Patriots vs. Dolphins: TV Schedule, Live Streaming, Radio, Game Time and More

There isn’t a better way to start the NFL season than with an AFC East grudge match on Monday Night Football.

The first-ever unanimous MVP, Tom Brady, is taking his talents to South Beach. He’s leading the Patriots into Miami to take on a Dolphins squad that generally plays them tough. It’ll be a hostile environment and the raucous Miami crowd will be as loud as ever as both teams open on an even slate.

New England begins the season just like it did last year—feeling embarrassed. The Patriots were ousted from the postseason at home for the second straight year, but this time it was to their greatest rival, the New York Jets.

Bill Belichick and Brady will be looking for redemption the entire season, and their journey begins with a gritty Dolphins team that is also looking to avenge a tumultuous season.

With much to prove, we can only expect both teams to put on a grand show and provide one of the best opening week showdowns. The intensity will be off the charts. The magnitude is intensified by being on Monday night. The aura and excitement will be sure to send chills down your spine.

Where: Sun Life Stadium

When: Monday, September 12, 7:00 PM ET

Watch: ESPN

Live Streaming Audio: NFL.com Audio Pass ($29.99 for year, $27.99 team specific, $9.99 a month)

Listen: 98.5 The Sports Hub, 790 The Ticket 

Betting Line: Patriots -7

This is clearly a fitting line for this AFC East grudge match. It’s difficult to put a bigger spread on a division matchup considering both teams know each other so well. There will be rust from both teams off the bat.

Last year on Monday night, the Dolphins took it to the Pats in the first half. New England’s defense and special teams put the kibosh on any nonsense and the Pats went on to rout the Dolphins in Miami. Miami is a different team, to expect it to be a closer contest. This is a perfect line for this game.

What’s At Stake?

AFC East supremacy is on the line here. One team will have a lead in arguably the toughest division in the NFL.

Both teams are looking for redemption and get one game closer to the postseason for a Super Bowl run.

New England is trying to prove it is the class of the NFL. Miami is trying to prove it isn’t the worst team in the league like some people believe.

Miami head coach Tony Sparano knows he’s on the hot seat and needs to show the Dolphins’ brass that he can motivate his men to play up to their opponent. If he can upset the Pats on opening night, he would cement himself for the next few years in Miami.

Belichick, the 2010 Coach of the Year, is constantly trying to prove everyone wrong. He brought in “head cases” Albert Haynesworth and Chad Ochocinco and is determined to make sure they shine immediately to continue building his own legacy.

Patriots Injury Report

DB Brett Lockett is questionable with a leg injury.

LB Dane Fletcher is questionable with a thumb injury.

RB Stevan Ridley is questionable with an undisclosed injury.

WR Julian Edelman is questionable with a hand injury.

WR Wes Welker is probable with a neck injury.

Dolphins Injury Report

TE/FB Charles Clay is probable with a hamstring injury.

Fantasy Start ‘Em, Sit’ Em and Sleeper

Patriots Start ‘Em: Tom Brady, QB

Obviously you’re going to start your No. 1 QB and 2010 MVP. Brady is as determined as ever this season as he looks to avenge his postseason loss to the Jets.

He is also looking to prove he can revive Ochocinco’s career. Brady generally has difficulty against the Dolphins, so he needs to toss the demons aside and put together a big game to set the tone for the season.

Dolphins Start ‘Em: Brandon Marshall, WR

You drafted him to be a WR2 and borderline WR1, so start him with confidence. Marshall has the skills to dominate the Patriots secondary. With a new offensive coordinator, expect to see Marshall work all over the field to find soft spots in the coverage.

Patriots Sit ‘Em: BenJarvus Green-Ellis, RB

I know you drafted him to be a solid RB2, but there’s just too much to go around with Stevan Ridley and Danny Woodhead. More importantly, the Dolphins will show an improved rush defense. The Patriots are all about tossing the rock with Brady.

Dolphins Sit ‘Em: Daniel Thomas, RB

Thomas will one day emerge as Miami’s workhorse back. I said he was the perfect fit for the Dolphins in April and was ecstatic the Dolphins traded into the second round to grab him. Unfortunately, the lockout hurt his chances to start and make a difference. He doesn’t have his power just yet and will need time to adjust to the NFL.

