SB Nation Boston - Special Night: Patriots' Special Teams Score Two Touchdowns As They Rout Dolphins Monday Night, 41-14https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/48863/boston-fave.png2010-10-05T09:53:29-04:00http://boston.sbnation.com/rss/stream/14868352010-10-05T09:53:29-04:002010-10-05T09:53:29-04:00Patriots Vs. Dolphins: New England Learned A Lot About Its Young Defense Monday Night
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<p>There's a pretty big difference in the NFL between a 3-1 and a 2-2 record, especially in the tightly-contested AFC East. Which is just one of the many reasons Monday night's win over the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.thephinsider.com/">Dolphins</a> was so important for New England and its defense, <a href="http://www.patspulpit.com/2010/10/5/1731333/patriots-dominate-second-half-get-much-needed-win-in-rout-of-dolphins#storyjump">says Pats Pulpit</a>. </p>
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<p>I also think we learned a lot about the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.patspulpit.com/">Patriots</a>' defense tonight. While the bend-but-don't-break defense can be frustrating at times, it can also pay off big. We saw that with the four interceptions tonight. The interceptions were due largely in part to the newfound speed of this defense. We also saw the Patriots shut down <span>Ronnie Brown</span> on the ground (11 for 27), and also get great pressure on <span>Chad Henne</span>. <span>Jermaine Cunningham</span>, <span>Rob Ninkovich</span>, and <span>Tully Banta-Cain</span> all had great games rushing the passer. <span>Devin McCourty</span>, aside from his one pass interference penalty, had a great game in coverage. We'll get more into who played well tomorrow.</p>
<p>Big road win, big division win. The Patriots outplayed the Dolphins on offense, defense, and special teams. They outcoached the Dolphins. And for once, they showed the energy that we're used to seeing from the Patriots, but haven't seen in quite some time. That's one hell of a way to head into the bye week, don't you think?</p>
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<p>And a bye week it will be -- <a href="http://twitter.com/MikeReiss/statuses/26428061858">the players are off until Thursday</a>.</p>
https://boston.sbnation.com/new-england-patriots/2010/10/5/1731740/patriots-dolphins-patrick-chung-tom-brady-monday-night-footballRyan Hudson2010-10-05T00:05:19-04:002010-10-05T00:05:19-04:00VIDEO: Patrick Chung Blocks Field Goal, Patriots Return It For 35-Yard Touchdown
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<p>The <a href="https://www.patspulpit.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Patriots</a> only ran 25 offensive plays in the second half on Monday night's win (compared to 36 in the first half, and 44 in the second half against the <a href="https://www.buffalorumblings.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Bills</a> last week). But then again, they only had to run 25 plays, since special teams was busy controlling the game. </p>
<p>After a <a href="http://boston.sbnation.com/new-england-patriots/2010/9/30/1722794/monday-night-football-patriots-dolphins-game-score-updates-tom-brady#video-brandon-tates-103-yard-kickoff-return">103-yard kickoff return by Brandon Tate</a> and a blocked punt by Patrick Chung, the <a href="http://boston.sbnation.com/new-england-patriots/2010/9/30/1722794/monday-night-football-patriots-dolphins-game-score-updates-tom-brady#monday-night-football-blocked-field-goal-gives-patriots-another">Pats put the game away with a blocked field goal </a>(Chung handled the honors, again), allowing <span>Kyle Arrington</span> to scoop up the loose ball and take it 35 yards for the touchdown. </p>
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<p><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/nfl/2010/10/4/1731258/patriots-dolphins-patrick-chung-field-goal-block-touchdown-video"><i>(Thanks again to Tunison for his video work at SB Nation this evening)</i></a></p>
