The NFL will see another important AFC East showdown this week, this time between the Miami Dolphins and the New England Patriots.
There is no love lost between these two teams; giving this game additional emotion and excitement for players, coaches, and fans.
The Dolphins (6-4) are looking to extend their four-game winning streak Sunday, as well as improve their division record to 3-1. A loss by the New York Jets to the Tennessee Titans would also give the Dolphins a share of the lead in the AFC East.
The Patriots (6-4) are coming off a tough overtime loss to the Jets last Thursday night. Despite the disappointment, the Patriots found out that Matt Cassel can help carry the team back from a large deficit. After trailing 24-13 at halftime, Cassel forced overtime with a perfect touchdown pass to Randy Moss in the final seconds of the fourth quarter, capping a three-touchdown, 400-yard performance.
A huge difference from the struggling backup the Dolphins faced in Week Three.
If the Dolphins want a crack at the division, Sunday is their first opportunity. Here's how:
1. Special Teams, Special Teams, SPECIAL TEAMS!!!
The Dolphins faced two very poor teams in the past two weeks. While they won both games, they nearly coughed up both games for one reason only:
Poor special teams play.
Against Seattle, the Dolphins allowed the Seahawks field position at or beyond the 50-yard line, giving them the life they needed to almost tie the game near the end.
Last week, against Oakland, the Dolphins allow a 93-yard punt return for a touchdown with four minutes left in the fourth quarter, which gave the Raiders a one-point lead.
Ellis Hobbs and Wes Welker are extremely dangerous in the return game. If either player is allowed a big return, this could spell doom for the Dolphins.
2. Dolphins Offensive Line vs. Patriots Front Seven
The Dolphin's pass protection has been one of their strengths this season, allowing Chad Pennington to have one of his best seasons. Last week, however, the Dolphins offensive line allowed some big plays to occur behind the line of scrimmage, the biggest play being the safety on a sack of Pennington.
The Patriots bring one of the most dominant defensive lines in the league. Ty Warren returns to the lineup after missing the last week's contest, joining Richard Seymour and Vince Wilfork. The Patriots also possess one of the league's brightest linebacking corps, led by Tedy Bruschi and Mike Vrabel.
If the Dolphins want to move the ball and convert third downs, they need to get back to the basics and maintain pocket integrity.
The Dolphins also have struggled to have a consistent running game, and the offensive line is responsible for getting Ronnie Brown, Ricky Williams, and Patrick Cobbs room to make plays. The Patriots boast the 13th-ranked rushing and 14th-ranked passing defenses, respectively.
The big five up front for the Dolphins will have their hands full.
3. Dolphins Secondary vs. Randy Moss and Wes Welker
After a dismal start to this season, the Dolphins' secondary has made big improvements week-to-week. Cornerbacks Will Allen Andre Goodman have done an excellent job of shutting down each opponent's main receiving threats.
Yeremiah Bell has also been a bright spot on the Dolphins' defense, as he leads the team in tackles. Bell and Allen also were pivotal in the Dolphins' victory against Seattle, as both players knocked down passes in key moments, preserving a victory.
The secondary will be tested again this week.
Randy Moss and Wes Welker were both kept in check in Week Three, allowed only a combined 10 catches for 70 yards and no touchdowns. Since then, the pair have been remarkably more productive, as Matt Cassel has been given more freedom in the offense.
The Dolphins will have to eliminate the big plays from Moss, which may allow Welker to dominate the middle of the field. The best way to offset this is a relentless pass rush.
The Patriots will most likely double up on Joey Porter, so the Dolphins will need Matt Roth and the defensive line to step up and add pressure. If Roth can get in the backfield early, the pressure on Porter will ease up and allow him to create the havoc he has inflicted on many teams this season.
These teams are evenly matched, so the game will likely be decided late in the fourth quarter. The edge goes to the Dolphins, who are playing at home.
Prediction: Miami 27, New England 24
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about 1 month ago
Nice article, I don't think it'll be that close though. I think either the Dolphins will dominate the Patriots or the Patriots will dominate the Dolphins. They have different strengths and whoever gets their weaknesses exploited first will likely be destroyed.
from about 1 month ago
Thanks for the read, T.J.!
It may not be close, but I don't think the Pats will be blown out again. That being said, I sure as hell don't think the Dolphins will be blown out. That only leaves a close one. That's my reasoning for that.
I'm actually going to the game on Sunday. It's going to be awesome!!!!!
about 1 month ago
It's going to be a great game. We get to see how a defensive mastermind like Belichik attacks the Wildcat formation when he's actually expecting it this time :)
I don't think it'll be that close, either. Pats by 10.
from about 1 month ago
Thanks for the read, Zach.
