Patriots seek bounce-back performance against Dolphins
The New England Patriots’ matchup with the Miami Dolphins is the Pats’ most important early-season game in some time against a division opponent.
If the Pats should lose they would fall to 1-3, three games behind the Dolphins, with a game to a play in Miami in December, a place that the Pats have historically struggled.
Miami has not won in Foxborough, Mass., since 2008, when Matt Cassel started for the injured Tom Brady. The Dolphins unveiled their wildcat offense when Ronnie Brown had four rushing touchdowns and one throwing touchdown. The Dolphins won 38-13. It was the Pats’ first regular season loss since 2006, ending a streak of 21 consecutive regular-season victories.
The streak had started immediately after the Patriots lost to the Dolphins 21-0 on Dec. 10, 2006 The coach of the 2006 Dolphins was Bill Belichick protege Nick Saban. It was Saban’s last win as Miami Dolphins coach. He left for Alabama in the offseason.
The Patriots and Belichick are certainly aware of the Dolphins’ talent this year.
“We’ve spent some time here on the Dolphins, and they’re certainly off to an impressive start,” Belichick said. “This is a really good football team. They’re good in all three areas of the game. They lead the league in special teams field position, or in field position. A lot of that’s created by special teams, obviously, and their turnover differential. So, done a really good job there, very good in the kicking game, explosive return game, good rushing team, they cover well.
“And offensively, this is a well-balanced team that’s very explosive, has a lot of big plays, run the ball, have a lot of play-makers on the offensive side, including the quarterback (Ryan Tannehill) throwing and running. And defensively, they’re aggressive, they play fast, turn the ball over, really good pursuit team, well-coached, good fundamental team. It’s easy to see why they’re 3-0. They’re playing well, well-coached.”
Patriots captain and special teams ace Matthew Slater said it is important to have tunnel vision.
“It really does not matter what happened two weeks ago, last week and this has no bearing on what happens Sunday. Our whole focus is on Sunday,” Slater said.
SERIES HISTORY: 103rd regular-season. Dolphins lead series, 53-49. The last time these two teams played was last December in Miami on Monday Night Football when the Dolphins won 27-20. The Pats did not lose again until the Super Bowl against Philadelphia. The Pats beat the Dolphins 35-17 at Gillette in late November last year. The teams have met three times in the playoffs with the Pats beating the Dolphins in the Orange Bowl in 1986 to clinch their first Super Bowl berth. It was the first time the Pats had won at Miami since 1966, ending a string of 18 consecutive losses. The Pats are 2-1 against Miami in the playoffs.
