So, you're looking for the score of the Miami Dolphins football game. Honestly, if you're a Fins fan, the news from the January 4 finale isn't exactly what you wanted to see on the ticker. The Miami Dolphins lost to the New England Patriots 38-10 in their final game of the 2025-2026 regular season.
It was a rough afternoon at Gillette Stadium. Basically, the game served as a microcosm of a season that started with high hopes and ended in a total tailspin. By the time the fourth quarter rolled around, the stadium was mostly just New England fans celebrating a dominant 14-3 season while Miami looked ready to head for the locker rooms and never look back.
Breaking Down the Miami Dolphins Score and Game Flow
The game wasn't even as close as that 38-10 score might suggest. New England came out swinging. TreVeyon Henderson punched in a five-yard touchdown run early to put the Patriots up 7-0, and Miami never really found an answer.
Drake Maye, the Patriots' young signal-caller, looked like an MVP candidate out there. He spent most of the day carved up the Dolphins' secondary. The real dagger? Rhamondre Stevenson. He found the end zone three separate times. Watching him glide through the Miami line was, quite frankly, exhausting for anyone wearing aqua and orange.
A Season-Ending Reality Check
Miami's only real highlight came from Quinn Ewers, who found Malik Washington for a two-yard touchdown. But that was a "too little, too late" kind of play. By then, the score was already lopsided.
- Final Score: Patriots 38, Dolphins 10.
- Miami's Final Record: 7-10.
- Playoff Status: Eliminated.
The Dolphins finished third in the AFC East. It’s a bitter pill. Especially when you consider that this team was supposed to be a juggernaut with Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle. Instead, they’re watching the playoffs from the couch for the second year in a row.
Why the Score of the Miami Dolphins Football Game Matters for 2026
The fallout from this specific game was immediate and massive. You've probably heard the rumblings, but the organization didn't waste any time. On January 8, 2026, the Dolphins officially relieved Mike McDaniel of his head coaching duties.
McDaniel finished his tenure in Miami with a 35-33 record. It’s wild how fast things change in the NFL. Two years ago, he was the offensive genius nobody could stop. Now? He’s looking for a new gig, potentially with the Browns if the rumors are true.
The Tua Situation
And then there's Tua Tagovailoa. He didn't even play in the finale. He was benched for the final three games in favor of the rookie Quinn Ewers. Tua recently told reporters during locker room cleanouts that he’s open to a "fresh start."
When a franchise quarterback says moving on would be "dope," you know the bridge is pretty much burned.
The financial side of this is a nightmare, though. Tua has a $56.4 million cap hit for 2026. If the Dolphins cut him, they’re looking at nearly $100 million in dead cap space unless they wait until after June 1. It’s a mess.
What’s Next for the Dolphins?
If you're checking the score of the Miami Dolphins football game to see when they play next, the answer is: not for a while. Their season is officially over. No wildcard round. No Super Bowl run. Just a lot of questions.
The team is currently in a massive transition phase. Champ Kelly took over as interim GM after Chris Grier was let go earlier in the season. Now, with the coaching spot vacant, the Dolphins are essentially a blank slate.
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Next Steps for Fans and Analysts:
- Monitor the Coaching Search: With McDaniel gone, Miami needs a leader who can fix a broken culture. Names like Ben Johnson or even defensive-minded options are already floating around.
- Watch the Tua Trade Market: If Miami truly wants to move on, they have to find a partner willing to swallow that contract. Keep an eye on teams like the Raiders or even the Giants.
- Focus on the Draft: Picking in the top half of the draft gives Miami a chance to reset, possibly looking at offensive line depth or a true franchise-shifting defender.
The 38-10 loss to the Patriots wasn't just a game; it was the end of an era in South Beach. Now, the real work begins in the front office.