Why can’t the Patriots win in Miami? They can’t explain it

Mike Onwenu couldn’t keep in mind.

Perhaps that was for the perfect.

Three years in the past, the Patriots spent every week in South Florida forward of their season opener in opposition to the Dolphins. Invoice Belichick camped the workforce at Palm Seashore Atlantic College, a personal Christian college that competes on the Division II degree. As a result of Palm Seashore Atlantic doesn’t have a soccer program, the Pats practiced on soccer fields with makeshift area aim posts.

All the things that week was constructed across the thought of eliminating the Dolphins’ homefield benefit: their gamers pure acclimation to the overwhleming warmth and humidity. The Patriots’ journey plans that week may very well be argued as the best lengths the franchise ever went to beat a division rival below Invoice Belichick.

However solely that’s in the event you keep in mind that week.

“I believe that was at a highschool or one thing?” Onwenu mentioned in entrance of his locker this week. “It was some time in the past. I believe the time there was most likely useful, simply in phrases conditioning. However I can’t say what I keep in mind main as much as that sport or something like that.”

Nicely, it didn’t assist.

The Pats obtained manhandled by Mom Nature and the Dolphins over a 20-7 loss performed out below 90-degree temperatures. Mac Jones was strip-sacked within the second quarter for a defensive landing, the start of the tip for the Invoice Belichick period. And but, shedding in Miami felt all too acquainted.

Exhausting Rock Stadium is a home of horrors for the Patriots relationship again to their dynasty days. Tom Brady went 8-10 as a starter in Miami. The Pats are 2-10 at Exhausting Rock over the past dozen years. None of their present gamers have gained there whereas sporting crimson, white and blue.

And none of them can clarify it.

Not Onwenu, the workforce’s longest-tenured participant from the time he signed his first contract in Could 2020. Not even ex-Dolphins receiver Mack Hollins (2019-21), now in his first season with the Patriots.

“I’m probably not certain,” Hollins mentioned.

Some Patriots losses in stand alone, as inexplicable as they had been beautiful.

Patriots-Dolphins injury report: Christian Gonzalez out, Morgan Moses questionable for Sunday

There was the Miami Miracle in 2018, a last-second collapse on a hook-and-lateral play that ended with Rob Gronkowski enjoying protection and diving unsuccessfully as Kenyan Drake sped into the tip zone for a game-winning landing in a delirious stadium. The 12 months earlier than, a foul Dolphins workforce led by a fading Jay Cutler diced Belichick’s protection as a ten.5-point underdog on Monday Night time Soccer whereas the Patriots had been en route to a different Tremendous Bowl.

Others losses, like their double-digit defeats of the previous two seasons, had been completely common. The Pats traveled south with much less expertise and a smaller margin of error than the Dolphins, and fell 31-17, then 34-15. Easy sufficient to grasp.

“I imply, first, you recognize, the climate form of performs a task in it. However we have simply obtained to exit and execute the sport plan,” mentioned Pats outdoors linebacker Anfernee Jennings, one other 2020 draft choose like Onwenu. “If we do not, then issues can go one other means.”

Nobody within the group has seen extra video games go sideways in South Florida than Josh McDaniels. He joined the Patriots as a low-level defensive assistant in 2001 and coordinated a lot of the workforce’s offenses when Brady performed quarterback in New England. McDaniels solely scored one win at Miami with out Brady, a 2008 blowout with Matt Cassel at quarterback.

McDaniels’ try to clarify the inexplicable advised that the familiarity between the 2 groups breeds as a lot dangerous luck because it does contempt.

“I have been down there many instances, and a few have been good, and a few haven’t,” McDaniels mentioned Friday on WEEI. “You understand, I might begin with the truth that it is a division opponent, and division video games are all the time troublesome. They appear to know you the perfect. You understand them the perfect. In order that’s a part of the method that you simply undergo every year with the three groups which are in your division.”

And but since Brady left, the Patriots have upset the Payments — reigning AFC East champions since 2020 — extra instances than’ve overwhelmed the Dolphins. One thing appears to be within the water in Miami.

Not that McDaniels, talking simply two days out from kickoff, appears to care.

“No matter occurred up to now, no matter has taken place, good or dangerous, does not actually have any influence on this week,” he mentioned. “I am wanting ahead to our workforce happening there and placing collectively a very good 4 quarters, and serving to us attempt to win the sport.”

This week, the Patriots’ youngest captain appeared to agree with McDaniels.

Younger cornerback Marcus Jones, who is simply 1-7 in his profession in opposition to the Dolphins, hit on numerous components whereas he mirrored on the rivalry. Jones talked about the fast set off of Miami quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, who’s unbeaten his profession in opposition to the Patriots. And, in fact, Tagovailoa’s prime weapons — extensive receivers Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle — who will each have Jones’ consideration this Sunday.

Although, Jones might have overstated the Dolphins’ caliber just a bit.

“First off, they’re an excellent workforce,” he mentioned. “They know learn how to scheme up sure issues. They know learn how to do a variety of issues at any time when it comes right down to it, and everytime you’re enjoying in division, it is all the time arduous. I might say the humidity, that is a bit of distinction at any time when it is available in, particularly everytime you’re enjoying them early within the 12 months. After which additionally their big-play guys.”

Fortunate for the Patriots, their fortunes may quickly change.

Mike Vrabel went 2-0 in opposition to the Tua Tagovailoa-led Dolphins throughout his time in Tennessee, together with a 34-3 blowout in Miami’s final sport earlier than it employed present coach Mike McDaniel. Below McDaniel — who later dropped a surprising 28-27 house loss to Vrabel’s Titans in 2023, the Dolphins’ offense has develop into identified for its velocity, timing and rhythm.

Taking a violent, disruptive method on protection — two staples of most Vrabel groups — appears to present Miami issues. Simply ask the Colts, who thrashed the Dolphins, 33-8, in final weekend’s season opener.

“We’re actually going to must make them earn it, and we will have to search out methods to get the drive sstopped. You both must do what the Colts did, which was flip it over, or you are going to must make a play alongside the way in which and make them earn it,” Vrabel mentioned. “Choose and select your spots to attempt to be aggressive.”

Below Belichick — and later Jerod Mayo — the Patriots tried for years to make the Dolphins offense maintain lengthy drives. Miami fortunately obliged and thrived. However these defenses, extra then Vrabel’s new unit, had been desirous about hole management and maintaining every part in entrance of them moderately then penetration and creating damaging performs.

The latter fashion ought to assist stress the Dolphins and maybe power them into errors, as Indianapolis did below new defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo final weekend.

That’s, in fact, if the Pats can survive the climate first. Temperatures are at the moment anticipated to rise into the low 90s, with on-again, off-again precipitation.

“I imply, it may be heat, it may be moist, it will be humid,” Vrabel mentioned Wednesday. “I am certain it will rain, most likely lightning, who is aware of. However it’ll rain, after which it will cease.”

Sound acquainted?