I wouldn't go crowning Belichick with the "mastermind" title. He's a great coach, but he can't perform miracles. The defense showed last week that they have lots of holes with the injuries they've suffered.
Oh, and if you're a Patriots fan, you should probably be able to spell "Belichick". Have more pride, man!
from about 1 month ago
I did; that was a typo. And even if I were a liar, "Belichik" is still far better than the "Belechek" so many other Pats fans throw around.
He is a mastermind. We have a patchwork secondary, a 37-year old strongside MLB, a rookie weakside MLB (who came away with 20 tackles, 16 solo), and the rookie free-agent 3-years removed OLB we plugged in against the jets had 9 tackles. We surrendered 17 points on defense in the first half and 7 in the second. We had them on the first set of downs until we blew the coverage on Dustin Keller (a mistake by the players, not by the scheme).
I'm not suggesting he'll perform any miracles here, but you can't argue that Belichick is one of the greatest defensive coaches of our era. In that respect, I can't wait to see his scheme for beating it.
from about 1 month ago
Perhaps you should read my article on why the Wildcat will work again.
about 1 month ago
Nice Kris, I went to the game in Denver a few weeks ago, first NFL game actually attended so I was pretty excited. Not a lot of Dolphin game opportunities in Wyoming, thank DirecTV for Sunday Ticket lol.
from about 1 month ago
Luckily, I've never needed Sunday Ticket, but if I lived outside of South Florida I'd be all over it.
That's awesome that you finally got to see an NFL game, especially that whoopin' we put on the Broncos. I've been to a dozen or so games, both Dolphins and Jaguars. No sporting event tops it.
about 1 month ago
Another great article, Kris.
I can hardly wait to see how the game will go.
from about 1 month ago
Dude, me too.
I'll have a beer at the game for all my B/R homies. There goes fifty bucks!
about 1 month ago
Kris,
Nice article. Good job going in depth at several matchups that may have flown under the radar so to speak. I agree that the special teams are going to be huge, look at last week, the pats let leon washington take one to the house and that ended up being the difference in their overtime loss to the new york jets. If the patriots win this one, it will have to come down to their defense, getting pressure on chad pennington who has really come along, and stopping miami on third and long. nothing frustrates me more than 3rd down conversions. keep the penalties to a minimum and the pats should win this one...nice work
Ryan
from about 1 month ago
Thanks for the read, Ryan!
Yeah, I totally forgot about the Washington touchdown last week. Good point.
about 1 month ago
Pats by 20 are better!
Oh, Pats will be in the playoffs win are loose!
Remember, The Great BCS system is in play this year!
from about 1 month ago
Huh?
I think you mean, "Pats by 20 or better" and, "...in the playoffs win or lose."
BCS? Are you drunk?
Try again next time, Good Will Hunting.
about 1 month ago
No i'm not drunk.......
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/84354-bcs-to-determine-this-years-nfl-playoffs
from about 1 month ago
Oh, i see. That was supposed to be a joke.
about 1 month ago
No it's not a Joke!
Frankly i don't care joke are not.........I think the BCS sucks!
And that college needs a playoff....But to use the bcs system in the nfl which thet are doing this year.
Is dumb!
from about 1 month ago
Do you seriously think that the NFL is using a BCS system?
Wow, only a Patriots fan.
That article you sent me wasn't serious, they were just giving a hypothetical IF the NFL used a BCS-type system. You didn't think that was for real, right?
about 1 month ago
I don't know Kris I've been to quite a few New York Yankees games, I'm not sure the NFL can beat the MLB, I love all the sporting events I've been to though. I've even been to Utah Jazz NBA games, those are fun too, so's NCAA football and basketball.
from about 1 month ago
I've been to MLB, NBA, college football, and NHL games. Fairly significant ones as well.
None of them come close to an NFL game.
The absolute most fun I've ever had at a sporting event. But you know what; that's why we have these forums. Everybody has a different experience.
Trust me, though. I think you need to go an NFL game where you are rooting for the home team. There's nothing like it. It's not as much fun when you're the only Dolphins fan in the whole section.
about 1 month ago
I wasn't the ONLY Phins fan there I had my pa with me and there was a little kid who was a Dolphins fan and his dad who was a Broncos fan looked really pissed when I kept giving his kid high fives when the Phins would score.
The only truly significant MLB, NCAA or NBA game I went to was an NBA playoff game Jazz vs. Warriors.
about 1 month ago
Believe what you wish!
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