Why The Dolphins Won
Miami played like they had nothing to lose in this one. Head coach Brian Flores, who was making his first visit to Foxborough since leaving the organization for the Miami job last offseason, was quick to to reach deep in his bag of plays, calling a number of trick plays that kept New England’s defense honest. Even without those flashy plays, the Dolphins offense was able to move the ball extremely well against what was a sturdy Patriots defense heading into this contest. Fitzpatrick was able to hit Albert Wilson on a number of slant routes over the middle of the field to extend drives and DeVante Parker had his way against Defensive Player of the Year candidate Stephon Gilmore, catching eight of his 11 targets for 137 yards. Isaiah Ford also had a strong outing, catching seven passes for 54 yards. Their success in the passing game helped them to 26 first downs and a dominant 33:51 time of possession total.
Even as the Patriots were able to get their first lead of the day with just under four minutes to play in the game, the Dolphins were unfazed and Ryan Fitzpatrick marched 75 yards down the field for the game winning touchdown.
Defensively, the Dolphins were able to capitalize on New England’s mistakes. Brady was inaccurate for most of the contest, and when he threw one second quarter pass in-between two Patriots pass catchers, corner Eric Rowe leaped in the middle to intercept it and take to the end zone for a touchdown.
New England Patriots Vs Miami Dolphins: Predictions Point Spread Game Plans Matchups And More
FOXBOROUGH The Mac Jones era has arrived at 1 Patriot Place.
The rookie will have a reasonably tall task in his debut, as the Dolphins come to New England for Sunday afternoons season opener. Miami finished second in the AFC East last season at 10-6 and Brian Flores is sure to dial up some pressure on Jones.
So how will the first-round pick fare in his first live action? Lets get to the preview and find out:
THE BIGGEST STORYLINE: Welcome to the Mac Jones show
While there are plenty of subplots on Sunday, make no mistake, Jones will command the spotlight and deservedly so.
The long-term heir apparent to Tom Brady, Jones obviously has massive footsteps to follow, but seems determined to blaze his own trail.
Quarterback position, Toms here 20 years, Devin McCourty said. Theres so much hype outside of this building. But I think hes done a good job just focusing on whats going on here day-to-day: What we need to do to be a good football team and trying to win games.
The first-rounder beat incumbent veteran Cam Newton for the starting gig this summer and has taken command of the Patriots offense. Demonstrative at times, Jones hasnt hesitated to approach veteran players and hes earned their respect in the process.
On the practice field, Trent Brown says the rookie hasnt been afraid to take things into his own hands despite being a greenhorn in the grand scheme of things.
DOLPHINS OFFENSE VS. PATRIOTS DEFENSE
Can Judon keep his momentum going?
Dolphins At Patriots Odds Spread And Lines
Odds provided by Tipico Sportsbook access USA TODAY Sports betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated Saturday at 1:15 p.m. ET.
- Money line: Dolphins +160 | Patriots -200
- Against the spread : Dolphins +3.5 | Patriots -3.5
- Over/Under : 43.5
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Pete Prisco Cbs Sports:
Pick: Patriots 23, Dolphins 17
This highlight of this game will be the two quarterbacks, Miami’s Tua Tagovailoa against New England’s Mac Jones, who will be making his first start as a rookie. The Dolphins and Brian Flores will throw a ton of looks at Jones, who saw a lot of vanilla stuff in the preseason. But it will be a challenge for Tagovailoa as well. This is a tough opener for Miami against an improved New England team. Jones will win his first start.
Jason La Canfora, CBS Sports: Patriots
Will Brinson, CBS Sports: Patriots
Dave Richard, CBS Sports: Patriots
Ryan Wilson, CBS Sports: Patriots
John Breech, CBS Sports: Patriots
Jamey Eisenberg, CBS Sports: Patriots
Jared Dubin, CBS Sports: Patriots
Patriots Game Sunday: Patriots Vs Dolphins Odds And Prediction For Nfl Week 1 Game
The Mac Jones era will commence when the New England Patriots play host to the Miami Dolphins at 4:25 p.m. EST on Sunday.
Of course, the Patriots announced Jones as their starter by default when they shockingly released Cam Newton before the roster deadline.
Both of these teams could end up in the playoffs when all is said and done, so this game has plenty of intrigue. All eyes will be on Jones, and rightfully so, but Dolphins starter Tua Tagovailoa has plenty of pressure on his shoulders after his up-and-down rookie year.
So, what are the oddsmakers saying about the Patriots chances to start the new campaign on a winning note?
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Here Are 3 Bold Predictions For The Miami Dolphins Week 1 Game Against The New England Patriots
The Dolphins also drafted offensive lineman Liam Eichenberg, but they are still trying to find their best combination of five starting offensive linemen.
New England is favored to win the game, which is wild in my eyes. The Patriots did spend a lot of money this offseason on free agents. They also drafted quarterback Mac Jones in the first round. However, Jones will be making his first career NFL start against the dominant Dolphins defense.
It will be interesting to see how Jones does in this game, but Miami should be able to walk away from Week 1 1-0. That is not a bold prediction, so instead, here are three bold predictions for the Dolphins Week 1 game against the Patriots.
