U-G-L-Y. These two teams badly need a bye.
The Miami Dolphins vs. New England Patriots Week 5 slopfest is shaping up to be one of the worst offensive matchups in recent history.
So no one can blame FOX for its decision to send Dolphins-Patriots to just a small sliver of the East Coast. This one will be hard on the eyes.
Miami Dolphins-New England Patriots Game Preview
Last Time Out
These longtime division foes are mirror images, with both headed hard in the wrong direction. Each is on a three-game losing streak after winning in the opener.
The Dolphins’ offense is broken without Tua Tagovailoa. It doesn’t matter which backup quarterback has played. None of them have worked. Snoop Huntley couldn’t even eclipse 100 yards passing in Miami’s 31-12 Week 4 loss to the previously winless Tennessee Titans.
Jacoby Brissett has been no better for the Patriots, who still aren’t ready to hand the reins to Drake Maye. In the Patriots’ 30-13 loss to the San Francisco 49ers in Week 4, Brissett completed 19 of 32 passes for 168 yards, a touchdown, and an interception.
Key Injuries
The Dolphins will likely be without two starting linebackers Sunday after Jaelan Phillips (knee) and David Long Jr. (hamstring) got hurt in the Titans game.
But they should have back Terron Armstead and Kendall Fuller, who are both currently in the concussion protocol. And we might see the Dolphins’ debut of Odell Beckham Jr., who is eligible to come off of injured reserve this week.
The Patriots’ offensive line is a complete mess. They were down to their fourth-straight left tackle — Demontrey Jacobs — for Sunday’s game against the 49ers.
But the really bad news is at center, where David Andrews needs year-end shoulder surgery. The expectation is that Nick Leverett starts in Andrews’ place this week.
Familiar Faces
There’s a lot of cross-pollination between these teams.
Dolphins wide receiver Braxton Berrios, punter Jake Bailey, and tight end Jonnu Smith all spent time in New England.
Brissett and Patriots teammates Davon Godchaux and Raekwon McMillan are all ex-Dolphins.
On the coaching side, it’ll be a family affair. Dolphins tight ends coach Jon Embree is the father of Patriots running backs coach Taylor Embree.
Series History
This is the 118th meeting between the Dolphins and Patriots in a rivalry that goes back 58 years. Miami owns a 62-55 series lead, thanks in no small part to wins over New England in six of the teams’ previous seven meetings.
The Dolphins beat the Patriots 31-17 in November when these teams last met.
Betting Lines
Under bettors, this is your moment.
The O/U as of Wednesday was 35.5, which seems low. But it’s not low at all when you consider that the Dolphins have scored 25 points total over the last three weeks.
The Patriots are one-point home favorites with a -118 moneyline edge. The Dolphins are -102 to win.
Dolphins vs. Patriots Stats and Rankings
Offense
Dolphins
- Scoring: 11.3 (32nd)
- Yards: 285 (26th)
- Yards per play: 4.6 (27th)
- Rushing: 97.8 (24th)
- Yards per carry: 3.7 (28th)
- Passing: 187.3 (23rd)
- Yards per pass: 5.8 (25th)
- Interception rate: 2.3% (19th)
- Sacks per pass attempt: 10% (t-24th)
- First downs: 16 (t-28th)
- Turnover margin: 0 (t-15th)
- EPA per play: -.258 (32nd)
- Success rate: 36.7% (31st)
- Dropback EPA: -.210 (29th)
- Rush EPA: -330 (31st)
Patriots
- Scoring: 13 (31st)
- Yards: 238.8 (32nd)
- Yards per play: 4 (30th)
- Rushing: 126.5 (12th)
- Yards per carry: 4.4 (13th)
- Passing: 112.3 (32nd)
- Yards per pass: 4.1 (31st)
- Interception rate: 0.9% (t-fifth)
- Sacks per pass attempt: 15.6% (32nd)
- First downs: 14.8 (30th)
- Turnover margin: 0 (t-15th)
- EPA per play: -.166 (28th)
- Success rate: 40% (23rd)
- Dropback EPA: -.172 (28th)
- Rush EPA: -.158 (26th)
Defense
Dolphins
- Scoring: 25.8 (26th)
- Yards: 282 (sixth)
- Yards per play: 5.2 (14th)
- Rushing: 119.5 (16th)
- Yards per carry: 4.2 (11th)
- Passing: 162.5 (fifth)
- Yards per pass: 6.8 (19th)
- Interception rate: 3.2% (eighth)
- Sacks per pass attempt: 7.4% (19th)
- First downs: 16.8 (t-eighth)
- EPA per play: -.012 (16th)
- Success rate: 40.3% (12th)
- Dropback EPA: .107 (23rd)
- Rush EPA: -.128 (13th)
Patriots
- Scoring: 21.8 (t-17th)
- Yards: 353.3 (24th)
- Yards per play: 5.8 (27th)
- Rushing: 99.3 (ninth)
- Yards per carry: 4 (seventh)
- Passing: 254 (28th)
- Yards per pass: 7.5 (29th)
- Interception rate: 0.74% (28th)
- Sacks per pass attempt: 6.7% (24th)
- First downs: 19.3 (t-16th)
- EPA per play: .083 (25th)
- Success rate: 47.2% (24th)
- Dropback EPA: .183 (26th)
- Rush EPA: -.097 (16th)
Projected Patriots vs. Dolphins Starting Lineups
Dolphins
- Quarterback: Snoop Huntley
- Wide receiver: Tyreek Hill, Jaylen Waddle
- Running back/fullback: De’Von Achane, Alec Ingold
- Tight end: Durham Smythe
- Offensive line (left to right): Terron Armstead, Robert Jones, Aaron Brewer, Liam Eichenberg, Austin Jackson
- Defensive line: Zach Sieler, Benito Jones, Calais Campbell
- Linebacker: Duke Riley, Jordyn Brooks, Emmanuel Ogbah, Chop Robinson
- Defensive backs: Jalen Ramsey, Kendall Fuller, Jevon Holland, Jordan Poyer
Patriots
- Quarterback: Jacoby Brissett
- Wide receiver: K.J. Osborn, DeMario Douglas, Ja’Lynn Polk
- Running back/fullback: Rhamondre Stevenson
- Tight end: Hunter Henry
- Offensive line (left to right): Vederian Lowe, Sidy Sow, Nick Leverett, Layden Robinson, Mike Onwenu
- Defensive line: Keion White, Davon Godchaux, Daniel Ekuale, Anfernee Jennings
- Linebacker: Raekwon McMillan, Jahlani Tavai
- Defensive backs: Jabrill Peppers, Kyle Dugger, Marcus Jones, Christian Gonzalez
What They’re Saying
“Jacoby’s done it. I’m not going to get into the hypotheticals or the why’s of it. He’s done a good job doing what we’ve asked. Are there a lot of plays that we could do a better job with? Absolutely, but I would never question his toughness, his dependability, his leadership style for this team, and that’s what we need right now..” — Coach Jerod Mayo on why the Patriots are sticking with Brissett at quarterback
“Across the board, from coaching to execution of plays, the bottom line is to play winning football, you have to have 11 people executing their jobs in a tied-together fashion and it’s not happening. So you don’t absolve yourself of responsibility in the least.” — Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel on his team’s slow start