Formally, it’s Week 2.
Unofficially, that is take two.
The Patriots stumbled at first of the Mike Vrabel period final week, dropping a winnable recreation to the Raiders at residence as favorites. Now, they’re headed to Miami, traditionally a home of horrors, with the aim of successful as a slight underdog.
The Dolphins bought hammered, 33-8, final Sunday in Indianapolis. Operating again De’Von Achane solely scored after the Colts had mounted a 30-point lead on the again of aggressive protection and a ball-control method on offense. The Patriots, who blitzed at a 42.5% clip versus Las Vegas, are poised to place extra warmth on Tua Tagovailoa.
However can they management the clock like Indianapolis did on offense? And if not, how else may they win?
Right here’s what to observe for Sunday:
When the Patriots run
For a second straight season opener, Rhamondre Stevenson completed with extra dashing yards after contact than complete rush yards.
Translation: open working lanes have been few and much between final Sunday.
Avoiding would-be tacklers within the backfield, Stevenson earned 17 yards after contact and 15 within the field rating, per Professional Soccer Focus. However regardless of taking part in virtually double the snaps (46) that second-round rookie TreVeyon Henderson did (25), Stevenson didn’t break a single deal with. Henderson shed one, and will see extra snaps towards the Dolphins.
As a result of between his lengthy pace and explosiveness, Henderson is essentially the most harmful weapon the Patriots have. Nevertheless, the coaches could not belief him but in a full-time function that might name for extra reps in blitz pickup if the Patriots fall behind once more.
Whoever is within the backfield, search for offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels to stay with the run longer than the Patriots did versus Las Vegas.
“They want the ball extra,” McDaniels stated this week. “That’s the easiest way to say it.”
The Pats averaged 3.3 yards per carry and deserted dashing at halftime versus Las Vegas, which put the sport squarely on Drake Maye’s shoulders. Talking of Maye, he might even see much more probabilities to run after he triggered three choice performs versus the Raiders. Colts quarterback Daniel Jones additionally scored two dashing touchdowns towards Miami.
When the Patriots go
Fast: are you able to title a Dolphins cornerback?
Miami’s nook depth has been decimated by harm and offseason selections, leaving ex-Patriots draft choose Jack Jones as their new No. 1 cowl man. Jones is amongst a number of gamers from AFC East rivals who not too long ago signed to patch a secondary collectively round veteran security Minkah Fitzpatrick. The others embody former Payments cornerback Rasul Douglas and ex-Jets security Ashtyn Davis.
Due to its poor protection expertise, Miami has doubled down on a go rush suffering from robust edge rushers. Final month, ex-Patriots Matt Judon joined a entrance that includes former first-round picks Chop Robinson (six sacks final yr), Jaelan Phillips and two-time Professional Bowler Bradley Chubb. If the Patriots can shield Maye from edge strain, he ought to feast downfield. If not, he’s in bother.
Anticipate the Patriots to feed tons of targets to receivers Kayshon Boutte, Stefon Diggs and DeMario Douglas.
When the Dolphins run
Final Sunday, Achane led the Dolphins with 55 dashing yards. No different Miami rusher reached double digits.
Falling behind by a number of scores performed an element within the Dolphins offensive plans at Indianapolis, however their offensive line stays suspect; significantly at guard and at proper deal with, the place starter Austin Jackson is out.
That presents mismatches for Patriots defensive tackles Milton Williams and Christian Barmore, who ought to management the road of scrimmage. Their efforts, plus an early lead, would all however neutralize Miami’s run recreation. The hazard the Dolphins pose on the bottom is much less about regular features than the danger of an explosive run.
Achane is likely one of the quickest gamers within the league who might be exhausting to catch if he breaks by means of the second stage. That places an added emphasis on tackling, significantly for inside linebackers Robert Spillane and Christian Elliss, who each whiffed thrice final week. As a protection, the Pats missed 11 tackles towards the Raiders, a quantity that has to return down this Sunday.
When the Dolphins go
Pace, pace, pace.
Regardless of their lackluster numbers in Week 1, Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle stay among the many most harmful receiver duos within the league. Miami additional stresses defenses by typically placing them in movement on the snap to drive split-second communication in opposing secondaries. Vrabel famous the Dolphins’ movement and pace in his opening press convention this week.
“We’ll need to be nice,” he stated Wednesday. “We’ll need to have nice preparation for an offense that motions so much and depends on their pace and their timing, their precision. So, it’s all the time an enormous problem to play this workforce.”
In one of many stranger stats throughout the NFL, quarterback Tua Tagovailoa is 7-0 in his profession towards the Patriots. In previous years, the Pats have struggled to place strain on Tagovailoa, who boasts one of many quickest releases within the league. Their new scheme ought to assist, with Barmore, Williams and Co. tasked with merely creating havoc within the backfield as an alternative of controlling gaps.
Final week, Patriots edge rushers Harold Landry and Ok’Lavon Chaisson mixed for 3 sacks. An identical efficiency towards younger tackles Patrick Paul and Larry Borom would go an extended method to serving to the Patriots choose up a win in South Florida.
Sport prediction
Patriots 20, Dolphins 19
