Patriots Rally Past Dolphins 24-19 After Vrabel Challenge Flips Williams TD

The New England Patriots beat the Miami Dolphins 24-19 on Nov. 1, 2026, scoring 21 second-half points after trailing 13-3 at the break, according to ESPN and the Associated Press. The win moves New England to 5-3 and drops Miami to 1-6, per The Boston Globe.

A listless first half in the rain

The Patriots looked sluggish for the first 30 minutes, and the Globe reports they allowed a Dolphins touchdown in the closing seconds of the half. Pats Pulpit put New England's halftime offense at just 97 yards. Drake Maye had only 53 passing yards before the break, the Globe says. The Globe notes the rain came down on and off through the first half at Hard Rock Stadium.

The challenge that flipped the game

The turning point came 5:37 into the third quarter. Maye found Kyle Williams for a 43-yard score, but the play was first ruled incomplete. Mike Vrabel threw the red flag, and officials overturned the call after replays showed Williams crossed the goal line before losing possession, per ESPN and the AP. The Globe adds that it was Williams' second touchdown of the season and the fifth of his career.

Maye then faked a pitch to Rhamondre Stevenson and kept it himself for a 2-yard touchdown with 59 seconds left in the third. That made it 17-13 and, according to ESPN and the AP, gave him at least three total touchdowns in a fifth straight game.

Byard's first as a Patriot

Early in the fourth quarter, Malik Willis' pass hit the helmet of DaQuon Jones and ricocheted high into the air. Kevin Byard came down with it, per the Globe. Boston.com reports it was Byard's first interception in a Patriots uniform and the 37th of his career. He has led the league in interceptions twice, including last year, but had none with New England before Sunday. The Patriots entered the game with just seven takeaways in seven games, 20th in the NFL, per Pats Pulpit.

New England needed only 53 seconds to cash in. ESPN lists the score as a 48-yard pass from Maye to DeMario Douglas, which made it 24-13.

Miami's late push falls short

Willis hit Kevin Coleman Jr. for a 35-yard touchdown with 2:04 left, per Yahoo Sports, cutting the margin to 24-19. Miami then failed on its two-point try and could not recover the onside kick, Yahoo Sports reports. Stevenson recovered it and sealed the win with a 5-yard run on third-and-5 from the Miami 38, according to the Globe.

By the numbers

Maye finished 16 of 20 for 199 yards and two touchdowns, and added a rushing score on eight carries, per ESPN. The Patriots out-gained Miami 313-269, Yahoo Sports says. Willis went 21 of 32 for 211 yards with two touchdowns and an interception, and was sacked five times, per ESPN and the AP. New England played without A.J. Brown (knee/ankle), Mack Hollins (calf) and running back TreVeyon Henderson (illness).

For Miami, the loss came a week after a 28-25 win over the Jets, per Yahoo Sports. That win ended a five-game losing skid to open the season and was the first head-coaching victory for Jeff Hafley, who replaced Mike McDaniel in January.