TEAM SHOTS

• Patriots players continue to game plan for Miami's Wildcat offense. Plus, news and notes from Thursday's practice.

LOCAL SHOTS

• Chris Gasper reports that Football Fate is finally smiling on Matt Cassel.  Cassel is starting while Carson Palmer and Matt Leinart sit.
• Shalise Manza Young says the Dolphins have a chance to make a statement vs. Patriots.
• Ron Borges knows the Patriots won't get fooled by the Wildcat again, and Baltimore defensive coordinator Rex Ryan explains exactly how the Ravens stopped it.
• Karen Guregian notes Dolphins defensive coordinator Paul Pasqualoni is aware that Cassel can beat them with his feet.
• Kerry J. Byrne figures out that the Patriots defense has played so poorly that it has made opposing QB's look just as good as Brady.
• Karen Guregian focuses on the progress and unmet expectations of Benjamin Watson, and speculates on Mike Vrabel's lower production this year.
• Shalise Manza Young says Matt Cassel is inspiration for other QB backups.
• Mike Reiss provides comments from CBS analyst Dan Dierdorf on the Patriots-Dolphins game, as provided by the CBS public relations staff, chatter from Matt Cassel's Q & A at Gillette, and More on the Wildcat.
• Globe's Patriots Notebook:  Pats are looking for a physical game against Phins, Miami is concerned about Cassel's ability to run, updates on Brushci's knee and other injuries, discussion on handling Moss being double teamed.
• Jim McBride disses those "Hey Coach" Coors Light commercials and makes his weekly game predictions.  Pick:  Patriots.
  

LONG SHOTS

• Matt Sohn (ProFootball Weekly) writes when Richard Seymour is healthy, as he is now, he’s one of the more difficult 3-4 defensive ends in the league to handle.
• Matt Bowen (National Football Post) calls NE at Miami the biggest game of the day because it carries the most ramifications with it.
• Pat Kirwan (ESPN): Not just a wild idea, Wildcat may be here to stay.
• Albert Breer (Sporting News) looks at the AFC playoff picture and the logjam behind the undefeated Titans.
• Jeff Darlington & John Tomase (The Sporting News):  New England at Miami pregame previews, matchups, and keys to victory for each team.
  

VIEW FROM MIAMI

• David J. Neal (Miami Herald): Patriots' Matt Cassel has rebounded from rout by Miami Dolphins.
• Jeff Darlington (Miami Herald): Miami Dolphins' Ronnie Brown aiming higher in Patriots rematch, and Joey Porter defends Michael Vick, "it's not like he was fighting cocker spaniels or something."
• Harvey Fialkov (Sun-Sentinel): Dolphins WR Greg Camarillo follows in Wes Welker's footsteps.
• Omar Kelly (Sun-Sentinel) implores Miami coaches to give the Patriots SOMETHING they haven't broken down and dissected to pieces since being embarrassed by the Dolphins earlier this season.
• Omar Kelly (Sun-Sentinel) notes Dolphins center Samson Satele will be up against his most challenging opponent this year, big Vince Wilfork.
• Edgar Thompson (Palm Beach Post): Jake Long making the most impact among rookie O-Linemen.

TEAM SHOTS

• Ronnie Brown, Bill Belichick discuss the Wildcat; Notes from Wednesday's practice.
• Patriots and Dolphins Injury Reports.
  