https://boston.sbnation.com/new-england-patriots/2010/10/5/1731342/video-patrick-chung-blocked-field-goal-touchdown-kyle-arrington-monday-night-football-dolphinsRyan Hudson2010-10-04T23:51:50-04:002010-10-04T23:51:50-04:00Monday Night Football: Patriots' Special Teams Scores Two Touchdowns, Leads New England In Rout, 41-14
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<p>Miami, FL (<a href="http://www.sbnation.com/nfl/events/59279/recap?article_id=117580">Sports Network</a>) - Patrick Chung blocked two kicks in the second half and returned an interception 51 yards for a touchdown in the final quarter, powering New England to a 41-14 win over the <a href="https://www.thephinsider.com/">Miami Dolphins</a>.</p>
<p>Chung had the type of game most defensive backs could only dream of, but the second year player out of Oregon had a factor in 21 of New England's 35 second-half points.</p>
<p>Shortly after <span>Brandon Tate</span> ran the opening kickoff of the second half 103 yards for the go-ahead touchdown, Chung blocked a punt, which led to a 12-yard TD run by BenJarvus Green-Ellis. In the opening minute of the fourth, Chung blocked a field goal attempt and <span>Kyle Arrington</span> rumbled 35 yards with the recovery to the end zone.</p>
<p><span>Tom Brady</span> connected on 19-of-24 passes for 153 yards and a score for the <a href="https://www.patspulpit.com/">Patriots</a> (3-1). It was the 100th win for Brady, as the two-time Super Bowl MVP became the 11th NFL QB to reach the milestone and the quickest ever. He did it in 131 starts, surpassing the mark of his boyhood idol Joe Montana, who needed 139 games to reach the century mark in victories.</p>
<p><span>Chad Henne</span> finished 29-of-39 through the air for 302 yards with two TDs and three interceptions, two of those going to linebacker <span>Rob Ninkovich</span>. <span>Davone Bess</span> caught nine balls for 93 yards and a score for the Dolphins (2-2).</p>
https://boston.sbnation.com/new-england-patriots/2010/10/4/1731331/monday-night-football-patriots-special-teams-scores-dolphins-patrick-chungRyan Hudson2010-10-04T23:50:42-04:002010-10-04T23:50:42-04:00Monday Night Football: Patrick Chung Completes Wild Game With Interception Return For Touchdown, Pats Win, 41-14
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<p>Monday night against the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.thephinsider.com/">Dolphins</a>, the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.patspulpit.com/">Patriots</a> became the first team in NFL history to score a touchdown rushing, passing, on an interception return, a kickoff return and a return of a blocked field goal in the same game. So, yeah: things went pretty well for New England. </p>
<p>Oh, and <span>Tom Brady</span> became the fastest quarterback to reach 100 wins in a career (just 131 games; it took Joe Montana 139). </p>
<p>The Patriots improved to 3-1, while the Dolphins fell to 2-2. </p>
<p>Patrick Chung capped off New England's scoring -- and his night -- with an interception returned for a touchdown with 6:30 left in the game, putting the game well out of reach. Chung ended the game with a blocked punt, a blocked field goal and the pick-six (not to mention four tackles). </p>
https://boston.sbnation.com/new-england-patriots/2010/10/4/1731292/patrick-chung-monday-night-football-patriots-dolphins-score-gameRyan Hudson2010-10-04T23:21:53-04:002010-10-04T23:21:53-04:00VIDEO: Brandon Tate's 103-Yard Kickoff Return
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<p>The turning point in Monday night's game between the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.patspulpit.com/">Patriots</a> and <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.thephinsider.com/">Dolphins</a> was <span>Brandon Tate</span>'s 103-yard kickoff return for a touchdown. Not only did it give New England their first lead of the game, but it also started a second half that has seen the Patriots outscore the Dolphins, 35-7. <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/nfl/2010/10/4/1731198/patriots-dolphins-brandon-tate-kick-return-video">So why not show you video of it</a>? </p>
