FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — Tua Tagovailoa threw a go-ahead touchdown pass to Jaylen Waddle in the third quarter and Xavien Howard recovered a fumble in the fourth to help the Miami Dolphins hold on for a 17-16 win over the New England Patriots.
It was Miami's second straight win over the Patriots.
Tagovailoa also led the Dolphins to a win in the second meeting between the teams last season. Tagovailoa finished 16 of 27 for 202 yards, a touchdown and one interception.
Miami's win spoiled the debut of New England's Mac Jones, who became the first rookie quarterback to start for the Patriots since Drew Bledsoe in 1993.
![New England Patriots QB Mac Jones looks to pass vs. Miami Dolphins in 2021](https://ewscripps.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/0426c72/2147483647/strip/true/crop/3944x2629+0+0/resize/1280x853!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fewscripps-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F94%2F35%2F7c2d15ce4fd0a5c754a45c79b7f7%2Fap21256041239780.jpg)
Winslow Townson/AP
Jones was 29 of 39 for 281 yards and a touchdown.