Patriots Sleeper: Deion Branch, WR

All the attention is on Ochocinco and Welker heading into the game, which is why Branch may receive the most targets from Brady. Branch was held without a reception in the preseason, but it won’t be long before he and Brady hook up again.

Dolphins Sleeper: Davone Bess, WR

Bess was one of my favorite sleeper WRs this year. He’s a phenomenal route-runner with great separation skills, quickness and hands. He’ll be Chad Henne’s safety net all season. The Patriots will look to stop Marshall, so expect Bess to rack up receptions. He’s a safe bet for 100 receptions and 1,000 yards this year and it starts Week 1.

What They’re Saying

Belichick is constantly mixing and matching his players. He is always turning over new personnel and he made noise by cutting two-time Pro Bowl safety Brandon Meriweather. Fortunately for Pats fans, Belichick isn’t regretting the move.

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“’I think each year is a new year and I just don’t think you can pick teams, or pick your players, based on what’s happened in the past,’ Belichick said. ‘You have to pick them based on what you think is going to happen this year, and that’s relative to the competition, to the makeup of your team, and players’ performance. All of those are obviously a part of it…

Brandon played a lot of good football for us. We kept the players this year that we felt would be the best makeup for the 2011 team. It’s not the 2009 team; it’s the 2011 team, so those are the players that we’ve selected,’” Belichick said according to the Boston Globe’s Monique Walker.

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Josh Barrett will start at safety next to Patrick Chung Monday night.

The Dolphins don’t care who’s with them or against them—they believe in their team. It’s an “us against them” mentality and they’ll alienate anybody along the way. They want the support, but they’ll achieve more success without. They’re looking to prove their own fans wrong who believe this season will be littered with disaster.

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“This team needs your support. They need your undying loyalty. That’s important. But I need you to understand something,’ Sparano said during his ‘Win the Crowd’ speech last week at the team’s kickoff luncheon. ‘We’re going to get there one way or the other. I hope it’s with you, but we’ll do it without! One way or the other that’s going to happen,’” Sparano said according to Sun-Sentinel’s Omar Kelly.

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This is the attitude every team needs to take. They should always be fueled by this mentality. Teams work better when they’re backs are against the wall—just ask the Giants, Saints and Packers.

Patriots Player to Watch: Albert Haynesworth, DT

New England made a ton of noise when they traded for the oft-troubled and “unconditioned” former beast. Haynesworth looked good in the preseason finale against the Giants. He could be the key component to the Patriots getting back to the Super Bowl. He was a fitting addition considering he too is on the journey of redemption after being toyed with by Mike Shanahan in Washington.

Dolphins Player to Watch: Reggie Bush, RB

Miami shocked the world when they traded for the disgruntled Reggie Bush. Bush was expected to be a superstar out of USC, but is generally declared a bust after being selected No. 2 overall. The oft-injured Bush is looking to prove his critics wrong, and Miami was the perfect place.

He needs to show the strength and authority to run between the tackles and make the dynamic big play we’re accustomed to seeing. He made strides last year in the preseason and will look to resurrect his career with the Dolphins.

Key Matchup: Tom Brady vs. Vontae Davis

It remains to be seen if Vontae Davis will work on Ochocinco or Wes Welker during the game—maybe a little of both. Davis is an emerging elite cornerback in the league with his immense instincts and athleticism.

He is the key to the Dolphins' improved overall defense.

If he can shut down one half of the field, the Dolphins will be a force on defense. Brady is an intelligent QB, but he’s not afraid to test anybody. Davis could make him pay for that.

On the Hot Seat: Chad Henne, QB

Chad Henne desperately needs to show he’s progressing. He was expected to be a stud out of Michigan and he’s been everything but that. He needs to show the willingness to control the offense, throw down the field and, most importantly, make smart decisions against a quality defense.

It’s not just Matt Moore lurking in the shadows this year, but a rookie QB coming in next year. If anything doesn’t show any promise, he could be yanked from a starting role for good in his NFL career.

Prediction: Patriots, 27-13

Miami will be better than most expect, but we won’t see it by the end of this game. This grudge match will turn ugly as the Patriots display Super Bowl caliber excellence to begin the season. This team is motivated and determined to redeem their postseason woes.

They have a host of outcast veterans looking to enjoy a career renaissance in New England. Brady won’t let himself struggle as he looks for back-to-back unanimous MVP awards.