The New England Patriots defeated the Miami Dolphins 24-19 in Week 8 of the 2026 NFL season, earning an important divisional victory and improving their footing in the AFC East standings.
New England's defense played a significant role in the win. The Patriots’ unit generated consistent pressure on Dolphins quarterback Malik Willis and recorded five sacks on the game. Despite the defensive production, the Patriots allowed Miami to make the contest competitive.
The Dolphins entered the matchup with a 1-5 record, while New England stood at 4-3, but Miami continued to challenge the Patriots throughout the game.
Nevertheless, Cory Durden and Gabe Jacas were among New England's standout defensive performers. Durden finished with 1.5 sacks, two tackles
for loss and three quarterback hits, while Jacas added 1.5 sacks of his own. Their contributions helped to disrupt Miami's offensive rhythm. The defensive effort also featured valued contributions from several other players, including Christian Gonzalez and Christian Elliss.
Dolphins quarterback Malik Willis completed 21-of-32 passes for 211 yards, two touchdowns and one interception. The Patriots defense also limited Miami to 74 rushing yards in the game and prevented the Dolphins from recording a rushing touchdown.
Here are the highest and lowest graded defensive players for the Patriots in their Week 8 win over the Dolphins, per Pro Football Focus:
Top five PFF graded players
- LB Robert Spillane - 80.4
- LB Dre’Mont Jones - 77.3
- CB Marcus Jones - 75.7
- LB Christian Elliss - 73.7
- S Kevin Byard - 72.3
Bottom five PFF graded players
- CB Charles Woods - 23.9
- DT Cory Durden - 49.4
- DT Christian Barmore - 50
- DL Leonard Taylor III - 56.6
- LB Gabe Jacas - 60.2
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This article originally appeared on Patriots Wire: Best and worst defensive PFF grades for Patriots in win over Dolphins
