Dolphins’ Run Game Falls Flat in Loss to Patriots

Dolphins’ Run Game Falls Flat in Loss to Patriots

Plenty of fans of the Miami Dolphins likely foresaw a rough collective performance on the ground on Sunday after it was revealed that running back De’Von Achane would miss the contest with a shoulder injury. Achane was, unquestionably, the Dolphins’ best player at the position this season and a premier NFL back. Despite missing the last game of the season, he still ended the 2025 campaign with 1,350 rushing yards.

Still, a lot of fans probably didn’t anticipate the Dolphins’ run game to struggle to the degree it did in the season finale. After all, Miami put together plenty of impressive team-wide rushing performances during its late-season turnaround.

But sans Achane to spearhead the ground-and-pound attack, Miami mustered a measly 63 rushing yards as a team. That marks one of the Dolphins’ lowest rushing yard totals in a game this season, as in only two other games did Miami finish with fewer yards.

Simply put, no single Dolphins running back stepped up their game in Achane’s absence. Second-year player Jaylen Wright led Miami with just 23 rushing yards, and it took him 13 carries to get there, meaning he averaged less than two yards gained per carry. Wright put a bow on his second NFL season with a highly underwhelming showing versus the New England Patriots, and nobody should be surprised if he’s playing for another team next season.

Considering the Dolphins’ run game faltered on Sunday, points were few and far between for the team against a Patriots squad that could win a Super Bowl early next year. Miami finished the contest with only 10 points on the board, and all of those points came in the second quarter. Quarterback Quinn Ewers connected with wide receiver Malik Washington for a touchdown, and then Riley Patterson nailed a 52-yard field goal to give the Dolphins their last score of the game.