The Patriots were 12 yards away from victory. Why stop running the ball?

Patriots

1st and 10. Just a minute left. 12 yards between the Patriots and the go-ahead score. Where was the running game?

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The Patriots were down five minutes when they had the ball at the Miami 12-yard line with 1:08 left in the game.

It was 1st-and-10, and New England had all three timeouts. They ran the ball effectively, averaging 7.9 yards per run. New England scored its only touchdown on a 33-yard run by Rhamondre Stevenson.

The running game has been the most promising part of the offense all season. That's what this Patriots team does best on that side of the ball.

They had four chances to do their best on offense, gain 12 yards and win the game. They broke up the run and threw four incomplete passes, which led to a turnover on downs.

Coach Jerod Mayo didn't give much of an explanation as to why they played so much passing at the end of that drive.

“There was a lot of conversation about that,” coach Jerod Mayo said. “We ended up throwing the ball. This is what we decided to do and ultimately it is my decision. I would say we averaged over seven yards per carry, I'm not sure, so that was definitely part of the discussion. We just couldn’t finish it.”

Running back Antonio Gibson, who carried the ball six times for 52 yards, was asked for his opinion on the lack of running plays during this series.

“I have no reaction,” Gibson said. “This is coach AVP and we are all behind him. This is our coach. He saw what he saw and his thought process was his thought process and we have to implement it no matter what he calls it.”

Gibson and Rhamondre Stevenson each had runs of 10 yards or longer during the 11-play, 53-yard drive. The Patriots did some positive things in the passing game on the drive, with Jacoby Brissett finding Ja'Lynn Polk and DeMario Douglas for first downs.

Polk nearly scored the go-ahead touchdown, but the referees overturned the decision and ejected Polk. It was a close call, but the right one, Mayo said.

The Patriots almost won, but the thought of being so close to victory and not giving the running game a chance from just 12 yards out sticks with me. They said running the ball and playing football physically was part of their identity.

So it was strange to see them completely get away with it with the game on the line, regardless of whether Polk stayed in the game or not.

Here are a few more thoughts from the campaign:

Penalties didn't help

Mayo had a simple message for his team after committing just one fewer penalty (12) than first downs from running or passing plays (13).

“We can’t do it,” Mayo said. “We preach about pre-snap and post-snap penalties all the time. It just wasn’t a good day.”

Mayo said the Patriots need to play smarter and that the mistakes weren't due to a lack of effort. He said that everyone, including himself, needs to get better.

“Yeah, the pre-snap stuff definitely bothers me,” Mayo said. “Look, we have guys, they're out there, they're trying their best, but at the same time, not to sound like a broken record, it's about execution, especially in critical situations.”

Brissett, whose 160 passing yards were his second-highest total of the season, said the Patriots need to cut down on their mistakes so the offense can make progress.

“Oh, sure. We do plays; We’re just shooting ourselves in the foot,” Brissett said. “We take one step forward and then 20 steps back.”

“We can't do that and until we do we will continue to be frustrated by the little things and you can't leave the game to the referees, that's not what football is about. “We have to play with good fundamentals and good technique and do the little things right.”

Fatigue was a factor

The Patriots gave up 12 of the Dolphins' 15 points in the second half.

Safety Marte Mapu recorded seven tackles in his first game back from injured reserve.

Miami had the ball nearly nine minutes longer than the Patriots and produced long drives that wore down New England.

“Yes, I know for a fact that fatigue played a role in this game,” Mayo said. “Remember Marte, this is his first game and he’s playing pretty much every snap.”

“I appreciate him doing that, but at the same time we have to be able to get off the field and move the ball offensively,” he added. “We have to win the time game with possession or at least be close to it, and they controlled that again.”

Rhamondre Stevenson responded well to his short bench press

Stevenson ended his four-game fumble streak after spending the opening series on the bench behind Gibson.

He ran for 89 yards and a touchdown on 12 touchdowns, his strongest performance since the Week 1 win at Cincinnati. His 33-yard touchdown, supported by strong blocks from Mike Onwenu and Kayshon Boutte, was a highlight.

Stevenson briefly left the game after suffering a blow to his calf, but decided to return. He said he doesn't expect the calf to be a problem in the future.

“I just felt the helmet right in my leg, actually right in my calf,” Stevenson said. “I just had to make sure I was good, and I was. I felt good to be back out there.”

Dell Pettus makes its first start

With both Jabrill Peppers and Kyle Dugger out, Patriots rookie Dell Pettus made his first NFL start.

Together with Daniel Ekuale, he achieved a total of nine tackles, including six solo tackles.

“It's definitely a shame that we weren't ahead in terms of the outcome of the game, but that's what we're training for,” Pettus said. “That’s why I practice, that’s why I learn and that’s why I stay current so that whenever my number is called, my teammates can have confidence in me and trust that I can do my job and perform for the team.”

“Well, I'm grateful for that, but defeat makes everything worse.”