Patriots Vs Dolphins: Live Updates Scores News Game Details
On a day where they outgunned their opponents by 134 yards and experienced revelations at the quarterback and tight end positions, the New England Patriots fell to the Miami Dolphins by a score of 17-16. A combination of strong play by Miamis quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, backbreaking mistakes in key spots, and an inability to finish in the red zone spelled doom for the Patriots, who fall to 0-1 on the year. A matchup with the New York Jets this Sunday in New Jersey is up next on the agenda.
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Starting In The Gilmore
With 2019 NFL Defensive Player of the Year Stephon Gilmore beginning the fall on physically unable to perform, New England shifted gears in the secondary. J.C. Jackson, Devin McCourty, Adrian Phillips and Kyle Dugger drew the start in the big nickel package versus Miami. As did March signing Jalen Mills from the Philadelphia Eagles, who had been listed as questionable due to an ankle issue.
Jackson, the No. 1 cornerback, broke up a pass on a DeVante Parker dig route in the AFC East meeting. But the Dolphins wide receiver entered Sunday having notched three 100-yard games versus the Patriots, and hed go on to reel in four catches for 81 yards, securing a ball above the rim for 30 after intermission. And before intermission, the aforementioned Mills leaped to break up a would-be touchdown toss to fellow Miami wideout Albert Wilson. New Englands newcomer did so with his left arm.
The fourth quarter saw Patriots slot corner Jonathan Jones collect the lone interception of the game with the score reading 17-16.
Patriots Stats And Trends
- New England went 7-9-0 ATS last season.
- The Patriots were favored by 3.5 points or more four times last season, and covered the spread in two of those games.
- Click over to SISportsbook and place a bet on the Patriots against the spread.
- Last season, five of New England’s games went over the point total.
- The Patriots put up just 0.7 fewer points per game than the Dolphins surrendered last season.
- When New England scored more than 21.1 points last year, it was 4-2 against the spread and 5-1 overall.
- The Patriots racked up 40.6 fewer yards per game than the Dolphins gave up per matchup last year.
- When New England picked up over 367.9 yards last season, the team was 2-3 against the spread and 3-2 overall.
- The Patriots turned the ball over 19 times last year, 10 fewer than the Dolphins forced turnovers .
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Why Miami Will Win
How much do you really believe in a rookie quarterback in his first game?
Mac Jones might turn out to be a special talent for the Patriots, but hes about to get hit hard by a Miami defense that led the NFL in interceptions and was second in touchdown passes allowed. With a loaded secondary and a terrific group of corners, the Dolphins will be a master class in NFL reads in Game One.
Hes still working his way through the rough patches, but Tua Tagovailoa is the veteran in this and he has the guys to spread the ball around. The offense should be balanced, and theres no need to force anything thats not there.
Bill Belichick Vs Brian Flores
Its well-documented that Belichicks former assistants often flop when they venture beyond Foxborough. Brian Flores is an exception to that general rule.
Flores has flourished since taking over the Dolphins program, and now has them with an elite defense and a radically shifted culture. Hes clearly adopting some Patriot Way principles espoused by Belichick, yet is doing his own thing and being an authentic leader. Everyone in Miami is buying in.
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- Flores In a Flow State: Not only did Flores transform the Dolphins defense into one of the NFLs best, but he deftly juggled a QB controversy in 2020 and still managed to finish with a 10-6 record. This man knows what hes doing.
- GOAT Talk: Belichick is probably tired of hearing about Bradys success after he guided the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to a Super Bowl. Week 1 should mark the first step in a return to form from Belichick, as The Hoodie reminds the football world that hes still the GOAT of all coaches.
Advantage: New England Patriots
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Why New England Will Win
It might seem basic, but its Bill Belichick with several weeks to prepare for a season opener his team got Miami 22-11 in the 2020 lid lifter.
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The offense will take the pressure off of Jones with a steady diet of Damien Harris and the ground game, the tempo will be slowed down to keep the score in range, and the defense will give Tagovailoa a whole lot of funky problems to deal with.
Miami might have an amazing secondary, but the Patriots picked off 18 throws last season and should be ball-hawking again if they can bother
Patriots Vs Dolphins Prediction Week 1
The Patriots actually kicked off the 2020 regular season with a win over the Dolphins at home, and we actually love their chances to repeat doing so.
Jones is seemingly composed beyond his experience would suggest. The running game was unstoppable in the preseason, and the defense, though down Stephon Gilmore, finally has elite talent at all three levels again with a number of opt outs returning and new additions in free agency/the draft.
Thats all Bill Belichick needs. While Miami is not a team to overlook, something tells us Belichick will has something special planned for Tagovailoa, who has yet to show he can truly move the ball down field at the next level.
Patriots win, 24-14.
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Mac Jones Vs Tua Tagovailoa
How strange that Mac Jones is making his official NFL debut against his predecessor at Alabama, Dolphins second-year QB Tua Tagovailoa. The latter has the edge in experience, but Jones has the chops to be an instant NFL success.
