Maye accounts for 3 TDs and Patriots top Dolphins 33-27 for Vrabel's 1st win as New England coach

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (AP) — Antonio Gibson burst through the Miami Dolphins' coverage unit on a kick return and dived into the end zone while New England coach Mike Vrabel excitedly chased him almost the entire way down the Patriots' sideline.

Gibson, whose 90-yard score helped the Patriots beat the Dolphins 33-27 on Sunday for Vrabel's first win as coach of the team he starred for as a player, had no idea Vrabel was running nearly in step with him. When he found out after the game, he was ready with a zinger.

“If he almost caught me then I need to run faster,” Gibson said.

Second-year quarterback Drake Maye threw for two touchdowns and rushed for another to help lead the Patriots top their AFC East rival for the first time since 2022. Running back Rhamondre Stevenson finished with 142 total yards — five catches for 88 yards and 11 carries for 54.

Maye completed 19 of 23 passes for 230 yards. He had an 8-yard TD pass to former Dolphin Mack Hollins and a 16-yard scoring toss to Kayshon Boutte.

“It took everybody,” Maye said. “That’s the biggest thing. It took everybody — special teams, offense, defense, trainers, everybody that helps us out. I’m proud of our guys for sticking with it. So many ebbs and flows of the game. Just proud of the guys, that one feels good.”

The Dolphins took a 27-23 lead midway through the fourth when Malik Washington returned a punt 74 yards for a touchdown. Before Miami fans were even done celebrating the play, Gibson took the ensuing kickoff to the house to give the Patriots a three-point lead.

Linebacker Marte Mapu intercepted Tua Tagovailoa on Miami's next drive, and Maye drove the Patriots into field-goal range to set up a 53-yarder by Andy Borregales, who had missed two extra points earlier.

“There’s a lot of things out there that we have to do better, but we didn’t pout, we didn’t drop our head,” Vrabel said. “We went on to the next play, and we kept competing and I appreciate that. We’ve got to learn how to compete and believe that we can come down here and win football games, and I think they did.”

Miami's final drive was doomed by operational issues and penalties. Tagovailoa was sacked on fourth-and-12, and the Dolphins fell to 0-2 for the first time under Mike McDaniel.

“That was really frustrating," Tagovailoa said. "It was frustrating with the communication, with the guys inside the huddle and then what the personnel is, then the play for those guys. Do we have too many guys in, why do we have another guy running in? Just the whole operation of that was not up to standard, was not up to par and I’ve got to do a better job with our guys in that sense.”

Tagovailoa completed 26 of 32 passes for 315 yards. He threw an 18-yard touchdown pass to Jaylen Waddle and a 29-yard TD pass to De'Von Achane. Tyreek Hill caught six passes for 109 yards, including a 47-yard catch in the third quarter — the star receiver's first reception of more than 30 yards since last season's opener.

After an embarrassing season-opening loss at Indianapolis, the Dolphins again came out flat, punting on their opening possession and falling behind 12-0 in the first quarter. Fans booed after Tagovailoa nearly threw an interception on the opening drive, and many headed for the exits after Miami's failed fourth-down conversion late in the game.

“The fans pay money, their hard-earned money to come and see their team play,” Tagovailoa said, "and we go out there and we don’t look the part as we have previous years. So it’s all understandable, and it comes with the game. You get the boos, you get the cheers. It’s like anything else, you get the highs, you get the lows. But for us mentally as players, we’ve got to stay even-keeled. We’ve got to stay together. We’ve got to continue to trust one another and build off of whatever this game was.”

The Dolphins couldn't stop Maye and the Patriots early on, giving up scores on New England's first three drives and extending a dubious season-opening streak of possessions without a stop to 10. The Colts scored on all seven drives in Week 1.

That streak ended with a kneel-down at the end of the first half, and the Dolphins forced their first punt of the season on the Patriots' first drive of the second half.

Dolphins: LB Chop Robinson went down in the fourth grabbing at his left knee but jogged off the field.

Patriots: Host Pittsburgh next Sunday.

Dolphins: Visit Buffalo on Thursday night.

AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl

New England Patriots' Antonio Gibson talks after an NFL football game against the Miami Dolphins Sunday, Sept. 14, 2025, in Miami Gardens, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

Miami Dolphins' Malik Washington gets past New England Patriots punter Bryce Baringer for a touchdown on a punt return during the second half of an NFL football game Sunday, Sept. 14, 2025, in Miami Gardens, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

Miami Dolphins' Tyreek Hill gets past New England Patriots' Mack Hollins on a punt return during the second half of an NFL football game Sunday, Sept. 14, 2025, in Miami Gardens, Fla. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)

Miami Dolphins' Tua Tagovailoa drops back during the half of an NFL football game against the New England Patriots Sunday, Sept. 14, 2025, in Miami Gardens, Fla. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)

New Englan Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel reacts during the second half of an NFL football game against the Miami Dolphins Sunday, Sept. 14, 2025, in Miami Gardens, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

New England Patriots' Drake Maye gets past Miami Dolphins' Matthew Judon for a touchdown run during the second half of an NFL football game Sunday, Sept. 14, 2025, in Miami Gardens, Fla. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — The Eagles need a new offensive coordinator.

