Week 14 at Miami

This week brings one of our least favorite places to play. The Patriots travel to Miami where they are 1-4 in their last 5 and Tom Brady's career record is 7-9 with 15 interceptions. For some reason, it is a house of horrors especially in December. Notable December failures the past couple years include last year's Week 14 27-20 loss where Kenyon Drake ran all over the Patriots for almost 200 yards of total offense while the Patriots had 25 total yards rushing and Brady averaged 5.4 YPC and had 2 picks. Also there was Week 17 in 2015 where they ran the ball 16 of the first 18 plays, lost 20-10, and lost home field advantage to Denver in the process.

This version of Miami is very mediocre at best. They come into this week having lost 6 of their last 9 games. Their best CB Xavien Howard will miss this week with a knee injury which is a huge break for the Patriots. He picked Brady off twice last year in Miami. Danny Amendola and Travis Swanson returned to practice today which would bolster an offense that has struggled and is banged up with Albert Wilson and Jakeem Grant already out for the year. Ryan Tannehill is playing but is not 100% either.

The Patriots had perfect attendance at practice today.

 

http://506sports.com/nfl.php?yr=2018&wk=14

You'll get Eagle and Fouts, and you'll like it!

 

Patriots injury report
DNP-none
LP-Gronk(ankle/back), Brady(knee), Chung(shoulder), D. Allen(knee)
FP-none

 

Dolphins will be without their one elite player, Xavian Howard. They are already short CBS and he has developed into true shut down corner. Miami has no answers in D for Gordon, gronk or RBs in space.

Despite their struggles in Miami last several years, this should not be a competitive game. Miami is only good on special teams. The bills had nearly 500 yards against them last week. The offense is missing its speed and two or three offensive linemen. The fish statistically should be 4-8 or worse

New England needs game and is at least 14 points better than Miami. The fact that line is 7.5 is purely reflective of Pats struggles there in past.

 

Pats are 1-5 in Miami in December under Brady. That's a pretty crazy stat (6-4 in September through November, and 6-2 since 2003). The lone win was the Michael Floyd game in 2016. It could be that the players are used to the cold by that point in the season so playing in the heat has more of an effect... or as DMC said, maybe it's because the Pats have just played like shit.

Either way, Pats need this game.

 

This is admittedly an exercise in cherry-picking around the problem, but...

• the 2015 loss doesn't seem indicative of much. The team was so banged up at that point that they'd just lost to the lowly Eagles (at home) and Jets.
• the 2014 loss happened in week 1 with the team obviously struggling, before the 'we're on to Cincinnati' watershed
• the losses in the early/mid-aughts I recall chalking up to a fairly stingy Dolphins D during those years that seemed to have Brady's number

There's definitely something here— 7-9 is not pure coincidence. But I'd be surprised if we don't win this by 14+.

 

The 2015 Dolphins had lost 5 of their last 6 coming in, and the Pats HAD TO HAVE that game to lock up the 1 seed. And fell flat on their faces. They were banged up but they won a playoff game two weeks later, and nearly won in Denver. Miami sucked and the Pats should have won.

 

nm

 

there was some weirdness from Bill that 2015 game, like he wanted the 2 seed / didn't care about the 1.

you can argue that was as much of a mistake as the defense in last year's SB. ultimately though our run shows how hard it is to win a SB even when you're a top 3 team, it can just take one thing to go wrong.

 

Was that the game they ran the ball every play to ensure Brady didn’t get hurt?

 

The Pats have generally looked really shitty in a bunch of their road games, some against bad teams, plus the whole Miami thing. The Pats are obviously the better team and I hope they can find a way to win, but a loss should surprise nobody. I hate this game.

 

Someone recently noted in another thread that 2015 might have represented the greatest squander. They gave away a home game to Eagles with special teams melt downs and turnovers. There was the regular season disaster at Denver. Well beyond aggravating, they were mentally soft and undisciplined.

Troubles on the road this year, but at a certain point you just have to step up. They are healthy and need the game badly.

