New England Patriots wide receiver Antonio Brown (17) smiles on the sidelines, during the second half at an NFL football game against the Miami Dolphins, Sunday, Sept. 15, 2019, in Miami Gardens, Fla. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)
MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — When Antonio Brown celebrated his first touchdown with the New England Patriots by vaulting into a first-row luxury box, he didn’t linger.
The Patriots had a job to finish.
Determined to play to the final gun after allowing a miracle comeback at Miami last year, the Patriots beat the Dolphins 43-0 Sunday.
Coach Bill Belichick had Tom Brady still throwing at the end.
“We’re playing 60 minutes,” Belichick said.
The Pats did that. They scored twice on interception returns in a two-minute fourth-quarter span, and registered their first shutout since Week 3 of 2016.
Brown helped get them going. The Patriots were 18½-point favorites but led only 7-0 late in the first half before Brady hit his newest target for a 20-yard score.
They connected four times in all.
“It was a good start,” Brady said. “I was just trying to find an open guy. He was snapping off some routes and did a great job.”
Brown, who signed Monday, made an 18-yard catch on his first play and finished with 56 yards receiving, all in the first half. He won raves from teammates for his debut.
“It was awesome,” receiver Julian Edelman said. “A lot of energy. He’s a playmaker.”
One thing Brown didn’t do was talk to reporters after the game. The NFL allowed the four-time All-Pro receiver to play despite a civil lawsuit filed Tuesday by his former trainer accusing him of sexually assaulting her on three occasions. Brown has denied the allegations.
New England’s defense outscored Miami with interception returns for touchdowns of 54 yards by Stephon Gilmore and 69 yards by Jamie Collins Sr. The Patriots totaled seven sacks and four interceptions and earned their most lopsided win in the 108-game history of the series.
“The defense was spectacular,” Brady said.
He threw for 264 yards and two scores for the Pats, who are 2-0 for the first time since 2016, winning by a combined score of 76-3.
The Dolphins are 0-2 for only the second time since 2012, with their losses by a combined score of 102-10.
“It’s never fun to be embarrassed,” Miami quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick said, “especially two weeks in a row at home.”
Fitzpatrick threw for 89 yards and was intercepted three times. Josh Rosen replaced him and went seven for 18 for 97 yards and one interception.
Coach Brian Flores hedged when asked if Fitzpatrick remains the starter.
“We’ll evaluate things over the course of the week,” Flores said, “and as of right now, Ryan is still the starter.”
NO MERCY
Belichick didn’t let up against Flores, his former assistant. Brady’s passing sparked a 59-yard drive for the final touchdown with 2:10 left.
“Last year it came down to 60 minutes of football,” Brady said. “We were talking about 60 minutes of football, and that’s what it took.”
The defending Super Bowl champions won for only the second time in their past seven trips to Miami, and avenged a loss in 2018 on a last-second pass and double lateral.
Brady tied George Blanda for the second-most regular-season wins in the NFL with 209. Adam Vinatieri began the weekend first with 215 wins.
HOW DO YOU DO?
Brown celebrated his touchdown by leaping into the seats, where he landed on an 18-year-old college student wearing a Brady jersey.
“I was really excited,” said the spectator, Jenna Saadah, attending her first football game. “The fact that it was the Patriots team that scored a touchdown, it was mind-blowing.”
INJURIES
The Patriots’ battered offensive line was dealt another blow when left tackle Isaiah Wynn left in the first half with a foot injury. Marshall Newhouse replaced him.
DISGRUNTLED DEFENDER
Minkah Fitzpatrick started at safety for the Dolphins even though he has requested and received permission to seek a trade. He made six tackles.
“There’s a saying: ‘I never lose, I just learn.’” Fitzpatrick said. “That’s just what we’ve got to do right now.”
BAD DAY
Patriots kicker Stephen Gostkowski missed two extra points and a 48-yard field-goal try. He has missed three extra points in the past two seasons, all in Miami.
UP NEXT
The Patriots play host to the Jets next Sunday. New England has won the past six meetings.
The Dolphins continue their race to the bottom Sunday at the Dallas Cowboys, who have won their past three meetings.
“There’s not going to be anybody in this league that’s going to feel sorry for us,” Fitzpatrick said. “So we have to continue to try to get better every day.”