Ask most fans, commentators — and, privately, some players — and the change from Kevin Patullo was inevitable long before Philadelphia actually made the move this week in the wake of a playoff loss.

There's a “help wanted” sign for the new boss of an offense — one loaded with elite talent such as Jalen Hurts, Saquon Barkley, A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith — that fell way short as the Eagles failed in their bid to win consecutive Super Bowl titles.

Coach Nick Sirianni and general manager Howie Roseman were vague on details Thursday about why they waited until the end of the season to make the move — the Eagles ranked 24th in yards per game (311) and 19th in points per game (19.3) — and less clear on what they wanted out of a new coordinator.

“You’re looking to continue to evolve as an offense, and I’m looking to bring in the guy that’s going to best help us do that,” Sirianni said. “I think that there are many different ways to be successful on offense and everybody has different styles, everybody has different players, and there’s many different ways to be successful.”

The Eagles have plenty of credible candidates to choose from — everyone from Josh McCown and Cam Turner to former NFL coaches Brian Daboll, Mike McDaniel and Kliff Kingsbury. The new OC could have complete autonomy to run the offense, though collaboration has been key under Sirianni.

No matter the coordinator, the Eagles expect to be contenders again after playing in two of the last four Super Bowls. Just winning an NFC East title doesn't cut it these days in Philly.

“If it doesn’t end with confetti falling on our heads, I don’t feel like it’s good enough,” Roseman said. “I know that we’re not going to win the Super Bowl every year. I think I know that from a broad perspective, but I believe we can. I go into every offseason thinking we’re going to do whatever it takes to win a Super Bowl.”

Two-time All-Pro offensive tackle Lane Johnson has built a Hall of Fame-level career and won two Super Bowls since the Eagles made him a 2013 first-round pick.

Retirement talk was a hot topic for most of the season.

Johnson turns 36 in May and did not play after Week 11 because of a foot injury. He did not talk to the media this week when the Eagles cleaned out their lockers.

Roseman kept private his conversation with Johnson about retirement. Johnson reworked his contract last May and is signed through 2027.

“You're talking about a Hall of Fame player who’s been a huge, huge part of any of our success that we’ve had, and when you watch him play, he’s still playing at an elite level,” Roseman said.

Brown is likely staying put.

While he isn't shy about airing his grievances, the wide receiver is often worth the distractions because of his production.

Just not this season.

Brown had 78 receptions (down from 106 in 2023) for 1,003 yards (he had 1,496 in 2022) and only five 100-yard games. Of course, some of that dip in production resulted from how he was used in Patullo's offense. The changes ahead are one reason why the Eagles are in no rush to give up on the 28-year star — along with the $43 million dead salary cap hit they'd take if Brown wasn't on the roster.

“It is hard to find great players in the NFL and A.J.’s a great player,” Roseman said. “I think from my perspective, that’s what we’re going out and looking for when we go out here in free agency and in the draft is trying to find great players who love football, and he’s that guy. I think that would be my answer.”

Special teams coach Michael Clay had a virtual interview Thursday for the same job with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Sirianni also hasn't ruled out Patullo staying on the staff in a different role.

“I know Kevin’s going to have other opportunities, and obviously always want what’s best for Kevin and for his family, so we’ll see how that plays out,” Sirianni said.

Patullo could want a fresh start after his house was egged earlier this season and one area indoor golf establishment let fans hit golf balls into a photo of his face after the playoff loss.

AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl

Philadelphia Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni speaks with the media during a news conference at the NFL football team's training facility, Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Chris Szagola)

Philadelphia Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni speaks with the media during a news conference at the NFL football team's training facility, Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Chris Szagola)

Philadelphia Eagles executive vice president and general manager Howie Roseman, left, looks over as head coach Nick Sirianni, right, speaks with the media during a news conference at the NFL football team's training facility, Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Chris Szagola)

Philadelphia Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni, right, and executive vice president and general manager Howie Roseman, left, speaks with the media during a news conference at the NFL football team's training facility, Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Chris Szagola)

Philadelphia Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni speaks with the media during a news conference at the NFL football team's training facility, Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Chris Szagola)