3 Keys To A Miami Victory Against New England
Oct 29, 2023; Miami Gardens, Florida, USA; A general overall view of the field prior to the game between the Miami Dolphins and the New England Patriots at Hard Rock Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports
It’s week 8 of the NFL season and the Miami Dolphins return home to host the finale of their season series versus the New England Patriots. The Dolphins (5-2) are coming off just their 2nd loss of the season on Sunday night football in Philadelphia. Conversely, the Patriots (2-5) travel from Foxborough to Hard Rock Stadium after grabbing their 2nd win of the season against the Buffalo Bills.
The last time these two faced off was week 2 in New England, where the Dolphins defeated the Patriots 24-17. Miami Enters week 8 with one long-awaited major change. Off-season acquisition and superstar cornerback, Jalen Ramsey will make his Dolphins debut this week just 3 months removed from knee surgery.
How can the Dolphins get back into the win column? These are the 3 keys to victory for the Miami Dolphins.
Key #1: Establish the Run
The Miami Dolphins come into this game averaging 112.3 yards per game on the ground, led by Raheem Mostert who has 474 yards on the season thus far while averaging 5.6 yards per carry. They face a defense allowing 100.7 rushing yards per game, who is also missing their most impactful defender, Matthew Judon.
Obviously, the calling card for the Dolphins offense is the duo of Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle, but getting the ground game going and sustaining it will pay dividends in this game. In games against the Patriots, especially in division, making the most of your possessions is vital, whether it be because there are few possessions to be had or because the opposing offense is clicking, possessions need to be capitalized upon. The best way to ensure that you are in control of your possessions and not vice versa is to establish a run game.
The threat of the passing attack early should open the run game up and once the run game is going the passing attack should be off and running, and once the Dolphins are running no one can catch them.
Key #2: Get to Mac Jones
Sometimes things are better explained simply, so here is simple reasoning as to why the Dolphins should prioritize the pass rush: So far this season Mac Jones has put up a 90.1 passer rating from a clean pocket. Pretty mediocre right? Well, when pressured this Jones’s passer rating falls to 60.6.
Anyone who has any prior knowledge of the stat recognizes how not good that is.
The Patriots offensive line is not good, the Dolphins defensive line is good. The back half of the Dolphins defense is potentially very good with guys like Xaivien Howard, Jevon Holland, and now Jalen Ramsey. With that assured back end against an especially bad skill group for the Patriots, it gives you even more reason to attack the QB.
One match-up to watch in the trenches this week is Christian Wilkins vs Sidy Sow. Sow has struggled in pass protection this year and Wilkins, when healthy, is one of the league’s best at disrupting the pocket. Wilkins should eat, Bradley Chubb should eat, and the entire Dolphins defensive line should thrive.
Key #3: Don’t let Belichick Belichick You
2nd-year head coach Mike McDaniels is 2-1 vs the greatest coach of all time, Bill Belichick. McDaniels is rapidly climbing the list of the league’s best coaches and may already be at the top depending on who you talk to. But no matter how the shiny and motion-filled offense has looked this far into McDaniels career, Belichick will always be Bellichek and he is almost certainly foaming at the mouth to give these Florida boys even more of a reality check than the Eagles already have.
The Patriots defense looks underwhelming, and it is, but Bellichek has a way of scraping things together and making it tough for opponents, and division rivals even more. If McDaniels can dictate the game and keep it under his control the Dolphins will be fine. If he can’t there’s a chance Halloween comes early and the ghosts start flying all over the field.
The Dolphins have Super Bowl aspirations and sweeping a Patriots team would make the team, coaches, fans, and analysts all buy into those goals, no matter a down year. If McDaniels can fend off Bellichek curses in large part by establishing the run and pressuring Mac Jones, a victory over the league’s most prestigious franchise is as close to certain as it can get.
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