The last time the Dolphins came to Foxborough and pinned a loss on the Patriots was 2008 when they employed a Wildcat strike — though walking off the job was the last thing on their minds.

Instead, Miami rushed to victory, piling up more than 200 yards on the ground in the 38-13 rout. Ronnie Brown, acting as the de facto quarterback, rushed 17 times for 113 yards and four touchdowns, while Ricky Williams added 98 yards on 16 totes.

The Wildcat was the brainchild of Miami quarterbacks coach David Lee, who ran it with much success at Arkansas when Darren McFadden ran roughshod over the SEC.

Recalling that game on Friday, Patriots coach Bill Belichick noted that while the Wildcat attack was a surprise, it wasn’t exactly a revolutionary concept.

“It’s really just a lot of elements of the single-wing offense,’’ he said. “We just missed some tackles [that day]. Obviously didn’t have it coached very well. [We] didn’t play very well. It’s not unstoppable. We just didn’t do a very good job on it that day.’’

In the Wildcat, Brown took direct tosses from center (similar to shotgun but not as deep) and took off behind an unbalanced line.

“No matter how you slice it up, it’s just putting the quarterback into the equation in the running game, which creates another gap, if you will,’’ said Belichick. “So, if you play eight on seven or seven on six, then once the quarterback is part of the play now you’re eight on eight or you’re seven on seven. There’s no extra gap. You’ve got to account for him.’’

Belichick said defending it is much like defending bootlegs or the option.

“You run out of guys on defense. You can’t outnumber them. You run out of people,’’ he said. “There are different versions but it’s all the same concept. It’s adding another guy in the running game that the defense has to account for that you lose a gap, which was the single-wing offense.’’

Mr. Excitement

Chris Hogan, who opened his Patriots career with a three-catch, 60-yard, one-touchdown performance last Sunday night at Arizona, acknowledged he is amped up for his first home game.

“I’m pretty pumped,’’ he said. “I was excited for the preseason, so I can’t even imagine what a regular-season [game will be like],’’ he said. “I’m probably going to have to dial back my feelings going into this game so I don’t get overly excited.’’

Hogan, who earned the nickname “7-11’’ during camp in 2012 with the Dolphins because he was always open, and also played for the Bills, was asked what makes the Patriots so tough at home.

“It’s a tough place to play. We know how good the Patriots are,’’ said Hogan, before catching himself. “Or how good we are. So obviously, these teams — Miami, Buffalo, the Jets — I’m sure they put a lot of time into these games and preparing for the Patriots.’’

Belichick, for one, isn’t surprised by Hogan’s enthusiasm.

“He works hard in every phase of the game,’’ said the coach. “He’s always ready to go. If something comes up and he’s not in there — ‘Hey, Chris, jump in there’ — boom. He’s got his helmet on, his chinstrap fastened. He knows what to do. He’s really been impressive that way.’’

We meet again

This is the seventh time the Patriots have faced the Dolphins in their home opener. They are 4-2 in the previous six . . . New England is 13-1 in home openers at Gillette Stadium . . . Miami leads the all-time series, 53-48 . . . Belichick is 20-12 against the Dolphins since taking over in 2000 . . . Little-known nugget: Miami middle linebacker Kiko Alonso was born in Newton . . . Patriots defensive lineman Anthony Johnson, who played for the Dolphins in 2014, said he “prepares for every opponent the same way,’’ before acknowledging with a smile, “maybe there’s a little extra incentive’’ playing Miami.

Jim McBride can be reached at james.mcbride@globe.com. Follow him on Twitter @globejimmcbride.