Patriots vs Dolphins first quarter recap: Patriots lead 10-7

The Miami Dolphins are hosting the New England Patriots in the first game of the 2014 regular season. The first quarter is complete, with the score favoring New England at 10-7.

The game opened perfectly for the Dolphins, who won the coin toss but deferred to the second half. Tom Brady and the Patriots offense were unable to do anything with the ball, and were forced into a three-and-out punt. Dolphins undrafted rookie linebacker Chris McCain made his first impact play of his career on the punt, blocking it and setting up Miami with great field position.

On a four-play "drive" from the New England 15-yard line, Miami was able to find the endzone with a six-yard pass from quarterback Ryan Tannehill to running back Lamar Miller. The Dolphins took an early 7-0 lead.

The Patriots would not trail loing, engineering an 80-yard drive over 6:36 to tie up the score. The drive was highlighted by a 17-yard end-around from receiver Julian Edelman, but the majority of the 13 plays were short passes and runs, nickel-and-diming the Dolphins defense on their way to a 7-7 score line.

Miami would come out on their next drive, looking to keep up the offensive momentum. It would, however, be a short drive. After two good runs from Knowshon Moreno for a first down, the Dolphins were forced to use a time out. On first-and-ten after the break, Tannehill connected with wide receiver Mike Wallace on a short crossing route, only to have Wallace drop the ball on the hit and New England recover the fumble.

Miami's first injury of the day came late in the quarter as Dannell Ellerbe was forced from the game on the first play of the subsequent New England drive. The starting linebacker injured his hip and was listed as questionable for the rest of the game.

New England was forced into a field goal after the Wallace fumble, taking a 10-7 lead with the 47-yard kick from Stephen Gostkowski.

Miami has the ball as the quarter ends, with first-and-10 from the New England 47-yard line after a 22 yard pass from Tannehill to Wallace.

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