How did the Miami Dolphins beat the New England Patriots?

Entering Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel had 321 fewer wins than Bill Belichick has had in the NFL. Upon exiting the tunnel, McDaniel left with a smile knowing that he only has 320 victories to go to catch up.

In his debut as head coach of an NFL organization, McDaniel beat one of the brightest minds the game has ever seen in the Dolphins' 20-7 win over the Patriots.

Of the roughly 17,000 games played in NFL history, there were only seven in which coaches entered with a greater winning difference.

McDaniel is the first Miami coach to start with a win since Nick Saban in 2005.

However, the Week 1 game between the Patriots and Dolphins wasn’t just about the men wearing headphones from the sidelines.

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New England offensive disaster

Matt Patricia, whose official title with the Patriots is Senior Football Advisor, handled the offensive calls. An experiment that, at least in the first week of the season, failed like when Coca Cola changed the formula of its famous drink in 1985.

The Patriots joined the Chicago Bears to become the only other team that failed to get points on the scoreboard at halftime of the noon games.

In two quarters they only managed to advance 25 yards against a defense that did not arrive with an elite label.

Half-time advantage

If anything has characterized the Patriots under the Bill Belichick era, it’s that the team has always stayed glued to the scoreboard when they’re down. However, by the time they finished the 15-minute break in the locker room, New England trailed by 17 points, the second-largest deficit in a season opener behind only 2003 when they fell to the Bills.

With the lead on the scoreboard, the Miami Dolphins took it upon themselves to control the clock.

Miami defensive touchdown

When the game was 3-0, Miami’s defense executed its best play when Brandon Jones blitzed a fumble by Mac Jones that was recovered by Melvin Ingram to go up six points.

Miami's defense recovered the ball three times during the game.

Jaylen Waddle factor

The receiver alumnus of Alabama had an explosive play when he caught a pass from Tua Tagovailoa to go 42 yards and finish in the end zone. That touchdown helped put the distance of 17 points before halftime. It is Tua's longest pass in the NFL that has culminated in points.

The quarterback ended with 23 completions in 32 attempts for a gain of 270 yards.

Tyreek Hill made his debut for Miami catching for 94 yards.

Hegemony

In a change of era, the Dolphins have become dominant in the rivalry with the Patriots by beating them for the fourth consecutive time. There was once Patriots hegemony, but things have now changed.

The Dolphins won both games they played against the Patriots last season: 17-16 in Week 1 in Foxborough and 33-24 in Week 18 in Miamii. It was the first time that Miami has beaten New England twice in a season since 2000, Bill Belichick’s first season as Patriots head coach. This year they already have .500 in the rivalry.