Andy Hart offers a six-pack of pointers for the Patriots to beat the Dolphins tonight.
Offensive balance – While the defense focuses on keeping the Dolphins from being balanced, I think the Patriots need to balance it out offensively. We know this is a pass-first offense, but it can’t be a pass-always offense. With Fred Taylor missing the week of practice the onus may once again fall on BenJarvus Green-Ellis. I thought his effort against Buffalo was his best work as a Patriot. Let him build on that. Even if the running game has to come from a variety of bodies, as was the case to the tune of 200 yards against the Bills, New England has to run it well again. Miami is allowing opponents 4.5 yards a carry on the season. Open up the passing game, by giving the ground game enough chance to share the load.
From road worriers to road warriors – "We’ve got to win a meaningful game on the road. If we’re going to be a good team, we’ve got to start winning on the road." That’s what Brady had to say after last Sunday’s win over the Bills. He’s right. The Patriots have failed miserably on the road over the last year-plus, the only win coming down to the wire in an onside kick situation in Buffalo last December. Because of that the Patriots were kind of a middling team a year ago and may be going down the same road road this time around. A win this week on the road in a tough environment in the division would go a long way toward changing the perception of what the Patriots are and can be. The players, like Brady, know that. The fans know it. The media knows it. But talking about winning on the road and actually closing out road wins are two different things. The proof is in the game day pudding.
Ian Rapoport has five questions for the Patriots against Miami tonight.
Can the Patriots’ much-maligned secondary wake up against Miami? The loss of cornerback Leigh Bodden to a season-ending shoulder injury is looming larger than ever. His protege Darius Butler will begin the game on the bench as he tries to right himself after a brutal start. That means former special teamer Kyle Arrington and rookie first-rounder Devin McCourty will attempt to clamp down on Dolphins star Brandon Marshall, sidekick Davone Bess and their brethren. Marshall is the NFL’s fifth-leading receiver, and his physicality is unmatched. Can McCourty and Arrington hang with him to limit his touches? If not, it will be long night.
Christopher Price tells us ten things worth keeping an eye on tonight in Miami.
Randy Moss on Vontae Davis: The best individual matchup of the night. In the first contest between the two teams last year, Moss was dominant, catching six passes for 147 yards and a touchdown in a 27-17 win. But the Illinois product, then a rookie, evened the score the second time around. After getting scorched for a 58-yard touchdown in the first quarter, he limited Moss to just one more catch (a meaningless eight-yard gain) and came away with an interception in a 22-21 Dolphins victory.
TEAM TALK
- John Cockrell Friday out-takes: About-Facebook.
- Erik Scalavino presents his Friday practice notebook.
- Erik Scalavino reports on the happenings from Friday at Gillette Stadium.
- Bill Belichick Friday Presser (18.11 min. video) Plus transcript.
- Patriots Today - Perillo's points on Dolphins. (3.47 min. video)
- Patriots Today - Getting ready for the Miami heat. (1.34 min. video)
- Locker Room Uncut - Final comments before Miami. (2.30 min. video)
- Patriots Football Weekly TV - In this edition we discuss the Pats 38-30 win over the Bills, highlight standout performances and preview Monday Night's matchup. (22.27 min. video)
- Patriots All Access previews the Monday night matchup against the Dolphins. We sit down with newly-signed RB Danny Woodhead and much more. (40.26 min. video)
LOCAL LINKS
- Jim McBride offers his Patriots-Dolphins scouting report and tells us which team has the edge.
- Gary Marbry Nuggetpalooza's gameday preview. Some interesting stats here.
- Mike Reiss reports Bill Belichick showed the team the latest edition of Patriots Football Weekly that showed all nine experts picking Miami to win tonight.
- Tom E. Curran admits when asked by Patriots players that he picked the Dolphins to win 27-24.
- Rich Levine says a Patriots win tonight will bring us all a step back from the ledge.
- John Powers reports that with Fred Taylor out with a toe injury, BenJarvus Green-Ellis is ready to start tonight if called upon.
- Albert Breer says the Patriots need this win in Miami for a number of reasons.
- Chad Finn offers five things you need to know about the Dolphins.
- Christopher Price gives his three keys to the game Monday night. (2.33 min. video)
- Ron Borges bluntly states the Dolphins can't cover the tight ends, and if they double-cover Hernandez, what do they do about Moss and Welker?
- Wes Welker tells Suzy Kolber that he's not 100% yet and is still missing that "little bit that really got that separation, that little bit of quickness...that's just not there yet."
- Karen Guregian reports the Patriots need to put a clamp on the Dolphins' run game.