 

It was almost as if he intentionally lost that game. You are absolutely correct, that was a very strange game.

 

Howard OUT

 

Which probably means more pressure is coming. Protect Brady and pick apart this secondary.

 

Stephon Gilmore hurt his ankle and showed up on today's injury report. Him and Dwayne Allen are listed as questionable and are the only 2 on the list. Brady, Gronk, and Chung were all removed from the injury report.

For the Dolphins, Howard and C Jake Brendal are out while Amendola and Travis Swanson are questionable. Kenyon Drake and DeVante Parker were limited all week but do not have an injury designation.

 

that's not what you want to hear...

 

I've hated this game every year since 1966. Combine my Canadien/Yankee/Lakers hate and it's a fraction of my Dolphin hate, I hate everything about them...….Shula and his whining about the snowplow game to this day, the December 8th 1980 game, Isotoner gloves, Dolphin Denny, that shitty astroturf at the Orange Bowl for decades, the killer B's, Joe "blood and guts" Philbin, Garo Yepremian, that moronic Miami Dolphins theme song, those putrid uniforms...…..you name it, I hate it. I never have a good feeling about this game, this year is no different, especially the way they've played on the road so far. I have a show in Woburn on Sunday, so I won't be subjected to this game, will pop into the sports bar in the hotel during the show for score updates...…...we'll see.

 

Gilmore made the trip per Jeff Howe.

 

Super rant. I’d add that with the heat and humidity it’s an unnatural place for football, the antithesis of that snow game in Foxboro when Bruschi celebrated in the end zone.

 

At least I got to see the Squish the Fish game in person, 18 strait losses at the Orange Bowl to the Dolphins flushed down the drain in a 31-14 ass kicking from start to finish.

It was tremendous.

 

Fuck the weather talk. It’s loser talk. It’s like wailing about injuries, pretending our team comps to the 2018 Redskins, or the 2017 Redskins for that matter.

The average daily high in Miami in December in 76. The average daily high in Foxborough in September is 72.

And don’t discuss humidity. A lot of our guys played in it in college. We proudly claim to be the best conditioned MFers in the NFL, hill running and so forth.

So put up, or shut up.

 

Hat and T-shirt game. They will find a way to get it done

 

Dwayne Allen was ruled out

 

History is in Miami is not good, weather is not good, but the line is still 7.5. You might say that The AFC East game between the Patriots and Dolphins is wide open.

 

Were they punctual?

 

"I'll take punctuality"

 

Supposedly Paul Brown and his cronies invented the idea of putting walkie-talkies into the helmet. But Brady made his with a special rabbit ear on the top so he could pipe in some music.

 

Take care of business and avoid serious injuries. We ain't painting pictures, here.

Hold serve and whether HOU or KC slips up or not today isn't important. You've got the 2 seed at least if you take these games.

 

House of horrors bit on NFLN just now but Willie M says not this year. Willie looks like he could suit up and get a sack or three.

 

Is the opinion that Duke Dawson remains inactive due to continued recovery or ineffectiveness?

 

I think it is the depth chart. The secondary is playing fantastic. Is Dawson a better option than JJ or JCJ?

 

Danny Shelton has been such a massive disappointment. Pun intended.

 

I’d guess that they don’t want to make a change to a secondary that’s hit its stride to work in a guy who’s never played a meaningful down in the NFL. He’ll get his shot when the time comes.

 

Win one in Miami for once!!!

 

We are once again cursed with another Fouts game.

 

It’s unreal how many fucking times we’ve been saddled with this crew.

 

Glad I’m in a bar, no sound

 

It's amazing how only 2 different teams cover the entire league.

 

How many games has Rivers actually played?

 

Wife and kids are at my wife's sister's house decorating cookies. I finally got the yard cleared of leaves. Please keep this good day going with a win.

 

I liked it better when the Pats were the only team that deferred.

 

Big conversion to start the day.

 

I like first half Josh Gordon.

 

I love a good slant to Gordon

 

Good third down conversion. I like Josh Gordon.

 

Sounds like some Pats fans there.