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<p><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/nfl/2010/10/4/1731198/patriots-dolphins-brandon-tate-kick-return-video"><i>(Video via Mike Tunison at SBNation.com)</i></a></p>
https://boston.sbnation.com/new-england-patriots/2010/10/4/1731273/video-brandon-tate-1kickoff-return-td-103-yards-monday-night-fooball-game-patriots-dolphinsRyan Hudson2010-10-04T23:05:12-04:002010-10-04T23:05:12-04:00Monday Night Football: Blocked Field Goal Gives Patriots Another Special Team TD
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<p>In a span of just 15:55, the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.patspulpit.com/">Patriots</a> have scored four touchdowns, and made enough plays to make a special teams coach happy for half the season. </p>
<p>At the start of the fourth quarter, the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.thephinsider.com/">Dolphins</a> lined up to attempt a 53-yard field goal. But it never got over the line. </p>
<p>Patrick Chung broke through the middle and blocked the kick -- <a href="http://boston.sbnation.com/new-england-patriots/2010/10/4/1731191/monday-night-football-brandon-tate-103-yard-kickoff-return-td-dolphins">yes, again</a>. CB <span>Kyle Arrington</span> scooped it up and he took it the rest of the way for a 35-yard touchdown, and a 34-14 Patriots lead in the fourth quarter. </p>
<p>A kickoff returned 103 yards for a touchdown, a blocked punt that resulted in a touchdown and a blocked punt for a score -- pretty good night for the Pats' special teams, and coach Scott O'Brien.</p>
https://boston.sbnation.com/new-england-patriots/2010/10/4/1731255/monday-night-football-blocked-field-goal-gives-patriots-anotherRyan Hudson2010-10-04T22:46:45-04:002010-10-04T22:46:45-04:00Monday Night Football: Patriots, Dolphins Exchange Third-Quarter Touchdowns
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<p>The first half of Monday night's game between the <a href="https://www.patspulpit.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Patriots</a> and <a href="https://www.thephinsider.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Dolphins</a> saw just a total of 13 points -- one touchdown and two New England field goals. With 4:02 still remaining in the third quarter, the two sides have already totaled 28 points -- on four touchdowns. </p>
<p>The Patriots opened the third quarter with <a href="http://boston.sbnation.com/new-england-patriots/2010/10/4/1731191/monday-night-football-brandon-tate-103-yard-kickoff-return-td-dolphins">a pair of touchdowns in about two minutes</a> on the strength of special teams play before Miami got back in it with a 28-yard pass to <span>Ricky Williams</span> that drew the Dolphins closer, 20-14. </p>
<p>New England immediately answered with a 12-play, 78-yard drive that culminated with an 11-yard touchdown pass to everyone's favorite new Patriots, <span>Danny Woodhead</span>, extending the lead to 27-14.</p>
https://boston.sbnation.com/new-england-patriots/2010/10/4/1731227/monday-night-football-patriots-dolphins-football-game-update-score-danny-woodheadRyan Hudson2010-10-04T22:34:53-04:002010-10-04T22:34:53-04:00VIDEO: Tom Brady Attempts Fake-Spike Play With Randy Moss
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<p>It is oddly appropriate that at the former home of Dan Marino, <span>Tom Brady</span> and the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.patspulpit.com/">Patriots</a> attempted the play that the Dolphin great once made famous: <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/nfl/2010/10/4/1731169/patriots-dolphins-fake-spike-video-randy-moss">the fake spike</a>. Unfortunately, <span>Randy Moss</span> just couldn't quite bring it in for what would have been a touchdown. </p>
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<p>The Patriots settled for a field goal. </p>
<p><i>(</i><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/nfl/2010/10/4/1731169/patriots-dolphins-fake-spike-video-randy-moss"><i>Video via Mike Tunison at the Mothership</i></a><i>)</i></p>
https://boston.sbnation.com/new-england-patriots/2010/10/4/1731220/video-fake-spike-play-patriots-tom-brady-randy-moss-monday-night-football-dolphinsRyan Hudson