Malik Willis struggles as Dolphins fall to Patriots 24-19

On Sunday at Hard Rock Stadium, the New England Patriots defeated the Miami Dolphins 24-19, according to Sun Sentinel. Despite building a 13-3 lead by halftime, the team could not hold off a furious second-half onslaught from the visitors. Quarterback Malik Willis was sacked five times and failed to sustain drives when the game was on the line.

In the second half, New England quarterback Drake Maye excelled after halftime, throwing for 146 yards and two touchdowns on 9 of 10 completions. The Dolphins finished just 7-of-14 on third downs and struggled to run the ball without rookie left guard Kadyn Proctor, who was out with a concussion. Miami's offense was limited to 19 points, with a late 35-yard touchdown pass to Kevin Coleman Jr. coming too late to secure the win.

Fantasy impact

Malik Willis's performance raises red flags for fantasy managers heading into Week 9 against the Detroit Lions. The quarterback was under constant pressure and only managed a 1-yard touchdown pass to Malik Washington before the half. The offensive line, missing Kadyn Proctor, could not protect Willis, leading to five sacks that disrupted Miami's rhythm.

Running back Ollie Gordon II also faced a tough day, rushing for 69 yards on 19 carries for an average of 3.6 yards per attempt. The Dolphins' ground game was stifled by a Patriots defense that entered the week ranked No. 8 against the run. Even the late 11-yard run on the final drive did little to mask the overall inefficiency of the rushing attack.

What to do

Start Malik Willis with caution in your lineup for Sunday's game against the Lions. Willis showed flashes with a 35-yard strike to Kevin Coleman Jr., but the five sacks and low third-down conversion rate suggest he may struggle again. The Dolphins' offensive line issues will persist if rookie left guard Kadyn Proctor cannot return from his concussion.

Monitor the status of Kadyn Proctor before Sunday to see if the offensive line can stabilize. If the guard remains out, Willis and running back Ollie Gordon II may continue to face significant pressure against a Detroit defense that is likely to attack the line of scrimmage.