Jones clearly beat out Cam Newton for the Patriots starting job in training camp and in the preseason. Patriots head coach Bill Belichick certainly isnt afraid of being bold, and Jones rise is at least somewhat reminiscent of his decision many moons ago to start the young Tom Brady over veteran Drew Bledsoe.
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- Mac Attack: Although he had a loaded cast of skill players around him with the Crimson Tide, Jones did play in an offense with plenty of pro-style principles. He recorded an FBS-record 77.4% completion rate, with 12.8 air yards per attempt. Jones wasnt dinking and dunking down the field, and he should diversify New Englands passing attack.
- Tuas Other Reunion: A whirlwind rookie campaign saw Tagovailoa mostly overwhelmed. Still, he managed a 6-3 starting record. He now has another former Alabama star in rookie No. 6 overall pick Jaylen Waddle as an electrifying weapon to throw to as part of Miamis revamped receiving corps.
Advantage: New England Patriots
Will the Patriots or Dolphins make it to the postseason? Read our NFL playoff predictions now
What Are The Odds For Dolphins At Patriots
The Patriots are 3.5-point favorites with the over/under at 43.5, according to Tipico Sportsbook.
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Contact Analis Bailey at [email protected] or on Twitter @analisbailey.
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Going By Ground Early On
Four members of New Englands running back room would be active versus Miami. What followed proved to be more than active. The offense didnt officially attempt a pass until the seventh snap.
Starter Damien Harris ran for 100 yards on 23 carries, beginning with a 35-yard breakout on the first play from scrimmage and later having a pirouetting touchdown run wiped away by a holding call. Patriots captain James White spelled in for 61 all-purpose yards. And while Brandon Bolden returned to his post on special teams and as a kickoff returner, Rhamondre Stevenson worked in. But the rookie out of Cerritos College and Oklahoma had the ruling of a fumble upheld upon review. The same result arrived after Harris fumbled deep in Miami territory in the closing minutes. There were four in all for New England.
J.J. Taylor, who checked into six contests as an undrafted free agent last season, went to the inactives list prior to the 4:25 p.m. ET kickoff.
Alabama Products Go Back And Forth Under Center
The quarterback once sitting ahead of Mac Jones on the Alabama depth chart witnessed the first start of his NFL career. And as Tua Tagovailoa did so, the rookie drafted one spring and 10 selections after him went 29-of-39 passing versus Miami.
It began with a play-action backwards pass that went in the books as a blindside sack and fumble for the consensus All-American. The first true throw by Jones came on a third-and-21 checkdown at the 11:27 mark in the first quarter. But the game brought a total of 281 yards and no turnovers through the air for Jones. He worked underneath and under duress. And he worked accurately, letting a pass go deep down the seams for wide receiver Nelson Agholor on a diving catch of 26 yards. The pair would connect on five occasions, and for their first touchdowns as Patriots before halftime.
As for the other side of the Crimson Tide connection, Sunday marked the 10th start for Tagovailoa in a Dolphins uniform. Tagovailoa ran it in himself from three yards away for games opening points. He would go on to complete 16-of-27 passes for 202 yards with a touchdown to another Tuscaloosa teammate in Jaylen Waddle, who motioned and extended over the pylon in the third frame.
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New Englands Roster Flexibility At Kicker
Theres certainly more flexibility, and I feel like right now we have two good kickers combined in our total roster, Patriots head coach Belichick had told reporters during his Friday press conference. And to me, thats a good thing.
That was seen as the Patriots made veteran Nick Folk a standard elevation on the eve of the opener. And it was seen as the 36-year-old handled the operation from there. Folk went 3-of-3 on field goals, beginning with a 27-yarder through the uprights against the Dolphins and continuing with a 42-yarder and a 33-yarder. He made good on his lone extra point during an outing in which New Englands offense made good on 25 percent of its opportunities in the red zone.
Twice named AFC Special Teams Player of the Week last season, Folk is scheduled to revert to the practice squad on Monday. Undrafted rookie Quinn Nordin is scheduled to remain where he found himself at the leagues 53-man roster deadline instead of being subject to waivers. But on Sunday, the Michigan product found himself among the inactives.
Mac Jones Was Excellent
You couldn’t have asked for much more from Jones in his regular season debut. The 2021 first-round draft pick was very accurate, completing 29 of 39 pass attempts for 281 yards with one touchdown and zero turnovers. He completed passes to eight different players.
Jones’ only touchdown pass came late in the second quarter and gave New England a brief 10-7 lead.
THE FIRST TD.
New England Patriots
Jones’ accuracy was impressive throughout the game, especially on this excellent third-down throw to running back James White.
New England Patriots
The Dolphins blitzed Jones quite a few times, but he handled it well. He completed 14 of 19 pass attempts with a touchdown when under pressure. He didn’t get enough credit at Alabama for his ability to stand in the pocket, deliver an accurate pass and take a huge hit in the process.
Overall, Jones was accurate and didn’t make many mistakes. Even though the Patriots lost, they should feel really encouraged by their rookie quarterback’s performance in Week 1.
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