Miami Dolphins heading north for big week 4 Patriots game
By Sean Moon
The Miami Dolphins are traveling North to New England to take on their toughest challenge yet of the 2018 season. Get your popcorn ready!
This game is going to tell us who the Miami Dolphins are.
This is it, the Statement game, the game you measure who you are and how good you can be. The Miami Dolphins riding a three-game win streak are headed up north to Foxborough to play the defending AFC champion and longtime AFC east kings, the New England Patriots. Meeting for the 106th time this storied divisional battle between the New England Patriots and the Miami Dolphins might just determine the path of both teams for this season.
The Miami Dolphins are sporting a new mentality this year, something the fans have not seen the past few years. These Dolphins rally around one another, look to be friends that are enjoying the game and are proving they are a winning team. There seems to be no veteran and no rookie, there is simply team, and a strong desire to improve and grow together.
The Miami Dolphins will go to Foxborough with a different aura than in years past. They really are a team who has shown they will not be out hustled or physically pushed around. According to Pro Football Reference stats, their defense is currently 6th in the NFL for points against, tied for first with Seattle with 7 interceptions and have shown the ability to apply pressure on the opposing quarterback. Miami’s defense is a force to be reckoned with this year and has shown a lot of improvement from last season, especially in stopping the run and creating turnovers.
Sunday they will have one of the best safeties in the league back on the field in Reshad Jones which will allow Minkah Fitzpatrick to slide back over to his role in the slot, were he excelled at in the first two games. He will be tasked with blanketing tight end Rob Gronkowski, who has been a real problem for the defense since his arrival at New England. Xavien Howard the “X-factor”, will most likely cover the Patriots number one receiver, which might be Josh Gordon or Chris Hogan, depending on who is available for Sunday.
Ryan Tannehill has a completion rate 73% and has thrown for 7 TD’s through three games this season. He has developed nice chemistry with all his receivers, although coach Gase could let him take advantage of that a little more instead of holding him back a bit with his play calling (bubble screens…ugh!!) early in games. The running game, which most thought was going to be a huge strength has really yet to get going in any game this season. Ryan Tannehill has used his footwork nicely to add to the team rushing totals, especially on some crucial 3rd downs.
The drag routes and outside go routes are were the lions and the Jags both carved up new England secondary, which appears to be a little soft and the New England pass rush is not very productive either. Kenny Stills and DeVante Parker could see a lot of production if the ground game stalls out again, but Albert Wilson should feast dragging over the middle.
The New England Patriots will also have a slightly different aura about them this Sunday as well. This not the same Patriots team we are used to seeing. The Patriots come in at 20th in the NFL for points against and 25th in the league for points for, which is unusually low ranking for this teams offense.
Tom Brady has struggled with his lack of talent at the receiver position, especially with the absence of his suspended favorite target Julian Edelman. So far this season the New England Patriots team has been outperformed in the passing game while only totaling 644 yards to the opponents 789 yards and the Patriots have been out rushed 293 yards to 430 yards, according to Pro Football Reference stats.
This however is the New England Patriots, who always seem to work out their issues early in the season and regain their form and seem to have the Miami Dolphins number in Foxborough. Just in the last 10 years the Patriots have beaten the Dolphins 9 out of the last 10 times in their house and have crushed the Miami Dolphin fan base some many times I lost track. Tom Brady comes in throwing at a completion rate of 64% and 6 touchdowns through the first three games, but is looking for victories and some rhythm.
New England Patriots running back James White is Tom Brady’s favorite target at this point, seeing more targets than Rob Gronkowski has seen so far. The shifty running back will try to use his speed to create problems for the Dolphins defense out of the backfield as a receiver and will now see more of the field because the Patriots just put leading rusher Rex Burkhead on IR. Rookie running back Sony Michel will most likely be more involved with some creative play calling from Josh McDaniels.
So on Sunday the Miami Dolphins look to continue the streak and go to 4-0, and the confidence for the team would soar to new heights. The Patriots would fall to 1-3 and the Dolphins would take a commanding lead in the division.
But, and there is that but, the Patriots haven’t lost 3 in row since 2002, Tom Brady has owned the AFC East over his career and every time you think the Patriots are finally fading and vulnerable they pummel you on thier home field and give you a reality check.
All things must come to an end they say, but which thing is coming to an end?