The New England Patriots beat the Miami Dolphins 38-10 on January 4, 2026 at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough. The Dolphins vs Patriots match player stats show a game that never stayed close after halftime.
New England closed the regular season 14-3 and secured the AFC East title, while Miami finished 7-10 and closed out a second straight sub-.500 season. The Dolphins were missing tight end Darren Waller, wide receiver Jaylen Waddle and right tackle Austin Jackson on offense, plus linebacker Chop Robinson and safety Minkah Fitzpatrick on defense.
Rhamondre Stevenson scored three total touchdowns and Drake Maye threw for 191 yards, and New England’s rushing attack piled up 243 yards to put the game away in the second half.
Match Overview
| Detail | Information |
| Date | Sunday, January 4, 2026 |
| Venue | Gillette Stadium, Foxborough, Massachusetts |
| Competition | NFL Week 18, Regular Season |
| Final Score | New England Patriots 38, Miami Dolphins 10 |
| Attendance | 64,628 |
| Records After Game | Patriots 14-3, Dolphins 7-10 |
Pre-Match Context
New England entered the finale already needing a strong showing to chase the AFC’s top playoff seed after Denver had beaten the Los Angeles Chargers earlier that day. The Patriots had turned around from a 4-13 finish the year before under new coach Mike Vrabel, and a win over Miami locked in a 14-3 record and the No. 2 seed.
Miami had already been eliminated from playoff contention and was playing out the string under coach Mike McDaniel, who faced questions about his job security. The Dolphins benched veteran Tua Tagovailoa in favor of rookie Quinn Ewers two weeks earlier, and Ewers made his third career start and first career road start against New England.
Miami’s offense played without tight end Darren Waller, receiver Jaylen Waddle and right tackle Austin Jackson, while the defense was missing linebacker Chop Robinson and safety Minkah Fitzpatrick. New England got starting tackle Will Campbell and defensive tackle Milton Williams back from injury for the finale, and receiver Kayshon Boutte also returned to the lineup.
Quarter by Quarter Score
| Quarter | Dolphins | Patriots |
| 1st | 0 | 14 |
| 2nd | 10 | 3 |
| 3rd | 0 | 14 |
| 4th | 0 | 7 |
| Final | 10 | 38 |
First Quarter
New England scored on both of its first two possessions. TreVeyon Henderson capped a 70-yard drive with a 5-yard touchdown run, set up by a 56-yard Rhamondre Stevenson burst on the previous drive. On New England’s next possession, an 84-yard drive ended with Stevenson taking a direct snap for a 2-yard touchdown. Miami’s first two drives ended without points, one stalling on downs inside New England territory.
Second Quarter
Miami finally got on the board when Quinn Ewers found Malik Washington for a 2-yard touchdown pass, capping a 10-play, 65-yard drive. Riley Patterson added a 52-yard field goal to cut the deficit to four points with 28 seconds left in the half. New England answered immediately, and Andres Borregales drilled a 59-yard field goal as time expired to send the Patriots into halftime leading 17-10.
Third Quarter
New England pulled away in the third quarter. Drake Maye connected with Stevenson on a 15-yard touchdown pass to extend the lead to 24-10. Two drives later, Stevenson broke off a 35-yard touchdown run, his second rushing score of the day, making it 31-10. Miami’s only scoring chance of the quarter ended in an interception by safety Jaylinn Hawkins.
Fourth Quarter
TreVeyon Henderson scored his second touchdown of the game on a 2-yard run early in the fourth quarter, capping the scoring at 38-10. Maye had already exited the game by that point, with backup Joshua Dobbs finishing at quarterback. Quinn Ewers left the game late in the fourth quarter with a knee injury and was replaced by Zach Wilson.
Team Stats Comparison
| Category | Dolphins | Patriots |
| Total Net Yards | 180 | 457 |
| Passing Yards | 117 | 214 |
| Rushing Yards | 63 | 243 |
| Turnovers | 2 | 0 |
| Time of Possession | 29:11 | 30:49 |
Key Numbers That Decided the Game
New England’s rushing attack and Miami’s turnovers were the two biggest factors in the final score. The numbers below show how one-sided the statistical picture became after halftime.
- New England outgained Miami 457 to 180 in total net yards.
- The Patriots rushed for 243 yards against just 63 for the Dolphins, a 7.1 yards-per-carry average.
- Miami turned the ball over twice, an interception and a lost fumble, while New England had zero turnovers.
- Andres Borregales connected on a 59-yard field goal, the third longest in Patriots history.
- New England converted 4 of 5 red zone trips for touchdowns, an 80 percent rate, while Miami scored on just 1 of 3 red zone trips.
Full Box Score — Miami Dolphins
Quinn Ewers started at quarterback and completed 16 of 23 passes for 137 yards with one touchdown and one interception before exiting late with a knee injury. Jaylen Wright led the rushing attack, and Theo Wease Jr. and Greg Dulcich topped the receiving group. Linebacker Jordyn Brooks led the defense in tackles despite playing through a hamstring injury.
