New England Patriots links 12/28/16 - Week 16 clean-up; On to the Dolphins

TEAM TALK

• Game Preview: Patriots at Dolphins.
• PFW's Scouting Report: Miami Dolphins.
• Patriots-Dolphins Team connections.
• Paul Perillo tackles this week's Ask PFW Mailbag: A peek at SB crystal ball.
• John Rooke Nitpicks and Nitwits: Playing to win the game...it's the little things that matter...and it could be déjà vu all over again...
• Infographic: Breaking down the Patriots win over the Jets.
• Sights and Sounds: Week 16 vs New York Jets. (4.44 min. video)

LOCAL LINKS

• Karen Guregian warns fans not to celebrate the Patriots' top-rated scoring defense just yet, and says we can't assume Tom Brady will outscore other teams... /Yeesh. If we can't enjoy being at the top, when else can we?
• Ryan Hannable states that the Patriots not being battle-tested is a myth: "In fact, the Patriots may be the most prepared for the upcoming playoffs out of any other team in the AFC."
• Mike Reiss tells us that the Patriots are now tied for third in the NFL with a plus-10 turnover differential.
• Rich Garven sees the Patriots defense heating up at the right time.
• Mike Reiss notes Bill Belichick has pointed to Alan Branch as the Patriots most consistent DT.
• Mark Daniels Patriots Journal: Too little, too late for Malcom Brown.
• Evan Lazar gives some credit to the O-line for LeGarrette Blount's shining season.
• Tom E. Curran notes that the 17-snap debut for Michael Floyd on Sunday was the latest step in his game day orientation process.
• Chris Mason finds Matt Lengel is moving forward after catching his first touchdown (although that ball remains safely zipped away in his backpack.)
• Ryan Hannable catches up with TE Matt Lengel: 'Everybody is wondering who the heck I am.'
• Mike Reiss points out how the Dolphins are a completely different team than the one the Patriots faced in Week 2, including 'violent' runner Jay Ajayi.
• Steve Balestrieri (PatsFans) A second look at the Dolphins.
• Mike Reiss thinks that with their RBs and O-linemen healthy and the ground game clicking, unlike in 2015, the Patriots should be able to expose Miami's weak run D.
• Chris Mason Patriots Notebook: Always a challenge to win in Miami; Team seeks first win there since 2012.
• Mark Daniels lays out the playoff scenarios for the Patriots and says that a win in Miami would secure home field advantage.
• Steve Buckley assesses the AFC playoff QBs and concludes that after Tom Brady, the rest are 'not exactly a Murderers' Row.'
• Henry McKenna (PatriotsWire) Tom Brady has started bizarre trend among NFL quarterbacks. /Scuba gear.
• Mike Reiss mentions that since Bill Belichick became Patriots coach in 2000, the AFC East has had 23 head coaches.
• D.J. Bean details Rex Ryan's long, weird relationship with the Patriots.
• Ryan Hannable recalls the 8 best Rex Ryan quotes about the Patriots, Bill Belichick and Tom Brady.
• Phil Perry finds that in Mike Tomlin's response to Terry Bradshaw's criticism, he calls Bill Belichick a 'great' coach.

NATIONAL NEWS

• Staff (ESPN Stats & Info) The Patriots' road to the Super Bowl.
• Patrick Chung (The Players' Tribune) What the (Blank)? /Interesting Q&A.
• Dan Graziano (ESPN) ESPN's NFL MVP poll: Ryan, Rodgers on the rise.
• Mike Lupica (Sports on Earth) Leader of the Pack and all QBs. /Wut?
• Melissa Jacobs (SI) Week Under Review: The 16 people who defined the NFL in 2016. 7th. Tom Brady.
• Staff (USA Today) Ranking the Week 17 games - with playoff spots and draft position on the line. 3. Pats-Phins.
• Seth Walder (NY Daily News) Victor Cruz on Giants-Patriots Super Bowl III: ‘They don’t want to see us’.
• Marc Sessler (NFL.com) AFC East churns through coaches while Pats stand pat.
• Bucky Brooks* (NFL.com) NFL Coach of the Year rankings. /Guess whose name isn't even mentioned?
• AP (ESPN) 2 off-duty firefighters help save man during Patriots game.
• Josh Alper (ProFootballTalk) Bill Belichick: Frequent coaching changes aren’t "best way" for teams.
• Mike Florio (ProFootballTalk) What’s next for Rex Ryan?

VIEW FROM MIAMI

• Armando Salguero (Miami Herald) Reasons the Miami Dolphins are and should be all in for Sunday’s game against the New England Patriots.
• Barry Jackson (Miami Herald) Dolphins lose Abdul-Quddus for rest of season.
• Barry Jackson (Miami Herald) Twelve remarkable realities about the Dolphins making the playoffs.
• Hal Habib (Palm Beach Post) Playoff-bound Miami Dolphins are kicking backsides, gleeful alums say.
• Hal Habib (Palm Beach Post) Does Miami Dolphins’ Adam Gase deserve Coach of the Year Award?