LOCAL SHOTS

• Mike Reiss analyzes that First Downs have been a key factor in Miami's 6-4 record, diagrams out the Wildcat, has Welker's locker room video clip, and gives us his and Chris Gasper's Pats vs. Dolphins Three Keys to watch for.
• Karen Guregian says Rodney Harrison's presence has been sorely missed, but he is in constant contact with James Sanders and Brandon Meriweather to help out and offer encouragement.
• Mike Reiss notices Pierre Woods' significant increase in playing time since Adalius' Thomas' injury.
• Karen Guregian hears Vince Wilfork is highly eager for Sunday's rematch.
• Christopher Price writes New England's kickoff unit is struggling.
• Steve Buckley notes Bill Belichick lauds Bill Parcells' work in Miami.
• Ed Ryan feels the Defense now needs to overcome their injuries the way the offense has done.
• Robert Lee notes that Wes Welker is warming up for Sunday's game against his former team.
• Tom Wilcox points out that Benjamin Watson and Jabar Gaffney may have to be the primary receivers again, if Moss and Welker are double teamed.
• Globe's Patriots Notebook:  Kevin Faulk has been playing the role of Ronnie Brown for the scout team; Parcells imprint on the Dolphins is measurable; Patriots injury update; practice notes and Patriots player chatter.
• Mike Lipka (STATS) presents his Patriots - Dolphins Preview and Head to Head Analysis.
• Tom Wilcox gives us his Three Keys vs. the Dolphins.
  

LONG SHOTS

• Tim Graham (ESPN): Miami wary of relatively quiet Randy Moss.
• Adam Schefter (NFL.com): Patriots choose quarterbacks wisely.
• Tim Graham (ESPN): Big November games are rare for Miami, and gives us Tony Sparano's view on why his injury reports are so empty, "In Sparano's world, you practice and you play through pain. If you can't go, you're headed to injured reserve."
• Ian O'Connor (Fox Sports): Parcells vs. Belichick neck and neck for now.
  

VIEW FROM MIAMI

• Omar Kelly (Sun-Sentinel): Pennington has earned his teammates' respect with his intelligence, hard work and strong leadership.
• Jeff Darlington (Miami Herald): Patriots won't see same old Wildcat play from Miami Dolphins.
• Harvey Fialkov (Sun-Sentinel): Dolphins coach Sparano tries to shield team from hype as Patriots game nears.
• Armando Salguero (Miami Herald): Is surprise element still a Miami Dolphins friend?  and Miami Dolphins take 'really good' step to victory.
  

What If Sports ranks them 20th (-3)

Yahoo! Sports ranks them 13th (+2):  If someone had told you in August that the Pats would open as one-point favorites over the Dolphins in a mid-November revenge game, would you have fitted him/her for a straightjacket before or after delivering the Thorazine shot?

NFL.com ranks 12th (nc):  Can the banged-up Pats avoid wilting in the South Florida heat?

ESPN ranks them 10th (-3):  Like the black knight in "Monty Python and the Holy Grail," the Patriots keep losing appendages but they fight onward. "It's just a flesh wound!"

Fox Sports ranks them 10th (-3):  This week Matt Cassel gets a chance to avenge Dolphins LB Joey Porter, who publicly disparaged Cassel with mid-week smack before Miami's shocking Week 3 upset win over the Pats. Lately, Tom Brady's young apprentice has been, well, Brady-esque.

The Sporting News ranks them 10th (-4):  The Patriots' pass protection woes from the Super Bowl have carried over a bit, as they've allowed 33 sacks, or as many as the Raiders. On the bright side, to take pressure off Matt Cassel, Matt Light, Logan Mankins, Dan Koppen, Stephen Neal and Nick Kaczur have risen as power run blockers.

Metro Boston ranks them 9th (-5):  Not since Drew Bledsoe and Dan Marino were kicking around did a Patriots-Dolphins game mean so much. The Pats can thank their defense for that.

ProFootball Weekly ranks them 9th (-2): Matt Cassel: future millionaire.

USA Today ranks them 9th (-3):  QB-hungry teams could be looking at free-agent-to-be Matt Cassel.

Dr. Z at SI ranks them 8th (-2):  What I liked about their Thursday nighter against the Jets was that nothing was decided by some fluke thing or other. Everything was hard fought, dearly won, the way contests at this level should be. Next trip? Who knows?

