Sunday’s matchup between Tua Tagovailoa’s Miami Dolphins and Drake Maye’s New England Patriots may mark the start of an exciting new rivalry.
Tagovailoa, who signed a long-term deal with Miami this offseason, is already predicting a competitive future with Maye, the No. 3 pick in this year’s draft.
“I respect his game a lot,” Tagovailoa said. “He’s a rookie, so there’s going to be bumps within his journey, but you see a lot of flashes of things that he can do, not just inside the pocket, outside of the pocket as well. I’ve got a lot of respect for him and looking forward to competing against him.”
History Favors Miami, but the Stakes Are Fresh
The Patriots, led by Maye, will need to overcome a significant hurdle against their AFC East rival. Tagovailoa holds an impressive 6-0 career record against New England, while Miami’s head coach, Mike McDaniel, boasts a 4-1 record versus Bill Belichick’s squad.
“It means nothing for this week,” McDaniel emphasized on Wednesday.
“I think the biggest setup in the National Football League is praise or overindulgence into stats of former teams,” he added. “It is the Miami Dolphins versus the New England Patriots on Sunday.”
Currently, the Dolphins (4-6) have won two straight games and are clinging to playoff aspirations. In contrast, the Patriots (3-8) have embraced a rebuilding season under their rookie quarterback.
High Stakes for Both Teams
In Week 5, Miami edged out New England 15-10 despite missing Tagovailoa, who was sidelined with a concussion. At that time, the Patriots had not yet turned to Maye, opting instead for veteran Jacoby Brissett.
On Sunday, the Dolphins have a chance to sweep the Patriots for the second consecutive season—a feat they haven’t accomplished since 1999-2000.
“I don’t know if I can put a finger to it,” Hunter Henry said of their struggles against Miami.
“I think it’s just obviously we got to go down there and execute, play our brand of football — not turning the ball over, playing from ahead, taking the fight to them a little bit.”
Maye enters the contest on a high note, following one of his best performances in last week’s loss to the Los Angeles Rams. He completed 30 of 40 passes for 282 yards and two touchdowns but made a costly fumble that led to a Rams touchdown.
Challenges in the Red Zone
Despite moments of brilliance, the Patriots continue to falter in critical areas. They rank 29th in the league in red-zone efficiency, converting just 46.9% of opportunities into touchdowns.
“I think it’s just on ourselves, whether it’s go the extra effort, or maybe some little things here or there,” Maye said, reflecting on the team’s red-zone struggles. “I think we moved the ball well. Those guys put some good film on tape. At the end of the game we had a chance there, and I put that on myself to go make a play down the stretch.”
Miami’s Defensive Approach to Maye
The Dolphins are preparing to counter Maye’s dynamic playstyle. He averages 9.3 yards per rush, showcasing his ability to scramble effectively—a skillset reminiscent of some of the league’s top quarterbacks.
“The thing with all these new crop of young quarterbacks,” Dolphins defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver said, “is that when plays break down, they have the ability to create extended plays. … This is not me saying he’s Josh Allen, but you’ve kind of got to approach him like Josh Allen a little bit where you’re trying to funnel him certain directions and try to contain his rush ability as much as you can.”
Evolving Offensive Strategies
The Dolphins’ offense has demonstrated growth, with 18 scoring drives of 10 or more plays this season, including five of 14-plus plays. Since Week 8, Miami has scored 11 touchdowns in 15 red-zone trips, ranking seventh in goal-to-go efficiency.
Meanwhile, Patriots head coach Mike McDaniel has made bold personnel decisions to keep the Dolphins competitive. From reshuffling tight ends to waiving underperforming veterans, McDaniel remains focused on fielding the best team possible.
“I think it’s important that people understand you’re entitled to nothing in this world,” McDaniel said. “Playing time is solved by players on the field, and the best players have to play, and that’s my job to follow through with that.”
