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MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (AP) – When Antonio Brown celebrated his first touchdown with the New England Patriots by throwing himself into a luxury lodge in the front row, he did not linger.
The Patriots had a job to finish.
Determined to play the last shot after a miraculous comeback in Miami last year, the Patriots beat the Dolphins 43-0 on Sunday.
THE SCORE OF THE BOX: PATRIOTS 43, DOLPHINS 0
Coach Bill Belichick had Tom Brady toss at the end.
"We're playing 60 minutes," Belichick said.
The Pats did that. They scored twice on interception returns in two minutes in the fourth quarter and recorded their first shutout since the third week of 2016.
Brown helped to send them away. The Patriots were the favorites with 18 points, but led only 7-0 at the end of the first period before Brady reached his new target with a score of 20 yards.
They logged in four times in all.
"It was a good start," said Brady. "I was just trying to find an open guy, he was on a road and did a great job."
Brown, who signed on Monday, captured 18 yards in his first game and had 56 yards rushing in the first period. He won praise from his teammates for his debut.
"It was great," said receiver Julian Edelman. "A lot of energy – it's a playmaker."
Brown did not talk to reporters after the match. The NFL has cleared the four-time All Pro receiver to play despite a civil lawsuit filed Tuesday by his former coach, accusing him of having sexually assaulted him three times. Brown denied the allegations.
New England's defense dominated Miami with interceptions for 54-yard touchdowns by Stephon Gilmore and 69 yards for Jamie Collins Sr.
"The defense was spectacular," said Brady.
He threw for 264 yards and two goals 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 the second time only since 2012, with a combined loss of 102-10.
"It's never fun to be embarrassed," said quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick, "particularly two weeks in a row at home."
Fitzpatrick pitched for 89 yards and was intercepted three times. He will remain the starter for the third week, said rookie coach Brian Flores.
WITHOUT MERCY
Belichick did not let go against Flores, his former assistant. The Brady Pass triggered a 59-yard run for the final touchdown with 2 minutes 10 seconds left.
"Last year we had 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 the second time only on their last seven trips to Miami and took revenge for a loss in 2018 on a last-second pass and a double-side.
Brady tied George Blanda for the second best result of the regular season in the NFL with 209. Adam Vinatieri started the weekend with 215 wins.
HOW ARE YOU?
Brown celebrated his touch by jumping on the seats, where he landed on an 18-year-old student wearing a Brady jersey.
"I was really excited," said spectator Jenna Saadah, assistant at her first football game. "The fact that it was the Patriots team that scored a touchdown was amazing."
INJURY
The Patriots' offensive line was hit again by left tackle Isaiah Wynn, who had started off in the first half with a foot injury. Marshall Newhouse has replaced it.
DEFENSE DEGRUNI
Minkah Fitzpatrick started in safety for the Dolphins even though he asked and obtained permission to seek an exchange. He made six tackles.
BAD DAY
Patriots kicker Stephen Gostkowski missed two more points and a 48-yard field goal. He missed three more points in the last two seasons, all in Miami.
NEXT
The Patriots welcome the Jets next Sunday. New England has won the last six meetings.
The Dolphins continue their run down Sunday at the Dallas Cowboys, who have won their last three meetings.
"There will be no one in this league who will be sorry for us," Fitzpatrick said. "So we must continue to try to improve every day."
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More NFL AP: https://apnews.com/NFL and https://twitter.com/AP–NFL
Associated Slideshow: Best of the NFL 2019 Season (Provided by imagn)
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