We are officially one sleep away from it being gameday for the New England Patriots. After a long offseason due to the team failing to make the playoffs last season, fans and players alike are ready to turn the page and begin writing the next chapter of this storied franchise’s history.
By all accounts, the 2021 version of the Patriots is a much more complete version than it’s predecessor in 2020. Head coach Bill Belichick led a free agency frenzy throughout the offseason, and put together one of the better draft classes in the league, to help revamp a depleted Patriots team. Now this team is brimming with talent up and down the roster as a result.
How these new players fare in their Patriots debut could end up determining whether this team is 1-0 or 0-1 when all is said and done. We’ve already taken a look at three players on both the Patriots and Dolphins that could end up dictating the outcome of the game, but truthfully there are a lot more than those six that could have that impact.
Here at C&C we’ve taken a look at just about every aspect of the game in the buildup, but what about when the game actually kicks off? Let’s take a look at three bold predictions for the actual contest, including a final prediction on who will come out on top in this one.
New England Patriots Bold Prediction No. 3: Running backs will combine for 250 total yards
The Patriots running backs were the talk of training camp and the preseason due to their performances, and that should be expected to carry over into the regular season. With a four-headed monster consisting of Damien Harris, James White, Rhamondre Stevenson, and J.J. Taylor, the running backs are going to have a field day against Miami’s defensive line, and play a big part in the offense’s success.
Much of the heavy lifting will be done by Damien Harris on the ground. Harris’ final stat line will clock in at 23 carries for 121 yards and a touchdown, as the offensive line does a good job at creating holes that Harris takes advantage of all game long.
Most of the work in the passing game will be picked up by White and Taylor, who continues to look like White’s successor as the Patriots pass-catching back. Both players will pick up 50+ receiving yards, while White will also be on the receiving end of Mac Jones first career passing touchdown.
Stevenson will pick up the rest of the slack by relieving Harris when he needs a breather. Stevenson won’t get many touches, but he will make the most of the ones he gets, averaging 5.5 yards per carry while also picking up his first career NFL touchdown.
Overall, expect a huge day for the Patriots running back room. Miami boasts a deep secondary that could give Jones fits, so it wouldn’t be surprising to see offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels lean on the ground game to kick off the season. And when Jones does throw, White and Taylor will offer him a safe checkdown option that he cashes in on time and again throughout the contest.
When all is said and done, the four Patriots running backs will have combined to pick up 250+ total yards in this one, powering the Patriots offense up and down the field.
New England Patriots Bold Prediction No. 2: Tua Tagovailoa will get sacked five times
After being tied for 26th in the league last season in sacks, the Patriots knew they needed to improve their pass rush over the offseason. And while they haven’t played a snap of real football yet, it’s a safe bet to assume the Patriots will pick up more than the 24 sacks they did last season.
In the three preseason games, New England picked up 10 sacks, which offered a sneak peak at what the pass rush will be like this season. Against a Miami offensive line that isn’t at full health, the Patriots pass rush will feast, and they will sack Tua Tagovailoa at least five times on Sunday.
It was initially looking like Austin Jackson, the Dolphins left tackle, was going to miss this contest, but he was activated off the COVID list earlier today. Jackson still may end up not suiting up for this one, but even if he does, Miami’s offensive line may be in for a rough outing against New England’s front seven.
This has set the stage for Matt Judon and Kyle Van Noy to feast in this one. Matchups will switch throughout the game, but it looks like Judon is going to start on the right side, meaning he will be going against the left side of the line. It wouldn’t be surprising if Judon comes away with a couple of sacks in this one considering how good he looked in limited action during the preseason.
Judon and Van Noy are set to be New England’s most effective pass rushers on paper, but it doesn’t end there. Josh Uche looked fantastic throughout training camp and the preseason, and guys like Chase Winovich, Deatrich Wise, and Henry Anderson will be looking to get to the quarterback as well.
Winovich led the team in sacks last season, and he probably won’t be starting most games this season if everyone stays healthy. That goes to show how far this unit has come from last season. Don’t be surprised if they have a dominant first outing against a relatively weak Dolphins o-line.
New England Patriots Bold Prediction No. 1: Patriots will start the season 1-0
It may not necessarily be bold in the sense that the game is expected to go either way, but a win to start the season with a rookie quarterback playing his first NFL game isn’t going to come as easily as some think. However, the rest of the Patriots roster is better than that of the Dolphins, which helps ease Jones transition into the starting role.
Speaking of Jones, he will have a solid if unspectacular outing in his pro debut. He will go 16/22 for 146 yards and a touchdown, while mostly defaulting to the running backs in this one. But he makes quick decisions and his throws are accurate, which is exactly what the coaches will be looking for.
The main battle of the game will come on the other side of the ball, with the Patriots defense looking to slow down the up-and-coming Miami offense. For the most part, they do a good job creating pressure on Tagovailoa, and making his life uncomfortable in the pocket.
But Tagovailoa is also a threat to run, and he uses that to keep the defense on their toes. With new weapons such as Jaylen Waddle in the fold too, guys are getting open with more frequently than they were last season. Tagovailoa will pass the 200 yard threshold and throw for two touchdowns, but he will make a pair of turnovers (one interception, one fumble) that cost Miami the game.
It will be a close contest heading into halftime, but New England will exert their superiority in the second half and coast to victory. The run game takes over, and Jones picks up his first career touchdown to seal the deal. Final score: Patriots – 24 Dolphins – 14