The New England Patriots stymied the Miami Dolphins offense in their 21-11, Week 1 win at Gillette Stadium. They picked off Dolphins quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick three times and held him to a 44.6 passer rating. Bill Belichick’s defensive unit also limited Miami to just 87 rushing yards on the ground. The Dolphins used three different running backs but amassed just 3.2 yards per carry.
To show how the Patriots did this, we went to the film, where an assortment of unique roles for New England’s defensive backs helped befuddle the Dolphins. The findings should be illuminating to New England’s fanbase, particularly as it pertains to cornerback Joejuan Williams and safety Adrian Phillips.