Dolphins vs. Patriots - @ Foxborough Uniform: Undeclared (and Patriots don't release a uniform schedule) Weather via Oddshark: Clear 17°C/62°F Humidity 56% Precipitation 0% Cloud Cover 6% Wind 8 mph W Stadium Type Open Weather via Wundergound: Temp 62F, feels like 62F Humidity 49% Rain 0% Cloud Cover 3% Wind 5 mph W But one question - if Belichick always likes to take away one thing from opposing offences, what/who do you think he'll target on the Phins? Preview via Oddshark: "In a role reversal, the undefeated AFC East-leading Miami Dolphins head to Gillette Stadium in Week 4 to face a New England Patriots squad coming off ugly back-to-back losses. The Dolphins have started the season 3-0 SU for the first time since 2013 and will look to break a dreadful streak of nine straight losses in Foxborough. Oddsmakers must feel New England will bounce back vs the Fins as the Patriots opened as 9.5-point faves with the spread since dropping to -7 after the Pats’ loss to the Lions. WHAT’S WRONG WITH THE PATRIOTS? That’s the question on every talking-head show this week and the answer is simple: their defense is awful. New England is allowing 25.7 points per game this season compared to 18.4 last year and opposing rushers are gaining 143 yards per game on the ground, which ranks second-last in the NFL. As a result, the Patriots have lost back-to-back games against the Jaguars and Lions and now are in danger of losing three straight for the first time since 2002. The defensive shortcomings were the rap on the Patriots last season and they still made the Super Bowl. The real issue through three games is their offense has stunk out the joint. They’ve been limited to 19 points per game and they’re not sustaining drives like in years past as they rank 29th in third-down conversion (28.6 percent) and 24th in first downs (53 total). The lack of weaponry hasn’t usually been a hindrance for the Patriots offense as Bill Belichick has found ways to make up for those limitations but the likes of Rob Gronkowski, Chris Hogan and Phillip Dorsett are not striking fear in opposing secondaries. Couple that with no rushing touchdowns for New England and that’s a recipe for a losing season. Before we proclaim the sky is falling in Massachusetts, it’s worth noting that we’ve seen this movie before. The Patriots are prone to early-season losses that make every football analyst and bettor think this is the year they finally fall off a cliff. I’m not ready to write them off as they’ve gone 8-0 SU in their last eight games at Gillette Stadium with an average win margin of 14.3 points. If the Pats lose this week, then we can start to pour dirt on them. DOLPHINS BENEFITING FROM EASY EARLY SCHEDULE Coming into a Week 4 matchup with the Patriots, if you had predicted the Miami Dolphins would be undefeated, we probably wouldn’t be friends as I try to keep delusional people out of my life. That being said, maybe I’m the delusional one as Miami is one of two teams in the NFL with an undefeated record and one of four that are 3-0 against the spread. The Dolphins defense has been excellent thus far with an NFL-leading seven interceptions while holding teams to 17.3 points per game. Schedule-makers may have blessed them with an easy slate in the first three weeks but the Fins do not make the schedule and it’s not like the Titans and Raiders are walkovers. This tilt should be a true-colors test to reveal whether this early spark by the Dolphins is more than just a flash in the pan. The reason for me not anointing Miami as a rising team in the AFC yet is how the Dolphins have played when going to Gillette Stadium, which is a graveyard for AFC East teams. They have lost nine straight games in Foxborough by an average of 18.4 points per game and are 2-15 SU in the last 17 years. Another trend that makes me nervous is how the Fins do on the road as an underdog of 7 points or more, as Miami is 1-9 SU and 2-8 ATS in that spot." Preview Stats via Patriots.com: "IF THE PATRIOTS WIN.. The Patriots will reach an 82-23 (.780) mark in the regular season against AFC East teams since 2001, which is the best intra-division record of any team in the NFL. The team will improve to 8-0 following consecutive losses in the same year since the beginning of the 2002 season, which is the last time the Patriots lost more than two games in a row (four games in 2002). This includes one postseason win after losing the final two games of the 2015 regular season. In those contests, the Patriots have outscored their opponents 224-104, or by a margin of 17.2 points per game." 247Sports video Preview - LINK Yahoo/NFL video Preview - LINK
He'll shut down the run and take his chances we won't be able to make those trick plays two games in a row.
This will be a tough game. Patriots will be fired up and pulling out all the stops. I wish they won last night.
Dolphins will need to get fired up to. Putting the Patriots in a big hole and going 4-0 would be a dream.
I surely hope we get Reshad Jones back. I fully expect Josh Gordon to be healthy, and that threat alone could open up some things for the Patriots in the middle of the field, which is Miami’s big weakness. Miami’s LBs can’t cover a RB coming out of the backfield, and those slot guys are always tough.
