Patriots heading back to the film room after their latest lopsided loss

The New England Patriots entered Sunday’s matchup with the Miami Dolphins feeling like they were a team ready to turn a corner after a season’s worth of struggles.

A 34-15 loss in Miami revealed just how much more work is left to do before they can make that pronouncement.

Rookie quarterback Drake Maye struggled to make sense of things afterward but did make his own proclamation to his teammates.

“I told some guys, just remember this feeling of really getting our butts whooped today, and it’s only up from here,” Maye said.

There was plenty of bad football for the Patriots (3-9) to dwell on after losing for the third time in four games.

It starts with self-inflicted mistakes, most notably committing 10 penalties for 75 yards, that left the team playing catch-up throughout the game.

Maye completed 22 of 37 passes for 221 yards with 26 yards rushing but had a costly strip sack in the third quarter that led to a Miami score. It was his seventh turnover in three games.

There also are big issues to work out for a Patriots defense that allowed Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa to complete 29 of 40 passes for 317 yards and four touchdowns.

New England coach Jerod Mayo said his team entered this week prepared for some tough film sessions with only Sunday’s matchup against Indianapolis left before its bye week.

“Those are those hard meetings where you have to address the elephant in the room, but it’s no secret,” he said. “The good thing about the sport, it’s all recorded. You can go back and forth on it, but the film doesn’t lie.”

It seems insignificant right now, but it was encouraging to see Maye end the game on some positive notes after Miami took a 31-0 lead. On the Patriots’ next possession, Maye connected on deep passes to Demario Douglas and Hunter Henry before capping the drive with a 38-yard TD pass to Austin Hooper.

Offensive line. This week brought regression for a group that had found some consistency after starting Ben Brown (center), Vederian Lowe (left tackle), Michael Jordan (left guard), Mike Onwenu (right guard) and Demontrey Jacobs (right tackle) in consecutive games. It evaporated against a Dolphins defense that sacked Maye four times. For the day, New England’s O-line was whistled for seven of the team’s 10 penalties.

DE Christian Barmore. In his second game of the season, he notched his first sack, dropping Tagovailoa for a 2-yard loss in the third quarter. It’s a big milestone for Barmore, who was diagnosed with blood clots shortly after the start of training camp.

Lowe. He was whistled for four penalties in the first half on Sunday: three false starts and a hold. He also allowed Zach Sieler to beat him for a strip-sack on Maye late in the third quarter that set up the Dolphins’ final touchdown of the day.

The Patriots didn’t announce any injuries on Sunday. However, Lowe did seem to be bothered by a shoulder injury that limited his practice availability leading up to the game.

7 — The number of Dolphins' offensive plays that went for 15 or more yards against the Patriots.

The Patriots host the Colts on Sunday.

AP NFL coverage: https://apnews.com/hub/NFL

New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye grimaces during a news conference following an NFL football game against the Miami Dolphins, Sunday, Nov. 24, 2024, in Miami Gardens, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye (10) fumbles the ball under pressure from Miami Dolphins defensive tackle Zach Sieler (92) during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 24, 2024, in Miami Gardens, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

New England Patriots cornerback Christian Gonzalez (0) listens to a question during a news conference following an NFL football game against the Miami Dolphins, Sunday, Nov. 24, 2024, in Miami Gardens, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye (10) and Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa (1) meet at the end an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 24, 2024, in Miami Gardens, Fla. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)

New England Patriots tight end Hunter Henry (85) leaves then field at the end of the second half of an NFL football game against the Miami Dolphins, Sunday, Nov. 24, 2024, in Miami Gardens, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

HENDERSON, Nev. (AP) — Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Gardner Minshew is out for the rest of the season with a broken collarbone, coach Antonio Pierce said Monday.

Minshew was injured with 3:12 left in Sunday's 29-19 loss to the Denver Broncos.

Pierce will have to decide whether Aidan O'Connell or Desmond Ridder will start Friday's game at Kansas City.

O'Connell has been on injured reserve with a broken thumb but was designated to return to practice Monday. That gives the Raiders a three-week-window to decide when to activate him. Until that time, O'Connell will not count against the roster.

Having a short week complicates matters. Pierce said there wouldn't be any typical practices as a result, but there would be way to gauge whether O'Connell is ready to go. Pierce said he would make sure O'Connell would be able to grip the ball without pain.

“Putting a player out there who's hurting or injured still, that's not going to benefit the player or our team,” Pierce said.

O'Connell started the last half of last season as a rookie, guiding the Raiders to a 5-4 record over that time. He lost the starting job to Minshew in the preseason but got it back six games into the season. That's when he was injured a week later against the Los Angeles Rams.

The Raiders also could turn to Ridder, who replaced Minshew when he got hurt Sunday. Las Vegas signed Ridder off Arizona’s practice squad on Oct. 21. He started 13 games in Atlanta last season, passing for 2,836 yards and 12 touchdowns with 12 interceptions.

In relief of Minshew against the Broncos, Ridder completed 5 of 10 passes for 64 yards. He led the Raiders on a last-ditch drive, taking them to Denver's 1-yard line before the game ended.

“He's a competitor,” Pierce said. “Obviously, he was dealt a difficult hand. He was thrown in the fire with no reps, but he did move the ball downfield.”

The Raiders also could take a look at Daniel Jones, though Pierce threw some water on the idea, calling it the “third and fourth” option. Pierce said, however, that general manager Tom Telesco would do due diligence.

Jones was released Friday by the New York Giants. He was the sixth pick in the 2019 NFL draft and went 24-44-1 as the starter. The Giants signed Jones to a four-year, $160 million contract in March 2023.

“We'll see what happens by the end of the day,” Pierce said.

AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/NFL

Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Gardner Minshew (15) is assisted by trainers and Head Coach Antonio Pierce, right, after an injury during the second half of an NFL football game against the Denver Broncos, Sunday, Nov. 24, 2024, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)

Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Gardner Minshew (15) is helped off the field after an injury against he Denver Broncos during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 24, 2024, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)