Mac Jones saved all his "playing like a rookie" games for the end of his season. Interesting strategy. (I still say Young Mac has hit the proverbial wall ... no matter how many wall deniers are out there).

#Patriots standout DT Christian Barmore, who was carted off today, will have an MRI on his knee tomorrow, source said. The initial exams were promising, indicating no major injury. As we've seen, the MRI could tell a different story, but at first glance there is some good news.

#Patriots WR Kendrick Bourne can earn $750,000 in incentives today against the #Dolphins: $250K with 24 yards receiving to reach 800 $250K with 124 yards receiving to reach 900 $250K with 8 catches to reach 70 Bourne already has earned $500K in incentives.

Salute to the fan who came prepared with the string to lower the helmet … which Rhamondre Stevenson signs. pic.twitter.com/Kmkt8ZILpN

Brian Flores (4-2) now has the best record against Bill Belichick of any coach in the Belichick-Patriots era, per @ESPNStatsInfo

From @ESPNStatsInfo: Most rushing TDs in a Season – Patriots History 2016 LeGarrette Blount 18 2021 Damien Harris 15<< 1996 Curtis Martin 14 1995 Curtis Martin 14 << through 1st TD Sunday

Interesting to me that Bill Belichick didn't call for referee Alex Kemp during this timeout for a further explanation of the penalty on Brandon Bolden. He's instead been flipping through still pictures on the sideline.

Hunter Henry: "I don't think we lost any confidence. We know what we have in there." pic.twitter.com/rh7YH0nXrp

What a garbage pass interference penalty against Jalen Mills. Stop throwing flags on every jump ball

Kyle Van Noy: First to arrive at the stadium today, first to get to Tua on that key third-down stop.

Patriots injury update: OL Isaiah Wynn (ankle) is questionable to return.

Matthew Slater calls heads. The U.S. silver dollar comes up heads. Patriots win the toss and defer choice to second half. They will kick off to open the game. "Let's play football!" says referee Alex Kemp.

Wow. What a throw and catch from Mac Jones to Jakobi Meyers. That goes for 39 yards

Patriots inactives: RB J.J. Taylor, TE Devin Asiasi, QB Jarrett Stidham, LB Dont'a Hightower, S Kyle Dugger, CB Shaun Wade. This means WR N'Keal Harry is back on the game-day roster after a healthy scratch last week. Ditto for CB Joejuan Williams.

An illegal formation called on the #Patriots and Lawrence Guy kills a 3-and-out. The number of mistakes the Pats have made on special teams this year is mind-boggling.

Shaun Wade has been added to the Patriots injury report with an illness and will be inactive for #NEvsMIA

James White: not a fan of that DPI call on Jalen Mills twitter.com/SweetFeet_Whit…

Question: This team ready for the playoffs? Devin McCourty: "We don't have a choice. It starts next week. … if we have another performance like this, that's it." pic.twitter.com/wIxh91A5td

Nick Folk hasn't missed a field goal shorter than 50 yards since Week 1 of last season.

Looks like N'Keal Harry is returning to the lineup after being inactive last week. He's out here warming up, which indicates he'll be active.

Similar to last week, the Patriots are rotating at left guard, bringing on Mike Onwenu on this series in place of Ted Karras.

Those last 3 plays (in best David Andrews' voice): 'Mondre, 'Mondre, 'Mondre.

Messed up an alert on third-and-10 that ended with Bourne and (henry ??) next to each other followed by touchback by Jake Bailey for a net punt of 25 yards. That following a burned timeout after snap issues. Pats in final four games have been way less crisp than they oughta be.

Nelson Agholor is active and back in the lineup after missing the previous two games due to a concussion

Defensive starters for Patriots: OLB: Matthew Judon DT: Lawrence Guy DT: Davon Godchaux ILB: Kyle Van Noy ILB: Ja'Whaun Bentley OLB: Jamie Collins CB: J.C. Jackson CB: Jalen Mills CB: D'Angelo Ross S: Adrian Phillips S: Devin McCourty

And yes, the Texans brass does think very highly of Patriots OC Josh McDaniels. Nick Caserio and Jack Easterby know McDaniels well from their time together in New England. Caserio and McDaniels were teammates at John Carroll University.

Practice-squad safety Sean Davis, who was elevated to the roster for this game, is headed to the locker room for further evaluation after sustaining an injury.

Why didn't the Patriots elevate Kristian Wilkerson today? "You're only allowed two standard elevations." Wilkerson was out of standard elevations.

Riley Patterson is good from 34 yards and the Lions extend their lead to 16-13. #GBvsDET

JJ Taylor, Jarrett Stidham and Devin Asiasi are running sprints on the field. That means they'll be inactive today.

The New England Patriots ruled out linebacker Dont’a Hightower on Saturday ahead of their Week 18 matchup against the Miami Dolphins at Hard Rock Stadium. New England will need to lean on linebackers Ja’Whaun Bentley, Kyle Van Noy and Jamie Collins.

The Patriots also elevated three players from the practice squad on Saturday. Safety Sean Davis, defensive lineman Daniel Ekuale and cornerback D’Angelo Ross will be available on Sunday. Ekuale and Ross have been regular practice-squad elevations. Davis seems to be available in response to the team ruling out safety Kyle Dugger with a hand injury