost a road game in the regular season was on Nov. 27, 2005, when New England lost to the Kansas City Chiefs, 26-16, at Arrowhead Stadium. New England's recently-completed seven-game road winning streak is tied with the team's seven straight road victories from Oct. 19, 2003 to Oct. 3, 2004 as the longest road winning streak in team history.
HUNDRED-YARD MARKThe Patriots exceeded 100 yards rushing as a team today, marking the seventh time the team has achieved the feat this season. Last year, New England broke the 100-yard mark as a team on five occasions in the regular season and once in the playoffs.
DEFENSE DIGS IN
The Patriots held Miami to two field goals in the first half after the Dolphins had gained first downs inside New England's 30-yard line. The Patriots held the Dolphins to field goals after Miami had penetrated to New England's 17-yard line near the end of the first quarter and to the Patriots' 15-yard line at the end of the second quarter. The sequences were indicative of the Patriots' ability to keep teams out of the end zone even after penetrating deep into New England territory. The Patriots entered today's game having allowed opponents to score touchdowns just 25 percent of the time that they had penetrated past the 30-yard line (10 touchdowns on 40 drives inside the 30-yard line). That figure ranked second in the NFL entering today's game (Baltimore, 23.1 percent).
FIRST-QUARTER SHUTOUT STRING SNAPPED
Miami opened the scoring with a 35-yard field goal by Olindo Mare with 28 seconds left in the first quarter. The field goal marked the first time the Patriots had allowed their opponents to score in the first quarter since the Indianapolis Colts got a first-quarter touchdown on Nov. 5. Mare's field goal broke a string of four straight games in which the Patriots had pitched a first-quarter shutout. New England has now allowed 29 first-quarter points through 13 games this season – just two touchdowns (one of which came on a fumble return in the season opener against Buffalo) and five field goals.
TY WARREN SACK
Ty Warren sacked Joey Harrington for a 6-yard loss in the first quarter. The sack gave Warren 6.5 sacks on the season, tying him with Rosevelt Colvin for the team lead. Warren's 6.5 sacks this season are a career high, topping his previous career best of 3.5 sacks in 2004.
TWO-MINUTE DRILL
The Patriots allowed a 33-yard Miami field goal as time expired in the first half. Following that kick, the Patriots had allowed opponents to score just 16 points in the final two minutes of either the first or second halves this season. Following Miami's field goal, the Patriots had allowed one touchdown and three field goals in the final two minutes of halves this season. Entering today's action, New England had allowed only 13 points in the final two minutes of either half, a mark that led the NFL. Washington (21) ranked second entering today's action.