- Bob Ryan details the Patriots misfortunes in Miami in the Belichick era.
- Christopher Price joins Ryan with his hot list: Struggles on South Beach.
- Mike Reiss and Mike Rodak notes analyst Ron Jaworski points out the Patriots D is hurt most by play-action.
- Albert Breer dug around and discovered the last time the Patriots defeated a club with a winning record on the road - two years ago in Miami with Matt Cassel.
- Albert Breer reveals how Nick Saban helped Bill Belichick combat the Wildcat.
- Mark Farinella notes Miami Coach Tony Sparano fully agrees with Bill Belichick that divisional games feel as if they're worth a game and a half in the standings, even though they don't.
- Mike Reiss reports the Patriots entered the fourth week of the NFL season tied for 13th in the league for fewest accepted penalties, with 16.
- Shalise Manza Young says Randy Moss has made a career out of making eye-popping catches look easy and even the most talented CBs look overmatched.
- Albert Breer checks out Randy Moss by the numbers and where he ranks historically.
- Mike Reiss focuses on the football journey of Aaron Hernandez.
- Shalise Manza Young helps us get to know Brian Hoyer.
- Monique Walker reports Kyle Arrington's hard work is paying off and he's prepared to fight to remain a starter.
- Mike Reiss offers his quick hit thoughts from the Pats and around the NFL.
- Monique Walker Patriots Notebook: Alge Crumpler has zero receptions but is worth his weight in blocks; Stephen Gostkowski reviews Sun Life Stadium; Jerod Mayo said his teammates "prepared well" in practice last week.
- Ian Rapoport Patriots Notebook: Miami CB Vontae Davis says he is no longer awed by facing Moss; Patriots will need to make several gametime decisions for tonight's inactives; Belichick points out Moss' productivity speaks to his dual threat as deep-ball receiver and short-range target; Darius Butler likely won't be the starter tonight; it's a long day for players waiting for a night game.
- Karen Guregian says Randy Moss will announce the "first-ever" interactive video fantasy football site: VuFantasyFootball.com.
- Mark Farinella reports the Dolphins are going about their business much quieter than the Jets.
- Albert Breer notes Mike Vrabel is still producing for the Kansas City Chiefs.
NATIONAL NEWS
- Monday Night Football Crew (ESPN) Preview: Pats-Dolphins. (1 min. video)
- Vic Carucci (NFL.com) Dolphins must stop Patriots tight ends to have a chance.
- Tim Graham (ESPN) As road graders, Patriots get an F.
- Tim Graham (ESPN) Brandon Marshall an uncaged force.
- Tim Graham (ESPN) Marshall uninterested in dueling Moss.
- Peter King (SI) MMQB: McNabb, Tomlinson may be getting the last laugh on former teams.
- Mark Schlereth and Herm Edwards (ESPN) Preview: Patriots at Dolphins. (3.35 min. video)
- Adam Caplan (Fox Sports) Sundays NFL Week 4 Buzz blog.
- Don Banks (SI) Inside the NFL: Ravens, Jets rise in AFC, Saints look sloppy, and more.
- Damon Hack (SI) Alarm sounding for Colts in AFC South. (1.03 min. video)
- Dan Arkush (Pro Football Weekly) Chiefs following in Patriots footsteps.
VIEW FROM MIAMI
- Armando Salgurero (Miami Herald) With a 9-7 record, QB Chad Henne's statistics match up with Joe Flacco and Matt Ryan in their rookie seasons.
- Mike Berardino (Sun Sentinel) A morning primer for Monday night showdown.
- Armando Salgureo (Miami Herald) Who has the edge: Miami Dolphins vs. New England Patriots.
- Omar Kelly (Sun Sentinel) Key matchups: Dolphins vs. Patriots.
- Mike Berardino (Sun Sentinel) Patriots-Dolphins: Who has the edge?
- Jeff Darlington (Miami Herald) A tough road for Patriots' Tom Brady.
- Armando Salguero (Miami Herald) Patriots game will define Miami Dolphins' season.
- Mike Berardino (Sun Sentinel) Why can't Dolphins use Marshall like Moss?
- Ethan J. Skolnick (Sun Sentinel) Dolphins face an early turning point in season.
- Andy Kent (MiamiDolphins.com) New faces on Dolphins and Patriots still breed familiarity; more notes.
- Brian Biggane (Palm Beach Post) Talking points: Playing it coy with Tom Brady.
- Ben Volin (Palm Beach Post) The ultimate preview: Dolphins vs. Patriots.
- Brian Biggane (Palm Beach Post) Dolphins' CB Vontae Davis earning respect of opposing quarterbacks.