McDaniel era starts with a win, Dolphins top Patriots

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (AP) — After leading the Miami Dolphins on an unlikely turnaround last season, the Dolphins defense needed just one game to show that it might be one of the top units in the AFC East.

With a defensive touchdown, an interception, a forced fumble, the Dolphins defense dominated Sunday's season opener, shutting out the Patriots offense on all but one drive.

“I told the team last night: ‘This is still the defense’s team until proven otherwise,’” Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel said. “And they valued that. That was important to them when they heard that. They wanted to prove me right, and they sure did.”

Tua Tagovailoa passed for 270 yards and a touchdown, and the Dolphins provided an early look at their ability to contend in the division as they beat Bill Belichick and the New England Patriots 20-7.

Facing Belichick in a head coaching debut is never easy. But McDaniel, who was hired as the Dolphins head coach in February, made use of a talented defense and the speedy options he brought in during the offseason to extend Miami’s winning streak against the Patriots to four games.

Miami swept the Patriots in 2021, including a win in Foxborough in the season opener.

Second-year receiver Jaylen Waddle scored the Dolphins' first offensive touchdown, taking a fourth-down pass from Tagovailoa into the end zone for a 42-yard score at the end of the first half. Waddle caught four passes for 69 yards.

“I was glad to have him back,” McDaniel said of Waddle, who missed the preseason because of a quad injury. “I just wish we could have continued that momentum in the second half, but beggars can't be choosers.”

Tyreek Hill, making his Miami Dolphins debut after the team traded for him during the offseason, led Miami’s