Pats enjoy Fish Chowdah, win 23-16

Well it wasn't pretty but the Patriots will take a win in Miami any time they can get it. The Pats won for only the 2nd time in the last 8 trips to South Beach, and Bill Belichick improved to 2-4 at the Dolphins home since he became the Patriots head coach.

Both teams had a brutal 1st half, with the Pats doing little right but punting the ball. The Dolphins, when they did move the ball, showed why they were 3-5 entering the game, giving up opportunities with a missed field goal and a fumble inside the Patriots 15-yard line. Thanks to some heads-up play by Teddy Bruschi's deflection of a would-be touchdown the Pats only trailed 7-3 at half. The surprise of the 1st half, and the game, was the play of newly acquired Heath Evans (44). Evans carried 17 times for 84 yards, which was more rushing yards than Miami's Ronnie Brown and Ricky Williams combined.

Troy Brown returned to the Patriots defense, filling in nicely, while making a few plays on Offense as well.

Tom Brady again struggled in Miami, where he threw 4 picks last season, getting picked off two more times Sunday. But again with the game on the line in the 4th he played his best. After going behind 16-15, Brady threw two passes, a 50+ yard connection with Tim Dwight followed by a touchdown to Ben Watson. Watson had two on the day. The two point conversion by Evans made it a 7 point game. The Pats D held on with a red zone stand, preserving the 23-16 win. All in all it was a very ugly game, but the Patriots have had an awful time winning in Miami, even during this "Dynasty" stretch. Your Uncle Buck was so pumped by Brady's TD pass in the 4th that he called for LT aka TT to grab him a brew, an action he had been avoiding all day after the previous night's events. UB had a pounding headache after hitting the town with LT and JC, then having Panda come over and chainsaw down a tree...In the end it was a hot bowl of Fish Chowdah that was the cure for UB...