Patriots vs. Dolphins: Week 2

The New England Patriots, following a big win over the Steelers, have the Miami Dolphins coming up next. Can the Patriots “Squish the fish!” again? 

The Patriots, to say the least, have struggled when facing the Miami Dolphins. More specifically, they have struggled against the Dolphins, in Miami. The atmosphere, the beaches and the rivalry are to blame for their woes in Florida. Not to mention the fact that head coach Bill Belichick has had his fair share of struggles against former members of the coaching staff. 

You’re probably thinking that my statement earlier is incorrect, as there has been much light shed on the fact that Belichick handles his pupils in game situations. However, if that were the case, then explain the two losses last season, against mediocre, at best, teams. Matt Patricia and his Lions faced off against the Patriots last season and came away with a dominant win. Then there was the embarrassing loss to Mike Vrabel and his Titans. Both those teams failed to make the postseason, and it’s not out of the realm of possibility that one, or both, get fired by seasons’ end. 

Who’s to say, Brian Flores, last season’s “de-facto” defensive coordinator, can’t do the same? Sure, his Dolphins are being scrutinized as the worst team in football, reportedly “tanking for Tua”. Sure, they looked like an absolute mess while getting run over by the average-at-best Lamar Jackson and the Ravens, with players reportedly reaching out to their agents and requesting trades. 

But Patricia wasn’t exactly coaching a much more skilled team than Flores. Nor was Vrabel, though he arguably did have the strongest roster out of the three. Why rule the Dolphins out now, when history has been so rude to the Patriots in the scenarios displayed above? I believe I know why…

Is it because the Patriots have a stacked football team on both sides of the ball? Because they just signed Antonio Brown, easily a top-5 receiver in the NFL if he can “shut up and play football” as Jon Gruden put it. Or is it because Josh Gordon, Julien Edelman and Phillip Dorsett are also available options outside of Brown? 

Thinking more about the defense going up against Ryan Fitzpatrick, who looked more “PickSacktrick” than “FitzMagic” last week? How Stephon Gilmore, Jason McCourty, JC Jackson, Patrick Chung, Devin McCourty and Joejuan Williams can cover DeVante Parker, Jakeem Grant, Albert Wilson, Allen Hurns, Preston Williams and Mike Gesicki with relative ease? 

Or is it the pass-rush of Dont’a Hightower, Kyle Van Noy, Jamie Collins, Chase Winovich, Deatrich Wise, Michael Bennett and John Simon bullying the Dolphins offensive line and getting to Fitzpatrick constantly? 

Maybe the Dolphins try running it more, you say? The Patriots can call upon their run-stoppers in Danny Shelton, Lawrence Guy, Adam Butler, Elandon Roberts, Jamie Collins (again), Ja’Whaun Bentley, Shilique Calhoun and Byron Cowart to stuff either one of Kenyan Drake and Kalen Ballage. 

Everywhere you look, the Patriots offensive schemes and match-ups will always out-match the Dolphins coverages. Even if, for whatever reason, the passing game is not working, they have a solid rushing game. Sony Michel is looking to bounce-back. James White looked strong against a better team in Pittsburgh. Rex Burkhead looked good. Rookie Damien Harris could slot in as well. They win just about every match-up. 

Meanwhile, Fitzpatrick will have to find room in the Patriots secondary to get the football to his below-average receivers, while getting assaulted by relentless pass-rush. They could turn to their talented running back in Drake, but they’re already super one-dimensional and over-rely on Drake. They looked good against James Connor and Jaylen Samuels last week, which was no walk in the park. I’d say they win the defensive match-ups too. 

So, my prediction you say? Patriots by a million. On a more serious note though, the Patriots have so much potential while the Dolphins are lower than the basement of the NFL. They’re that bad. But again, being in Miami, against a former Patriots coordinator in Flores, it could be closer than people think. 

Final score prediction: Patriots 23 Dolphins 13 

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