Dolphins look for validation against Patriots
If the 3-0 Miami Dolphins are really a championship contender, Sunday’s road game against the New England Patriots (1-2) will be a great time for them to prove their point.
This is a big game for all the Dolphins, but especially for Miami wide receiver Danny Amendola, a former Patriots standout.
“I’m excited to get back up there,” Amendola said of Gillette Stadium, site of Sunday’s game. “I’ve had a lot of experience playing there.”
Meanwhile, the Dolphins haven’t started a season 4-0 since 1995, and they haven’t won at New England since 2008.
In fact, the Patriots are 14-2 against the Dolphins at Gillette, and both of those Miami wins come with asterisks attached.
In 2008, Patriots quarterback Tom Brady was injured and did not play. The other Miami win at Gillette came in the final regular-season game of 2005. With the Patriots preparing for the playoffs, having already clinched a postseason berth, Brady was pulled from that game with the score tied 7-7 in the first quarter. Miami won that game 28-26 but did not qualify for the playoffs, making it a hollow victory.
In essence, Miami has yet to beat Brady at Gillette.
Injuries, as usual, will play a role in the game. For the Patriots, wide receiver Josh Gordon (hamstring) seems to be close to returning to action after warming up prior to last week’s loss at the Detroit Lions. Safety Patrick Chung and defensive end Trey Flowers missed the Lions game due to concussions but practiced on a limited basis Wednesday. And running back Rex Burkhead left Sunday’s game in the second half due to a neck injury and was placed on injured reserve on Wednesday.
For Miami, defensive ends Cameron Wake (knee) and Adrian Branch (knee), tight end A.J. Derby (foot) and linebacker Chase Allen (foot) missed practice on Wednesday. Wake and Derby are both starters, and Wake, as a Pro Bowl pass-rusher, would be an especially big loss.
In more positive Dolphins news, safety Reshad Jones, who missed last week’s win over the Oakland Raiders due to a shoulder injury, practiced Wednesday on a limited basis.
The Patriots, despite their poor start with road losses against the Jacksonville Jaguars and Lions, are still seven-point favorites.
SERIES HISTORY: 103rd regular-season meeting. Dolphins lead series, 53-49. The Patriots lead 2-1 in the playoffs and have won nine straight home games over the Dolphins.
