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FOXBORO - It was a perfect day for New England Patriots fans.

The weather couldn't have been better, and the results, well, while not a blow out, the home team came out on top, beating the Miami Dolphins 27-17.

"I wanted the Patriots to win mainly to see Joey Porter eat his words," said John Sanford, 33, a computer software sales representative from Attleboro, referring to the Dolphins' linebacker. "That guy has the biggest mouth in the NFL and now what's he going to do, blame the loss on Brady?"

In a recent television interview, Porter said the Patriots have an advantage because quarterback Tom Brady has "got his own rules" and has the referees making calls in his favor. He also said he has a "natural hate" for the Patriots. "The hate's been there for a while, especially after all the cheating they did back in the day," Porter said, referring to the 2007 season spying charges brought against the Patriots. The team was fined $250,000 plus a No. 1 draft pick, and Belichick was fined $500,000 for videotaping signals from New York Jets coaches from the sidelines.

"Maybe now Porter will keep his trap shut, but I doubt it," Sanford said. Under sunny skies, Patriots' fans - along with a smattering of Dolphin fans - arrived at and around Gillette Stadium early to tailgate and enjoy the unseasonably pleasant fall day.

"It doesn't get any better than this," said Susan Reynolds, 44, from Revere, who was barbecuing with friends under a canvas canopy displaying a Patriots' logo. "I love coming to games like this when we're not freezing out butts' off."

Reynolds and her friends accurately predicted a Patriots' victory - as well as a close game.

"It won't be a blow out, because they have some talent, but we'll win," she said. "The Patriots are going all the way this year."

George Glidden, 40, an electrician from North Attleboro, said that even though he thought that the Patriots "didn't play that well defense-wise," he was pleased that they won.

His son, Nathan, 9, a third grader at Falls Elementary School, said he was "happy that my favorite player had so many good throws," referring to Brady.

For many of the Dolphins fans who attended the game, Sunday's loss was a huge disappointment.

"We should have had that game," said Jim Oliviera, 55, a retired investment banker from Fort Lauderdale. "This was a big one for us. It's not over. We still have a lot of wins ahead of us, but this one would have been nice. We needed to hit Brady and we didn't."

Joel Mathieu, 24, a carpet cleaning specialist from West Palm Beach, predicted a close game, but thought the Dolphins would prevail. He thought the weather would help his team, too.

"We're in South Florida and we practice in the heat," he said shortly before kickoff. "The nice weather can only help." Another disappointed fan was tennis ace Serena Williams, who, along with her sister, Venus, this past summer purchased a limited stake in the Dolphins.

Williams watched the game from the owners' box at Gillette Stadium and, in a brief interview at the end of the game, said that even though the outcome wasn't what she wanted, "it was a great game" and she said that she "had a good time."

"Obviously I was rooting for the Dolphins," said Williams, who, despite the 65-degree weather, was wearing a heavy black winter jacket for most of the game.