The ÌÇÐÄÊÓƵ closed the 2025 regular season Sunday afternoon at Gillette Stadium, falling 38–10 to the New England Patriots. Miami finished the year 7–10 after facing a Patriots team playing for playoff positioning in the Week 18 matchup.
New England set the tone early with a ground-heavy opening drive. Running back Rhamondre Stevenson opened the game with back-to-back runs of nine and 56 yards, and the Patriots capped the three-play drive with a 5-yard touchdown run by running back TreVeyon Henderson to take an early 7–0 lead.
Miami responded with an encouraging first possession of its own. Quarterback Quinn Ewers, making his third consecutive NFL start, led the Dolphins deep into Patriots territory. The drive featured contributions from multiple skill players, including a 20-yard completion to wide receiver Theo Wease Jr. and an end-around by wide receiver Malik Washington that moved the ball inside the New England 10-yard line. Miami elected to go for it on fourth-and-1 from the 8-yard line, but the pass fell incomplete, resulting in a turnover on downs.
The Patriots capitalized, driving 92 yards on nine plays and scoring on a direct snap to Stevenson from two yards out to extend the lead to 14–0 late in the first quarter.
Miami answered early in the second quarter with its most complete offensive drive of the half. The Dolphins leaned on the run game and quick throws, marching 65 yards on 10 plays. Ewers capped the possession with a play-action pass to Malik Washington for a 2-yard touchdown, trimming the deficit to 14–7.
The Dolphins' defense followed with a pair of key stops, including a fourth-down tackle by linebackers Tyrel Dodson and Jordyn Brooks to halt a Patriots drive near midfield. On the ensuing possession, New England linebacker Jack Gibbens forced a fumble that gave the Patriots possession at the Miami 37-yard line. The Dolphins defense held firm, forcing New England to attempt a field goal. Defensive tackle Zach Sieler blocked the 38-yard attempt, giving Miami possession with less than two minutes remaining in the quarter.
Miami turned that momentum into points just before halftime. After the block, the Dolphins moved into field goal range and kicker Riley Patterson converted a 52-yard field goal with 28 seconds remaining. New England responded with a 59-yard field goal as time expired, sending the teams into halftime with the Patriots leading 17–10.
Miami's opening drive of the third quarter featured a pass interference penalty coupled with completions to Malik Washington and tight end Greg Dulcich that moved them into the red zone. On the following play, Ewers was intercepted by Patriots safety Jaylinn Hawkins in the end zone. New England converted the turnover into points, scoring on a 15-yard touchdown reception by Stevenson to push the lead to 24–10.
Late in the third quarter, Stevenson added a 35-yard rushing touchdown, and Henderson scored again early in the fourth to make it 38–10, marking the final score of the evening.
Ewers finished 16-of-23 for 137 yards with one touchdown and one interception. Malik Washington accounted for Miami's lone touchdown and added 22 rushing yards, while Wease Jr. led the receivers with three catches for 44 yards. Defensively, Brooks paced the Dolphins with nine tackles, extending his league-leading total to 183 tackles on the season.