Albert Wilson is the only valid answer...or for that matter, Ryan Tannehill. So maybe they go blitz heavy but that plays right into the screen game that we're so darn good at. Teams will quickly figure out that they can't give RT any time, and they're going to have to have two shut-down corners to compete. I know the offense hasn't looked great YET but I think it's only a matter of time for things to click in place.
I'm not saying that I expect us to, but if we win this week then this is our division to lose. Going 4-0 would be a big marker down to the rest of the league however we do suddenly become the team that everyone wants to play as they try to be the one that ends the streak. Intrigued to see what Gase has up his sleeves for this one.
I'll say this: Miami needs to come out and control the tempo from the get go. I've been to too many games at Foxboro where a quick 3 and out turns into a 20 point NE lead. That stadium, crowd and atmosphere can do a team in quickly. Seen it a million times with the Dolphins. Miami needs to capitalize early and set the tone, if not, this could get out of hand very quickly.
I don't get this thinking. The Pats would take it easy on Miami if they had won versus the Lions? You think THAT is how they approach games? The Dolphins should roll into Foxboro with a 'Can YOU stop US?' mentality. Even if the Pats had won, this game was going to be for the early division lead. The Pats were always going to come out desperate for a win. For the Gase era, a win this week could be the turning point.
I think people forget that we have 32 really good teams in the NFL and that on any given day, just about anyone can beat anyone (hence Lions vs NE or Bills vs Vikings). Miami is a little more predictable because our defense has been so much better than the rest of the league in the red zone and on turnovers, just like KC is a little more predictable with their high-powered offense. The Rams are looking like studs on both side of the ball- it's no coincidence that these are the league's only undefeated teams. But it really comes back to any given Sunday....if you get a few key turnovers like the Bills and take an early 17-0 lead, you're going to be pretty darn hard to beat. The Pats have a lot of holes on defense and their offense can't get a lot going- they are not a good team this year. We should win this game despite going to Gillette and that hostile environment. It's certainly not a gimmie by any means but we are the better team.
I'm not so sure. I wouldn't be surprised it either a) father time or b) all the controversy is catching up to Brady and co. They can be mad all they want, but with everything that's been reported in the last year they just seem like they're crumbling. On the other hand, the 3-0 Dolphins are still being universally regarded as the underdogs despite holding a 2 game lead in the division. That level of disrespect is going to be bulletin board material all week. I expect us to come out and go wire to wire for a decisive victory. This isn't the same old Dolphins.
true, but even with a dismal raiders team we didn't have a lead until the 4th quarter, pats will have more of a pass rush and brady will execute way better than Carr, miami better come fired up i know wake will!!!! he seems to have an extra boost around brady games. 4-0 is on the horizon but i grantee you brady isnt going to lay down like he did in Detroit for a divisional opponent.
I saw that the Raiders have not been trailing in the first three quarters in all of their games so far. Not sure if that one is true, but they definitely have lead at half time in all 3 games. That’s not dismal, that’s a failure to make adjustments by the coaching staff.
My hope is our pass rush comes alive this game. I realize Brady is experienced enough to take advantage with 3 step drops and the like, but if we play tight press coverage we might be able to take him out of a rythem and frustrate him. It’s been forever since we have won in Foxborough. It will be a good measuring stick for us. I am excited to see how we do.
I'm hoping that even if Josh Gordon plays this game, he'll be rusty enough that he won't be able to do much. That's what I'm hoping.
Adam Gase on Pats: "They're going to do the same thing they always do, they're going to start cheating and then look unbeatable." ^fixed it.
You know that's a great observation. Previously we would lead at half time and not be able to anything in the 2nd half.
The Patriots will place running back Rex Burkheadand rookie linebacker Ja'whaun Bentley on injured reserve, Jim McBride of the Boston Globe reports. Burkhead has had a rough season, with two injuries in three games. A concussion in the season opener against Houston knocked him out of the game as he played 38 of 75 snaps. He returned in Week Two but played only 14 of 74 snaps against the Jaguars. Then, last week, he played seven snaps before a neck injury apparently has landed him on IR. Burkhead’s departure Sunday against the Lions left New England with only Sony Michel and James White in the backfield. Burkhead had two carries for 26 yards against the Lions and in three games had 24 carries for 86 yards and three receptions for 31 yards. Ja’Whuan Bentley played 138 defensive snaps and 46 on special teams in three games. His injury is unknown. The fifth-round pick made 13 tackles, an interception and defensed a pass.
That "dismal Raiders team" just kicked our asses.....and they kicked their first two opponent's asses as well. All three times, they collapsed in the 4th quarter. That's a sign of a young team playing hard without the experience to close games out. I WOULD NOT call them a bad team though! As for the Carr/Brady comparisons, Carr is 21st on the year(88.3)....Brady is 16th (93.9). There's really not a big difference there either. Carr has a much better supporting cast though and nobody else obviously has Beast Mode. That's the only thing that really kept the Raiders in the game against us. However, there is a huge difference in the two team's defensive talent and I think we'll move the ball much easier against NE. I don't know if you caught this but we had offensive linemen playing D in the 4th quarter against Oakland because we were so short on talent. Our guys up front were exhausted- that won't be the case this Sunday since we'll have more of our rotation back.
