MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. - When Tom Brady's day ended with an errant final pass, he hung his head, unsnapped his chin strap and looked up at the scoreboard, which summarized his frustrating afternoon.
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A late drive and the Patriots' latest comeback bid came up short Sunday, and they missed a chance to clinch their fifth consecutive AFC East title.
Brady was intercepted in the end zone on fourth down with 2 seconds left by Dolphins newcomer Michael Thomas. That was the last in a series of squandered scoring chances for the Patriots (10-4), and a miffed Brady answered only two questions at his postgame news conference before ending the session.
"We didn't do a good job in the red area, and didn't do a good job finishing drives," he said. "We came up on the short end of the stick. It wasn't a good day. Just couldn't make enough plays."
"We were short in every area," New England coach Bill Belichick said. "Nothing was really good enough."
Brady threw for 364 yards, but drives of 16, 15 and 13 plays produced a total of only six points.
With New England out of timeouts, Brady threw for the end zone four times in a row. The first three passes went incomplete, including one intended for Danny Amendola that Thomas broke up on first down.
Then, Thomas stepped in front of Austin Collie to make his interception. The reserve safety, signed Tuesday off the San Francisco 49ers' practice squad, was making his NFL debut.
"I knew being the new guy that Tom Brady would come after me," Thomas said. "He's a great quarterback, and he's going to exploit any weaknesses. I knew if I got in there, I would have a chance. I saw the ball in the air and I made a play."
Thomas was part of an injury-depleted secondary that also included backups at both cornerback spots on the final drive.
Brady went 34 for 55 and threw two scores. Julian Edelman made 13 catches for 139 yards, and Amendola added 10 receptions for 131 yards.
New England took a 20-17 lead when Edelman scored on a 24-yard reception with four minutes left, but the Dolphins caught a break when the ensuing kickoff by Stephen Gostkowski went out of bounds, allowing them to start at their 40.
Charles Clay kept the drive going when he turned a short pass into a 6-yard gain on fourth-and-5 at midfield, and Thigpen scored five plays later.
"They were in some tight situations, especially late in the game," Patriots cornerback Kyle Arrington said. "They just wanted it more."
New England, accustomed to slow starts, took a 10-0 lead on Michael Hoomanawanui's one-handed, 13-yard touchdown reception. But on other trips to the red zone, they missed tight end Rob Gronkowski, who suffered a season-ending knee injury a week ago.
The Patriots mounted drives of 16 and 15 plays but settled for a field goal each time, and Gostkowski misfired on a field-goal try for only the third time this year when he sailed a 48-yard attempt wide left.
"Today just wasn't my day," Gostkowski said. "It stinks to play terrible and your team loses. It's like salt on the wound."
Notes: Patriots T Nate Solder aggravated a head injury in the second half and sat out rest of game. ... Dolphins DT Paul Soliai sat out the last three quarters with an ankle injury. CB Nolan Carroll (knee) was limited in the second half, and CB Brent Grimes (cramps) went to the sideline in the fourth quarter. ... The Dolphins botched a field-goal try when John Denney snapped the ball before holder Brandon Fields was ready, and the ball hit Fields in the facemask. ... Miami's seven home games have been decided by a total of 23 points.
Copyright 2013 by The Associated Press