Passing
| Player | Comp/Att | Yards | TD | INT |
| Quinn Ewers | 16/23 | 137 | 1 | 1 |
| Zach Wilson | 0/2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Rushing
| Player | Carries | Yards | Average | TD |
| Jaylen Wright | 13 | 23 | 1.8 | 0 |
| Malik Washington | 2 | 22 | 11.0 | 0 |
| Ollie Gordon II | 9 | 9 | 1.0 | 0 |
| Quinn Ewers | 1 | 9 | 9.0 | 0 |
Receiving
| Player | Receptions | Yards | Average | TD |
| Theo Wease Jr. | 3 | 44 | 14.7 | 0 |
| Greg Dulcich | 3 | 31 | 10.3 | 0 |
| Tahj Washington | 2 | 26 | 13.0 | 0 |
| Jaylen Wright | 2 | 17 | 8.5 | 0 |
| Malik Washington | 3 | 6 | 2.0 | 1 |
| Julian Hill | 1 | 8 | 8.0 | 0 |
Kicking
| Player | FG (made/att) | XP (made/att) | Total Points |
| Riley Patterson | 1/1 | 1/1 | 4 |
Returns
| Player | Returns | Yards | Average |
| Malik Washington (KR) | 2 | 54 | 27.0 |
| Malik Washington (PR) | 1 | 2 | 2.0 |
Defense (Top Players by Tackles)
| Player | Tackles | Sacks | Key Play (INT/PD/FR) |
| Jordyn Brooks | 9 | 0.0 | — |
| Dante Trader Jr. | 6 | 0.0 | — |
| Ifeatu Melifonwu | 5 | 0.0 | — |
| Ashtyn Davis | 5 | 0.0 | — |
| Rasul Douglas | 3 | 0.0 | — |
| Jack Jones | 4 | 0.0 | — |
| Zach Sieler | 3 | 0.0 | — |
| Cameron Goode | 1 | 0.0 | — |
Full Box Score — New England Patriots
Drake Maye completed 14 of 18 passes for 191 yards and a touchdown before giving way to Joshua Dobbs in the fourth quarter. Rhamondre Stevenson accounted for three total touchdowns, two rushing and one receiving, and TreVeyon Henderson added two rushing scores of his own.
Hunter Henry and Stefon Diggs led the receiving group, with Diggs crossing 1,000 receiving yards for the season on his 34-yard catch in the third quarter.
Passing
| Player | Comp/Att | Yards | TD | INT |
| Drake Maye | 14/18 | 191 | 1 | 0 |
| Joshua Dobbs | 3/4 | 23 | 0 | 0 |
Rushing
| Player | Carries | Yards | Average | TD |
| Rhamondre Stevenson | 7 | 131 | 18.7 | 2 |
| TreVeyon Henderson | 13 | 53 | 4.1 | 2 |
| Drake Maye | 5 | 41 | 8.2 | 0 |
| D’Ernest Johnson | 5 | 13 | 2.6 | 0 |
| Kyle Williams | 1 | 5 | 5.0 | 0 |
Receiving
| Player | Receptions | Yards | Average | TD |
| Hunter Henry | 5 | 56 | 11.2 | 0 |
| Stefon Diggs | 3 | 43 | 14.3 | 0 |
| Efton Chism III | 1 | 35 | 35.0 | 0 |
| DeMario Douglas | 2 | 29 | 14.5 | 0 |
| Kayshon Boutte | 2 | 24 | 12.0 | 0 |
| Rhamondre Stevenson | 2 | 22 | 11.0 | 1 |
| Austin Hooper | 1 | 5 | 5.0 | 0 |
Kicking
| Player | FG (made/att) | XP (made/att) | Total Points |
| Andres Borregales | 1/2 | 5/5 | 8 |
Returns
| Player | Returns | Yards | Average |
| D’Ernest Johnson (KR) | 2 | 51 | 25.5 |
Defense (Top Players by Tackles)
| Player | Tackles | Sacks | Key Play (INT/PD/FR) |
| Christian Elliss | 8 | 0.0 | — |
| Jahlani Tavai | 8 | 1.0 | — |
| Anfernee Jennings | 4 | 0.0 | — |
| Christian Barmore | 3 | 1.0 | — |
| Carlton Davis | 3 | 0.0 | — |
| Christian Gonzalez | 4 | 0.0 | — |
| Marcus Jones | 2 | 1.0 | — |
| Craig Woodson | 4 | 0.0 | — |
Game Leaders / Top Performers
Rhamondre Stevenson was the biggest factor in the outcome, rushing for 131 yards and two touchdowns on just seven carries while adding a third touchdown as a receiver. His 56-yard run on New England’s opening drive and his 35-yard touchdown run in the third quarter were the two longest plays of the game.
Drake Maye ran the offense efficiently, completing 14 of 18 passes for 191 yards and a touchdown before New England pulled him in the fourth quarter with the outcome decided. TreVeyon Henderson scored twice on short rushing touchdowns and gave New England a second reliable option in the run game.
