AFC East Race Tightens as Dolphins Upset Patriots

This was supposed to be elementary. When the New England Patriots beat the Dolphins in Week 9, they were 6-2 and appeared ready to make a run at the Colts for the best record in the AFC. Four games later and they're now holding just a single game advantage over two teams who had been left for dead and on multiple occasions this season: the Miami Dolphins and the New York Jets.

The Patriots' loss in Miami Sunday afternoon was a pretty good parallel as to how their season has gone. They held a 21-10 lead just after halftime and looked to be in perfect control of the situation after an 81-yard touchdown pass from Tom Brady to Sam Aiken. Instead, their offense fell apart, having their final six drives result in zero points -- four punts and two Brady interceptions.

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"When you lose, it's an awful feeling,'' Brady said. "We're just not closing the game out when we have an opportunity.''

On the other side of the field, the Dolphins put together their most impressive aerial attack of the season and simply outbattled the Patriots. After having lost one prong of their two-pronged rushing attack, the Dolphins were forced to throw -- and throw they did.

Chad Henne absolutely obliterated his previous career high (241) with 335 passing yards. He also established new career highs in pass attempts and completions, as he connected on 29 of 52 throws. Davone Bess was his main target, catching 10 passes for 117 yards and a touchdown.

"If he [Dolphins coach Tony Sparano] wants to, we can throw all day,'' Henne said. "I love it. Put it in my hands in pressure situations."

Still, the big story here is the Patriots and their ever-shrinking one-game divisional lead. They Patriots wasted 448 yards of total offense due to two interceptions and a handful of costly penalties (they were penalized six times for 82 yards). This is a team who used to have a killer instinct -- to the point many complained about them piling on back in 2007 -- but Sunday they failed to put what appeared an inferior team away. Is it possible they've lost not only their swagger, but some of their confidence as well? A confident team finds a way to finish Sunday's game.

Of course, it shouldn't be difficult for the Pats to regain their swagger. They have a pretty soft upcoming schedule. They'll look to bounce back against the Carolina Panthers in Week 14, and then face the Bills, Jaguars and Texans. The only team there with a winning record is the Jags, and that game will be played in Foxboro.

For the Dolphins, the win today teamed with the Patriots' streak of futility has them just a game back after an 0-3 start. They do have to continue to work hard, though, because they travel to Jacksonville and Tennessee these next two weeks. We'll find out what they are made of before they get to close with Houston and Pittsburgh at home.

Meanwhile, the Jets are also only back a game and they get Tampa Bay and Atlanta these next two weeks.

Even if the Patriots don't ever lose the lead -- which they probably won't -- one thing is for sure: it's going to be a lot more interesting than we thought it would a month ago.