Patriots wide receiver Julian Edelman shined in yesterday's 38-7 trouncing of the Miami Dolphins, inside a balmy Gillette Stadium. With starting receivers Wes Welker and Deion Branch and tight end Aaron Hernandez inactive, the second-year Edelman came up with two catches in the first quarter--one a career-long 40-yarder--that set up running back BenJarvus Green-Ellis's 1-yard touchdown. Then just before the half, Edelman returned a punt 94 yards for a touchdown and gave New England the 24-0 leading going into intermission.
Read about Edelman's play-making ability in the *Boston Globe*. Read a similar story in the *Boston Herald*. And read about Edelman's return, which a broke a franchise record set in 1989, on *ESPNBoston.com*.
Also picking up the inactive slack was one Rob Gronkowski, the rookie tight end who caught six passes for 102 yards, a touchdown, and the Patriots rookie record for TDs caught by a TE. Read about Gronk in the *Herald*.
Read about the road to BenJarvus Green-Ellis's 1,000-yard mark in the *Boston Herald*. Read a similar story in the *Boston Globe*. *ESPNBoston.com* also marks the milestone.
Patriots backup quarterback Brian Hoyer took some snaps in yesterday's win, including his first career touchdown pass, a 42-yarder to Brandon Tate in the third quarter. Read about how Hoyer filled Brady's big shoes for a few plays in the *Boston Globe*. Read a similar story in the *Boston Herald*.
Patriots running back Danny Woodhead sustained a concussion in yesterday's game, on a low-note running play, which also ended the Patriots no-turnover streak over seven consecutive games. Read about the third-year back's condition in the *Boston Globe* notebook.
For the most part, however, the Patriots exited the regular season unscathed and in quite impressive fashion. Read more about the Patriots' record-setting performances in the *Boston Globe*. Read a similar story in the *Boston Herald*.
And now they're in the "driver's seat," en route to the playoffs, writes the *Boston Herald*.
New England's first playoff game will be Sunday, Jan. 16, at 4:30 p.m. at Gillette Stadium.
