The NFL never fails to deliver a timely stunner. A week filled with enthralling contests and meaningful results was capped off with what might have been the most stunning result of the year. The previously 10-2
New England Patriots fell to the division-rival
Miami Dolphins on Monday night in what was nothing short of a stunner.
The
Patriots had won eight straight games. The
Dolphins were losers in five of their preceding six contests. Yet, it wasn't just the final score of 27-20 going in favor of Miami that was utterly shocking, it was how it happened. Make no mistake: this was an authoritative, comprehensive win by the
Dolphinsin a game they controlled throughout.
Upsets of this magnitude aren't born of just result. It takes a full-on team effort to take down New England and the
Dolphins got just that. The
Dolphins got just that with each phase of the team taking it to New England, including perhaps the best performance of the 2017 season from
Jay Cutler. However, three factors loomed large throughout the game in their efforts to take down the longtime owners of the AFC East crown.