Peter King at SI ranks them 7th (-2):  Some clarity on the Matt Cassel free-agency situation: The Patriots have until Feb. 19 to determine whether to place the franchise tag on Cassel, whose contract expires after the season. That gives them three months from today to decide.

TEAM SHOTS

• Patriots ready for Wild weekend in Miami; Sammy Morris ready to contribute more; injury updates.
• Ask PFW:  Andy Hart of Patriots Football Weekly answers his reader mailbag.

LOCAL SHOTS

• Shalise Manza Young headlines Patriots' Pioli refuses to consider GM possibilities elsewhere. 
• Jim Donaldson warns that another loss to the Dolphins could end Patriots' playoff hopes.
• Chris Gasper observes that the Patriots just let the Miami mouth run.
• Globe's Patriots Notebook: Gaffney could be big contributer, if Moss and Welker are double-teamed again.
• Mike Reiss looks at some key NFL stats and where the Patriots rank among all clubs, answers his reader mailbag, discusses Tuesday's full-pads practice, mentions OL Jacob Bender was signed off the practice squad by the 49ers, and updates us on the Patriots & Pro Bowl voting.
• Mike McDermott's Football Today:  Brady filmed walking without crutches; speculation about Matt Cassel's future; and other notes from around the NFL.
• Brian MacPhereson looks at the playoff picture and plays out possible post-season scenarios for the Patriots.
• John Tomase recalls Stephen Neal's wrestling past, and Neal's '99 bout against Brock Lesnar.
  

LONG SHOTS

• Peter King (SI) focuses on Pats - Phins in his Tuesday column.
• Don Banks (SI): Lions should target Patriots' Scott Pioli to rebuild team.
• Bucky Brooks (SI): Patriots' Jerod mayo leads Defensive Rookie of the Year race.
• Tim Graham (ESPN) talks with the coaches about the value of undrafted free agents in the AFC East.
• Mike O'Hara (Detroit News):  Hiring Pats' Pioli would give Lions instant credibility.
  

VIEW FROM MIAMI

• Harvey Fialkov (Sun-Sentinel): Belichick fears Dolphins' gadgets.
• Miamidolphins.com: Pregame Report with all the info for this week's matchup.
• Omar Kelly (Sun-Sentinel) suggests that someone needs to piss off Joey Porter this week, because we all know the Patriots wouldn't dare say a word to Porter this week, or on Sunday.
• Sun-Sentinel: Q & A with Dolphins' head coach Tony Sparano.
  

TEAM SHOTS

• Patriots place CB Terrence Wheatley on injured reserve.
• Despite changes, Dean Pees and Josh McDaniels haven't changed.
• Patriots battle Dolphins in South Florida.  Broadcast info, series history, quick hits and connections.
  

LOCAL SHOTS

• Shalise Manza Young reports the Patriots prepare to tame the Dolphins' Wildcat.
• Mike Reiss says Watson's overall performance raises some important questions about his role and the overall role of the tight end position in the team's offense.
• Mike McDermott Football Today:  Pats vs. Dolphins up next, What Cassel can expect in 2009, NFL union boss predicts lockout, and other NFL news.
• Mike Reiss notes Patriots players eased back into the work week Monday, with their first practice of the week on Tuesday.  Also, the Patriots worked out rookie receiver/returner Jayson Foster at Gillette yesterday. 
• YouTube has a few of Foster's highlight video clips from Georgia Southern if you're curious.
• Mike Reiss notes with seven games to play, Mayo leads the Patriots with 85 tackles. That ranks him second in the NFL, behind Browns linebacker D'Qwell Jackson.
• John Tomase gives us more Joey Porter sewage and how the Patriots haven't stopped a Wildcat play yet.  Where's Karen G. this  morning?
• Charles P. Pierce has a feature story on why Robert Kraft's Patriot Place is the model for the new age of pro sports.