Gronkowski has been routinely double-teamed and has a combined six catches for 66 yards in the last two games — both Patriots losses — and his brother Chris Gronkowski said during an interview with WEEI that it’s beginning to wear on him. “Usually a tight end is being covered by a linebacker, who really can’t cover anyone,” Chris Gronkowski said, via the Boston Globe. “When you’re giving up two of your best defenders — two safeties or a corner and a safety — to cover a tight end, your guys on the outside should be able to win “It’s just super frustrating to watch, and they’ve got to figure something out.” Chris said he hasn’t talked specifically with his brother about it, but knows him well enough to know it’s an issue. “I can just tell by his emotions, his facial features, that he’s super frustrated with it. You can see at the end of the game, how they ended the game double-covering him, pressing him off the line,” Chris said. “He just wants to get the ball in his hands and make plays. But you just can’t do it when no one else is getting open.” The Patriots wide receivers haven’t impressed, and have to survive one more game before Julian Edelman‘s suspension ends. They also traded for Josh Gordon, though he wasn’t active Sunday. And since none of the other targets can get open, teams are able to focus on Gronkowski. And while he might not appreciate his brother airing his business, Chris also said game situations weren’t the only thing bugging his brother. “It was kind of a crazy offseason,” Chris said. “There wasn’t a ton of communication between [Rob and the Patriots]. He wanted to get paid what he deserved. He wanted to be paid as one of the top tight ends for once. It’s been a struggle for him to make that money. . . . “[Rob] knows what he needs to get done. He just wanted some more freedom, and he wanted to get what he deserves. He was being paid like he was just a mediocre tight end and just wanted to get some respect on that front.” The Patriots ultimately reworked his deal, but also tried to trade him to the Lions (which Rob Gronkowski scuttled by threatening to retire). Perhaps if he had accepted the deal, working with Golden Tate and Marvin Jones and Kenny Golladay would have helped him get open, and he would have probably gotten paid as well.
I always like to look at the "Expert Picks" to see who picks us in games. On CBS there are 2 guys that have every week picked against us, 1 is that tool Jason La Confora and the other is someone named John Breech. Sure enough they have picked against us again. Pete Prisco on the other hand has taken us every single week and has again this week. Not that any of it matters in the least I just find it entertaining.
Biggest game in a decade, and they know it. The question is can they step up...are they ready to be a primetime? This is the week they can put the world on notice that they have changed the landscape of the NFL. Or...not.
Let's not over blow this. This is a road game against a divisional rival. These games are always hard fought. This isn't the biggest game in decades by far. It's game 4 of 16 in a season.
I'm curious- who is "they"? In my mind it's New England. We have the better team in every aspect and if the Pats lose this week, after dropping two in a row, almost everyone will take it as a sign that an era has ended. Maybe they don't crown Miami the new king of the hill just yet, but they will definitely be heavy with the Patriots collapse. So yes, we can shock the world this week. But the headlines won't be about us as much as it is about Belichek losing control of his team and Brady finally looking his age. With Gronk pissed off, I think they have a shot at spiraling out of control.
Yup, I completely agree. And I can't wait for it to happen! Hopefully we whoop em so bad that Brady and Gronk pull a Vontae Davis and retire at halftime.
I think the Pats demise is a bit premature. We may well win this week, but next week they add Edelman back into the mix and you know that team is going to get better every week. Do not count these guys out. I agree we have the better team, but in Foxborough that may not matter.
You're right, but at the same time where would you rank Edelman- Stills Grant Parker Wilson Amendola Edelman He's a good receiver, don't get me wrong, but the guy just isn't a breakout play maker. He has good hands and runs good routes, just like Amendola, but he's not particularly fast or agile. NE's weapon of choice is consistency and they just don't have that this year. I don't think he will be enough to turn things around. I could be wrong- maybe NE wins their last 13 games and these losses don't matter. But I just haven't seen the same Patriots this season and it's more than just a player or two missing. It's like their whole vibe is off.
If a fan plays a trumpet it’s OK. If the team plays a trumpet, or pipes in a recording it's not OK. What I took from the report was that a fan or fans play trumpets in those situations.
Hopefully when Belichek retires he can be a Miami Dolphins commentator. To hear him tell it, we're the team of the century coming in to play them and the Pats don't have a chance. =)
Hes a similiar player to DA. Reliable shifty guy. The biggest thing that helps the Pats with getting hum back is another real threat you have to deal with. Not just Gronk.