The New England Patriots were two yards away from almost assuredly being blown out, something that has rarely happened under Bill Belichick. The lifeless Pats were down 17-3 as the Miami Dolphins facing a second-and-two at the Patriots 19-yard line.
With another field goal the Dolphins would take a three-score lead, and after an ugly day from Tom Brady and the Pats’ offense, there was no reason to think the Pats would mount much of a comeback. Another touchdown and the game was likely over, as the Dolphins snapped the ball inside the Patriot red zone.
An incompletion later and it was third-and-two, a huge moment, that in retrospect might be a turning point in the 2013 season. That’s when Rob Ninkovich and Dont’a Hightower delivered. The Patriots brought the blitz and Hightower finished it off, sacking Ryan Tannehill for a loss of nine yards and forcing the Dolphins into a long field goal attempt in a brisk wind.
It was the first sack of the day for the Patriots, but it would open the floodgates and perhaps might’ve even saved the Patriots’ season. Yes, a loss would’ve only dropped the Pats to 5-3, but until that point, New England looked like a team that couldn’t do anything on either side of the ball.
On the next play, Dolphin kicker Caleb Sturgis missed the 46-yard field goal and the Patriots offense took over. Five plays later the Pats would get their first third-quarter touchdown of the year and the comeback was on.
When Miami got the ball back, needing to answer and stop any Patriot momentum, the Pats’ defense came with pressure again, and again it delivered as Logan Ryan forced Tannehill to fumble, setting the Pats’ offense up on the Miami 23-yard line.
The Patriots would tie the game on Brandon Bolden’s two-yard touchdown just three plays later.
Two big sacks in an nine-play span and the complexion of the game had completely changed and it was because Bill Belichick and Matt Patricia finally decided to send the blitz after Tannehill.
New England has traditionally preferred a read-and-react style of defense, but on this day it was the attacking style that turned things around. Injuries have left the Pats vulnerable in certain areas and by taking away Tannehill’s time in the pocket, the blitz forced him into bad throws.
The sacks might’ve not only saved this game, but given the Pats a blueprint for how they can succeed going forward. Their problems on third-down continued in this one, but nothing gets you off the field like an unstoppable pass rush.