LONG SHOTS

• Adam Schefter (NFL.com) ponders this 'package deal' from New England:  Any team that hires McDaniels, already considered one of the top coaching prospects in the league, might have the inside track on Cassel.
• Adam Schefter (NFL.com) also speculates that Cassel's asking price next season could be similar to Aaron Rogers' contract.
• Bill Barnwell (Football Outsiders) writes Matt Cassel's work both in the air and on the ground resulted in what our statistics report to be the best game of any quarterback so far in the 2008 season.
• Matt Sohn (ProFootball Weekly) says Patriots probably can't afford emerging QB Cassel this offseason.
• ProFootball Weekly's Week 11 Players of the Week, featuring Matt Cassel on offense and Jerod Mayo on defense.
• Andrew Brandt (The National Football Post) asserts that even with Tom Brady making eight figures, the Patriots would be wise to apply the Franchise Tag to Cassel.
• Tim Graham (ESPN) opted for the no-brainer here, with a Joey Porter interview focusing on how he doesn't like the Patriots.  Who knew?
• Tim Graham (ESPN) now he goes for the absurd with this one, "Take your pick: Cassel or Brady -- no, seriously."

VIEW FROM MIAMI

• Jeff Darlington (Miami Herald): Miami Dolphins amped up for New England.
• Harvey Fialkov (Sun-Sentinal): Working Monday partially Patriotic.
• Ethan J. Skolnik (Sun-Sentinal): Dolphins find selves on verge of national relevance.
• Andy Cohen (Miamidolphins.com): Dolphins vs. Pats - The Big Time is back.
• Dolphins Notebook (Miami Herald): Miami Dolphins coach defends play of special teams.

TEAM SHOTS

Listen to Patriots Monday/Friday interviews.  Belichick was on WEEI Friday, after the Jets game, and is always worth hearing in this format.

LOCAL SHOTS

• Mike Reiss takes us back to how the division looked last year and talks about an exciting race to the finish.
• Shalise Manza Young calls Belichick and the Patriots champions of the underdog.
• Mike Reiss spends a Few Minutes With Lonnie Paxton.
• John Tomase asserts the Patriots season hinges on what happens this Sunday in Miami against the Dolphins, and ponders what to do with Cassel next year.
• Steve Buckley says perseverant Matt Cassel rewrites the future, in his tale of transformation.
• The Herald staff discusses the Wild Card race and presents the NFL’s wild card tiebreaker when more than two teams are involved.
• Eric McHugh puts the Dolphins in Focus, after watching them rally to beat the Raiders.
• Bob Halloran points out the New England defense is lacking depth.
• Glen Farley discusses the 1985 Patriots team that snapped an 18-game losing streak in Miami with a win in the AFC Championship game.  --I still have the T-shirt!
  

LONG SHOTS

Peter King (SI) Quote of the week II:  "Ty Law now is gonna back off Randy Moss and give him a free release. I don't know about that one.''
-- Cris Collinsworth, on NFL Network's 34-31 New York Jets win over New England Thursday night, talking with eight seconds left in the fourth quarter, as the Patriots lined up for a fourth-and-one at the Jet 16.

• Omar Kelly (Sun-Sentinal) notes the Miami Dolphins are playing with house money now, as they prepare for the New England Patriots on Sunday.
• Dave Hyde (Sun-Sentinal) The Dolphins are in the playoff hunt and have also had some planets align for them this year: They're completely healthy; Tom Brady's injury opened the AFC East; their schedule is not only full of bad teams, but bad teams flying across the country to play them.
• Peter King (SI) awards Ben watson with his uncontested "Goat of the Week" distinction for simply dropping the ball and coughing up New England's momentum in the process.
• Peter King (SI) also awards former Patriot defensive back Je'Rod Cherry with his "Good Guy of the Week" honor, for auctioning off his 2001 Super Bowl ring to raise money for children's charities around the world.
• Dan Arkush (ProFootball Weekly): Red-hot Jets, resilient Pats both remain in national spotlight.