New England Patriots: 3 keys to defeating the Miami Dolphins
By Max Bozicas
Can the New England Patriots win the battle up front?
On paper, the New England Patriots have a tremendous advantage in the trenches on both sides of the ball. They come into the game with an offensive line that should be among the best in the league, along with a revamped front seven on defense.
Miami’s offensive line is perhaps their biggest weakness as a team. If the Patriots are going to come away with a victory, this will be one of the biggest reasons why. This could be a showcase game for Matthew Judon, who was one of New England’s marquee additions in the offseason.
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On the offensive side of the ball for the Patriots, everyone wants to see how rookie quarterback Mac Jones will perform. However, don’t be surprised if offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels leans heavily towards the run game.
One player to watch out for on the Dolphins is edge rusher Jaelen Phillips, who was one of their two first-round selections in the 2021 NFL draft. He will line up opposite of Emmanuel Ogbah, who broke out with nine sacks in 2020.
Interior defensive line is another shallow point for Miami and an area where New England should be able to take advantage. The offensive line should be able to open up lanes between the tackles for Damien Harris and Rhamondre Stevenson to plow their way through.