The Dolphins snapped out of their 5 game losing streak in Week 13 and are looking for more at home against the Patriots. That will be a tough call given that on the road, the Pats are 6-0 straight up and 5-1 against the spread. The Dolphins are 3-3 straight up and 2-2-2 against the spread at home at Hard Rock Stadium.
After a bit of a slow start to the season the New England Patriots seemed to have it figured out, and come into this game really rolling. They have won eight games in a row, and covered the spread in the last six games. In their last game against the Buffalo Bills they dominated both sides of the ball, and that led to a 23-3 victory.
They might have had a very big loss in that game though. Rob Gronkowski had a very late dirty hit on Tre’Davious White that ultimately gave White a concussion. Most are calling for Gronkowski to be suspended at least one game, and if that were to be the case, that would be a very big loss for the Patriots.
To win this game, the Patriots really need to just play their game, and not overlook it because they are the better team on both sides of the ball. On offense Tom Brady just needs to play his game and lead the team with confidence. This would be a good game for the for the offense to really run up the score. On the defensive side of the ball they need to get to Jay Cutler early and get him to turn the ball over. He will turn the ball over if you pressure him and that’s what the Patriots need to make him do.
On the other side of this match up is the Miami Dolphins who have had a disappointing season, but finally got back onto the winning track in their last game. The offense got clicking, and the defense stepped up against a very bad Broncos offense and that led to a 35-9 victory.
They had lost five games in a row, mostly because of the defensive struggles, and in this game that part of the game is going to need to be better. In the five previous games they had given up at least 27 points in each game and an average of 35.4 points during that stretch.
To win this game the defense is going to need to step up. They can’t let this game get into a shootout and they need to try and slow down Tom Brady and company. If they can keep this game to be a low scoring game they have a chance.
Writer’s Prediction
I know the Dolphins have had success beating the Patriots at home, but that won’t happen in this game. The Patriots will run up the score on the way to a win and a cover. Pick: Patriots (-11.5)
