3 keys to victory for Patriots’ Week 17 matchup against Dolphins
The New England Patriots, despite all of their ups and downs in life, are still in contention for the playoffs and can control their destiny.
They will still need to beat Buffalo Week 18 if the Patriots win, but if they lose this week, it’s over. There’s still a chance for the team to make the playoffs if they lose to the Bills, as our very own Jordy McElroy laid out here.
But nothing matters if they don’t get the job done against the Dolphins on Sunday.
Miami may be without starting quarterback, Tua Tagovailoa, for the game, but the Patriots aren’t without their own injury worries, as Jack Jones, Jonnu Smith, DeVante Parker and Marcus Jones have all been ruled out for the game.
With an ever-important New Year’s Day matchup looming, the Patriots will need a few things to go their way.
1. Make Pressure
If the Patriots want to fluster the Dolphins, and make it easier for their weapons Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle to be held in check, they’ll need to see Matthew Judon, Josh Uche, Deatrich Wise Jr. and Christian Barmore generate pressure.
The Dolphins’ offensive line is good, but Teddy Bridgewater is in the pocket this week, which will offer a unique matchup. Tagovailoa is quick to get the ball out, which can make it more difficult for opposing defenses, especially considering the speed of the perimeter.
Bridgewater getting the start should be slightly easier for the front seven to generate pressure, and as the Patriots are without Marcus Jones, they lack some speed in the secondary that could keep up with the Dolphins’ weapons.
2. You can contain Miami’s weapons by… running defense?
As mentioned above, the Patriots need to contain Miami’s weapons, and make it harder for Bridgewater to offensively take over the game.
The Dolphins will find a way to get their playmakers the ball. However, the Patriots are slow with Marcus Jones out and Jonathan Jones hurt.
We should see a lot of help over the top, and if Miami adjusts, they’ll likely try and run the ball more. A team that has relied on zone running concepts from Mike McDaniels’ days in San Francisco could give the Patriots some issues in the front seven.
The interior defenders will slow down the run, forcing the Dolphins into a decision about whether Teddy Bridgewater can throw into tight windows with double coverage or trust their run game. Slowing down the run should naturally help the secondary and pass rush make it a potentially frustrating day for the Dolphins’ offense.
3. Continue Week 16 success in the second half
Last week, the Patriots nearly came back from a 22 point deficit but fell short to Bengals.
They wouldn’t have been in a 22-point deficit if they played how they played in the second half for an entire game, which they clearly showed they have the talent to do so.
If the Patriots can be consistent with their Week 16 second-half performance, they could come away with a victory. The Patriots looked as explosive as ever offensively and were able to shut down elite receivers defensively in the second half.
The Patriots defense has been relentless in putting the team on their side all season. We might have a different view of this season if the offense is able to turn it around for the next two weeks.
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