Instant analysis from Patriots’ 15-10 loss to Dolphins

One losing streak ended Sunday at Gillette Stadium. Another extended to four.

The New England Patriots fell to the Miami Dolphins by a score of 15-10, marking the first win for head coach Mike McDaniel's side of the AFC East since the season opener.

Here's an initial glance back on what went into the trying 1 p.m. ET kickoff.

Brissett throws for 160 yards through penalty flags A Sunday removed from putting the ball on the ground and having an interception returned for six, Jacoby Brissett needed a clean afternoon.

The embattled Patriots quarterback instead went 18-of-34 passing for 160 yards versus the Dolphins. Along the way came no touchdowns, no turnovers and penalty flags. Breaking the huddle in "12" personnel, the first drive quickly became back-to-back sacks as the punt team stepped on. The second drive ended in the end zone by way of the ground. But a punt was the result of a third drive that featured a scramble, a false start and an incompletion off of outstretched fingertips on a corner route. A missed field goal and another punt got things to halftime on the heels of questionable situational play-calling as well as execution.

By then, New England's offense had been flagged for four penalties while accumulating 98 yards across 22 plays. A hard-hit conversion followed the break. And ultimately, eight first downs were managed through the air. A loss of one on a conservative checkdown to the flat wouldn't be among them. Down five with 4:24 remaining, the Patriots stepped back onto the field. Laundry as well as a third-and-8 conversion in the slot arrived. So did a turnover on downs after a toe-dragging touchdown was ruled out of bounds in the back of the end zone. The ball would be reclaimed. Time would not be.

Gibson starts at running back, while Stevenson finds end zone After fumbling four times in as many games, Rhamondre Stevenson took a backseat in the backfield for the Patriots. At least for a series. Starting in place of the four-year, $36 million rusher was Antonio Gibson.

The March arrival went on to handle six carries for 52 yards against the Dolphins, including a patient, explosive pickup of 24 through traffic.

Sunday marked the first time since 2022 that Stevenson served as an active non-starter in Foxborough. The product of Cerritos College and the University of Oklahoma checked into the huddle at the 5:30 mark in the first quarter and soon moved the chains. He then found the end zone from outside zone. It stood as his third touchdown of the fall. Breaking a pair of tackles en route to 33 yards, the run gave the Patriots a 7-3 lead. No. 38 handled a dozen carries for 89 yards before walking off the field under his own power.

Bourne makes 2024 debut as Pop paces New England's wideouts After four games away, the Patriots activated Kendrick Bourne from physically unable to perform on the eve of the divisional kickoff. Ahead were his initial snaps since sustaining a torn ACL last October.

Bourne caught the lone pass sent his direction for six yards. And subbing into the slot, DeMario Douglas led the team with 59 yards across six catches while having a screen called back by a hold on rookie receiver Ja'Lynn Polk. The No. 37 overall pick had the go-ahead touchdown ruled incomplete in the closing minutes. He started the matinee alongside a downfield-blocking Kayshon Boutte, who caught two passes for 34 yards in his first NFL nod.

Two members of the depth chart went to the inactives. Rookie Javon Baker was a healthy scratch, while veteran K.J. Osborn had been listed as questionable due to a shoulder injury after sitting out three consecutive practices.

Offensive line's musical chairs range from Lowe to Onwenu In the aftermath of losing rookie tackle Caedan Wallace and ironman center David Andrews to injured reserve , the Patriots kept playing musical chairs.

Vederian Lowe made his return to the blindside on Sunday. The starting left tackle had missed the previous pair of games with a knee injury. Left guard Michael Jordan returned, too, following an ankle injury. Alongside them, the top offensive line included Nick Leverett at center, Mike Onwenu back at right guard and Demontrey Jacobs premiering at right tackle in his place.

It was the fifth starting configuration in five weeks. It sent interior blockers Sidy Sow and Layden Robinson to the sideline. Four penalties were called against the offensive line. Two sacks were logged by Miami's Emmanuel Ogbah and Zach Sieler in a span of seconds.

Gonzalez corrals pick for secondary down two captains at safety The Patriots named Jabrill Peppers a team captain in September. Before the calendar turned to October, fellow safety Kyle Dugger had become one . But against the Dolphins, neither starter was in uniform due to respective shoulder and ankle injuries. Both had been questionable before being downgraded and scratched . That left a combined 453 defensive snaps, 43 tackles, one sack, one forced fumble and one interception off the field.

But the secondary had Christian Gonzalez. Last year's No. 17 overall pick undercut a slant route to pick off his second career pass midway through the first quarter. He nearly hung onto another while starting across from Jonathan Jones on the perimeter. In the big nickel stood Marte Mapu after clearing injured reserve. The past Big Sky Defensive Player of the Year aligned in multiple spots and broke up a pass in the end zone. And at safety, it would be veteran Jaylinn Hawkins and undrafted rookie Dell Pettus getting the call.

Quarterback Tyler Huntley finished the outing 18-of-31 passing for 194 yards and the interception. The recent addition off the Baltimore Ravens ' practice squad looked Tyreek Hill's way for nine targets, six completions and 69 yards. He looked Jaylen Waddle's way for eight targets, four completions and 46 yards. Familiar tight end Jonnu Smith chipped in 62 receiving yards.

Three sacks notched as Miami rushes for 193 yards Containment had been lost in the 30-13 loss to the San Francisco 49ers at Levi's Stadium. And after giving up 148 rushing yards while gaining just a single sack, an edge needed to be set.

Penalized for a horse collar and roughing the passer, New England started Keion White next to former Dolphins defensive tackle Davon Godchaux. Both batted throws and the latter drew a hold. Daniel Ekuale and Anfernee Jennings were there alongside them and split a sack on the initial series. And backup linebacker Christian Elliss, who was called for a late pass interference on third-and-13, rotated in off the ball after delivering the game's first tackle on special teams.

Three sacks were posted on Sunday. Joshua Uche got one off the edge on third down and 53-man roster promotion Jaquelin Roy added the next. Yet Miami running backs Raheem Mostert and Jaylen Wright outlasted the Patriots, totaling 166 yards across 32 ground attempts after De'Von Achane entered concussion protocol. Fullback Alec Ingold plunged in to make it 15-10 in the fourth quarter.

Eventful afternoon for both kicking games After Dolphins kicker Jason Sanders clanged a field goal, another chance going into halftime became a false start and a low snap from 51 yards out. Punter Jake Bailey also faced rejection against the club that drafted him out of Stanford. A block by core special-teamer Brenden Schooler wound up in corner Isaiah Bolden's hands on the fringe of the red zone.

But no points would come of either sudden change for the Patriots. A week after setting the franchise record from 63 yards out, kicker Joey Slye missed wide right from 33 yards out. He later converted from 38 in the third quarter.

Holder Bryce Baringer punted six times for 310 yards, including a touchbacked long of 69 and a shanked liner of 43. It stood as his 22nd game in a row with a punt of at least 50 yards, the longest active streak in NFL. But penalties for too many men on the field and delay of game were in the cards for special teams coordinator Jeremy Springer.