In Week 18, Drake Maye led the New England Patriots to a 38-10 win over the Miami Dolphins at home. It was a disappointing 7-10 finish for the Dolphins’ regular season. Adding more woes to their loss, the NFL has announced a fine against linebacker Tyrel Dodson over his Week 18 incident.

Per the league’s Gameday Accountability stats, almost 368 plays ended with fines. And the Dolphins were ranked No. 12 in the most fined teams list of the regular season. The total fine for the franchise was recorded to be around $297,000. Add Dodson’s $11,593 more to that figure for unnecessary roughness due to a facemask violation in the final weekend.

With 1:56 left in the second quarter, Dodson closed in on Drake Maye’s running back, TreVeyon Henderson. As the tackle attempt was made, his hand caught the facemask. That single grab instantly drew a flag, moving the ball 15 yards and later bringing extra punishment from the league.

According to league rules, he can appeal the fine if he wants. If he does, the case will be “heard by appeals officers and former NFL players Derrick Brooks, Ramon Foster, or Jordy Nelson, who are jointly appointed and paid by the NFL/NFLPA. The decisions made are final and binding.” For now, the call rests with him.

Dodson wasn’t the only one who was fined by the NFL after Week 18. Eagles safety Sydney Brown was forced to pay up a staggering $46,371 for an unnecessary roughness infraction. The incident was not caught on the live game camera during the Eagles’ loss to the Washington Commanders. It was the largest fine of Brown’s career and the maximum among the 23 players the league fined from Week 18.

As for the Dolphins, the penalty to Dodson was a reflection of a larger issue.  Throughout the game, Dodson and his men struggled to slow down Drake Maye and the Pats offense. In the third quarter alone, New England outscored Miami by 14 points. In fact, Dodson later admitted he was baffled by the team’s third-quarter issues, as the Dolphins were outscored 130-27 in the third quarter this season. This was one of the worst third quarter performances in the NFL in 2025.

“We just have had troubles all year. That second half, especially that third quarter. We gotta figure out a way to come out of halftime faster,” he said after the game.

On the other side, the mood at Foxborough is completely different. Pats Nation is celebrating, especially with Drake Maye earning a major honor that signals brighter days ahead.

Patriots stars receive major accolades before playoff clash

Quarterback Drake Maye and returner Marcus Jones landed on the All-Pro Second Team for the 2025 season, a clear sign that something special is building at Gillette Stadium. Maye racked up some incredible stats this season.

He stayed in the MVP race after piling up 4,394 passing yards, 31 touchdowns, and only throwing eight interceptions. Overall, he led the entire league with a sharp 72 percent completion rate and a 113.5 passer rating, numbers that turned heads well beyond New England.

The conversation around Maye did not stop there. Experts felt that he had a real case for a First-Team spot. Even so, earning Second-Team All-Pro recognition this early in his career still carries serious weight. It shows respect from voters and confirms that his breakout season was no fluke.

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Meanwhile, Marcus Jones was recognized for his electric performance as a punt returner. As a return man, he was electric. His All-Pro nod came from elite punt return play, where he totaled 363 yards and two scores on just 21 returns. Along the way, he flipped games with an 87-yard return against the Panthers and a jaw-dropping 94-yarder versus the Giants, moments that lifted the entire sideline.

These accolades signal a rising young core in New England, but the team must now shift its focus to the Wild Card matchup against the Los Angeles Chargers, where they’ll need to prove their regular-season success translates to the playoffs.