Weekly Pats Preview: Patriots vs Dolphins
The Pats head down south for their dreaded December trip to Miami.
This makes me start to wonder if they do this on purpose to make sure the Pats can lose a game before the playoffs. This always seems to be one of the hardest games every year for the Pats, and it won’t be any easier this year.
It seems like Brady always finds a way to make mistakes in Miami.
The good news is that the guy who picked him twice in Miami last year, Xavien Howard, is banged up this week. If the running game can keep the pace in this game, and keep those mistakes from happening, that will be the key to not losing this one.
A good mix of Michel, Burkhead, White and even some Patterson will keep from letting one guy get too exhausted in the heat of Florida.
They need to continue to use James Develin in short yardage situations as well. It’s clear that it’s not a strong suit of Michel yet, and nobody in their right mind would get in the way of Develin by choice.
If the running game works, the rest will fall into place for Brady and Co. and maybe we can actually see some Chris Hogan this week!
The defense also seems to fall apart in these games.
Maybe the big guys just get tired in the heat, but the Dolphins should never put up big points.
Kenyan Drake has been hot, so he will be an important player to stop. The receivers are still a good corp as well, if Amendola is healthy along with a now healthy DeVante Parker and Kenny Stills.
The lack of speed guys like Grant and Wilson should help. It seems like JC Jackson has earned himself a role on this defense, but I don’t know why he has been playing more than Jonathan Jones.
Jones is a great slot corner and could be an important piece going forward.
If the pass rush can play like they did last week, Tannehill is gonna Tannehill and mistakes will be made. Keeping it simple all around will help the Pats come out on top of this one.
Trying to do too much always gets to the Pats in what should be easy wins like this.
Do what you do well and weak AFC East teams fall right into place. If they win this one then they should go 6-0 in the division for the first time in a while. Pats will win a close one, 20-17.
-Jake Kobierski (@TheRealKobe83)
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