On the Dolphins side, Quinn Ewers threw for 137 yards and a touchdown in his first career road start, completing eight of his first nine passes before New England’s defense tightened up.
| Player | Team | Stat Line |
| Rhamondre Stevenson | Patriots | 7 car, 131 yds, 2 TD rush; 2 rec, 22 yds, 1 TD |
| Drake Maye | Patriots | 14/18, 191 yds, 1 TD passing |
| TreVeyon Henderson | Patriots | 13 car, 53 yds, 2 TD rush |
| Quinn Ewers | Dolphins | 16/23, 137 yds, 1 TD, 1 INT |
Starting Lineups
Both teams started their regular quarterbacks, and New England got tackle Will Campbell and defensive tackle Milton Williams back into the lineup after injury absences. Miami’s game plan leaned on Jaylen Wright at running back with Quinn Ewers under center for his first road start.
| Position | Dolphins | Patriots |
| QB | Quinn Ewers | Drake Maye |
| RB | Jaylen Wright | Rhamondre Stevenson |
| WR | Theo Wease Jr. | Stefon Diggs |
| TE | Greg Dulcich | Hunter Henry |
| K | Riley Patterson | Andres Borregales |
| P | Jake Bailey | Bryce Baringer |
Injury Report
Miami’s absences on both sides of the ball shaped the game plan and limited the Dolphins’ ability to stay competitive. Ewers played through the fourth quarter before a knee injury forced him out, and Malik Washington briefly left with a thumb injury before returning.
| Player | Injury | Status |
| Darren Waller (MIA) | Groin | Out |
| Jaylen Waddle (MIA) | Ribs | Out |
| Austin Jackson (MIA) | Back/groin | Out |
| Chop Robinson (MIA) | Concussion | Out |
| Minkah Fitzpatrick (MIA) | Calf | Out |
| Jordyn Brooks (MIA) | Hamstring | Played |
| Malik Washington (MIA) | Thumb | Left game, returned |
| Theo Wease Jr. (MIA) | Concussion evaluation | Evaluated in 4th quarter |
| Quinn Ewers (MIA) | Knee | Left game late in 4th quarter |
Season Series and Head to Head
New England swept the season series from Miami for the first time since 2016, winning both meetings in 2025. The Patriots beat the Dolphins 33-27 in Miami in Week 2 before completing the sweep with the 38-10 win in Foxborough.
| Date | Location | Result |
| September 14, 2025 | Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens | Patriots 33, Dolphins 27 |
| January 4, 2026 | Gillette Stadium, Foxborough | Patriots 38, Dolphins 10 |
Conference Standings
New England finished atop the AFC East at 14-3 and earned the No. 2 seed in the AFC playoffs, while Miami finished last in the division at 7-10 and missed the postseason.
| Team | Record | Win % | Points For | Points Against |
| New England Patriots | 14-3 | .824 | 490 | 320 |
| Buffalo Bills | 12-5 | .706 | 481 | 365 |
| Miami Dolphins | 7-10 | .412 | 347 | 424 |
| New York Jets | 3-14 | .176 | 300 | 503 |
Broadcast and Stream Information
| Category | Details |
| TV Network | FOX |
| Venue | Gillette Stadium, Foxborough, MA |
| Referee | Clay Martin |
| Kickoff Time | 4:25 p.m. ET |
Conclusion
The result closed out contrasting seasons for the two AFC East rivals. New England finished 14-3, completed a worst-to-first turnaround under Mike Vrabel, and secured the No. 2 seed for a home wild-card game against the Los Angeles Chargers.
Rhamondre Stevenson’s three-touchdown performance and a 243-yard rushing effort put the game away by halftime and carried into the second half. Miami closed a second straight sub-.500 season at 7-10, with injuries across both lines of the roster limiting its ability to keep pace.
Quinn Ewers gained valuable experience in his first road start despite the loss, while the Dolphins turn their attention to an offseason that could bring significant changes to the coaching staff and roster.
FAQ
What was the final score of Miami Dolphins vs New England Patriots?
The New England Patriots defeated the Miami Dolphins 38-10 on January 4, 2026 at Gillette Stadium in the final week of the regular season.
Who led the Patriots in rushing against the Dolphins?
Rhamondre Stevenson led New England with 131 rushing yards and two touchdowns on just seven carries, averaging 18.7 yards per attempt.
How many touchdowns did Rhamondre Stevenson score in the game?
Stevenson scored three total touchdowns, two on the ground and one as a receiver on a 15-yard pass from Drake Maye.
Why did Quinn Ewers leave the game for Miami?
Ewers left late in the fourth quarter with a knee injury after completing 16 of 23 passes for 137 yards, and Zach Wilson replaced him.
What did this result mean for the playoff picture?
The win gave New England a 14-3 record and the AFC East title, securing the No. 2 seed to host the Los Angeles Chargers in the wild-card round.
Did the Patriots complete a season sweep of the Dolphins?
Yes, New England beat Miami twice in 2025, first 33-27 in Week 2 and then 38-10 in Week 18, its first sweep of the Dolphins since 2016.
Which key players were missing for Miami in this game?
Miami was without tight end Darren Waller, receiver Jaylen Waddle, right tackle Austin Jackson, linebacker Chop Robinson and safety Minkah Fitzpatrick.
