The New England Patriots (10-2) will travel to Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, Florida to take on the Dolphins (5-7). This Monday Night Football matchup will kick off at 8:30 PM/ET.
The Patriots are coming off another sound performance against an AFC East opponent. New England dispatched the helpless Bills by a score of 23 to 3. The Patriots dominated the game from start to finish on both sides of the ball. New England has now won eight straight contests, and have yet to lose to a divisional opponent this season.
The Dolphins snapped a five-game losing streak against the Broncos in week 13. Miami’s hapless offense exploded for 35 points thanks in large part to a strong defensive effort. The Broncos’ offense, however, is nothing compared to New England’s juggernaut. Even without Rob Gronkowski (suspended for 1-game) the Patriots offense, with its multiple facets, will challenge Miami’s defense.
New England is cruising to their week 15 matchup with Pittsburgh.
The Patriots are in the driver seat for another AFC East division title. Their aspirations are much larger than a divisional crown. New England is battling Pittsburgh for a chance at the 1-seed and all the advantages that come with it. The Patriots want a first-round bye, but it’s home field advantage throughout that they’re truly gunning for.
With a huge showdown with the Steelers in week 15, the Patriots face a classic trap game in Miami. The Dolphins are a disappointing team this season, but they’ve shown moments of their potential, especially on the defensive side of the ball.
The Patriots played the Dolphins just two weeks ago. This Dolphins team, however, will look a bit different. In place of Matt Moore, the Dolphins will start embattled quarterback Jay Cutler. Cutler has been in and out of the lineup all season, and the Patriots will likely get after the turnover-prone quarterback all night.
The Patriots’ defense has improved greatly from the start of the season. According to NFL Stats, the Patriots’ defense ranks 9th in terms points allowed per game. Against a Miami offense that ranks 26th in the NFL in terms of points scored per game, expect the Patriots’ defense to hold Miami’s offense in check.
The Dolphins need a statement game.
The Dolphins don’t have much to play for the rest of the season. Miami is still mathematically alive, but they’re not making the playoffs. Winning a game against a hated rival is as good as it gets. This is Miami’s Super Bowl. With a chip on their shoulder and something to prove, expect the Dolphins to play a physical game with a lot of effort.
Last week against the Broncos, Miami’s rushing attack got on track. As a team, Miami rushed for 145 yards on 30 carries. Kenyan Drake led the attack with 120 yards on 23 carries and a touchdown.
Miami’s defense also dominated in Denver. The Dolphins picked off Broncos quarterback, Trevor Siemian 3 times returning one for a score. Against a Patriot’s offense without Rob Gronkowski, expect the Dolphins secondary to take chances and try to pick Brady off. Brady protects the ball better than any quarterback in the league, but he was picked off last week on a pass intended for Gronkowski.
Dolphins vs Patriots Betting Lines
BetOnline.ag has the Patriots favored to win the game by 11 points. The over/under on total points scored is 47. You can read our full BetOnline review here.
My Pick
The Patriots will win this game. The question is by how much. Beating a team twice in one season is always a challenge. Now factor in that these teams met two weeks ago, and how familiar both teams are with each other. Brady is 21 and 9 all-time against the Dolphins, according to Pro-Football reference. Expect both teams to run the ball a lot, but in the end, the Patriots’ defense will put their offense in position to get the victory.
Play: Patriots -11 @ BetOnline.ag
2017 Monday Night Football • Betting on patriots • Miami Dolphins Betting • New England Patriots betting