Does anyone on MIA scare you going into Sunday?

After coming off a very intense 7 week stretch, mentally this game may be an issue...

I would like to think that is would not be the case.. but crap happens in the NFL, on any Sunday.

Division games always seem closer than they should be and the Pats have often play to the level of competition....

But the Pats will win...

I'd be more anxious if the Bills somehow sneak out a win at home against GB (3-3 on road) and the Raiders and our regulat season finale suddenly becomes meaningful for them.

That is unless we have HFA clinched already by then..

Miami has too many injuries and weak areas we can attack for me be overly worried..

Still going to need a great, comcentrated game. Hopefully it being a hat and tshirt game makes it impossible for players to take too easy.

Oswlek said:

Try as I might, I can't get worried about this game. Yes, any given Sunday and all that... and injuries are always a concern. But if NE doesn't win this game in convincing fashion, I'll be a monkey's uncle. It just screams 40-17 to me.

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I worry about every game. I can't help it.

I hope you're right about the win. Otherwise I'll be here posting pics of your nephews and nieces after the game.

It will be a test for the O-line

Tannehill can run very well and is deadly accurate at times. Their dl will probably give our OL fits.

Wake, Grimes.

Wake mostly. Solder has been struggling with speed guys recently, so it's something to watch. On offense, Wallace is their only game breaking threat, but I feel like the defense is playing better now than they were in week one (second half especially), so I'm confident they'll contain him. The Patriots biggest obstacle this week is coming off an emotional win at the end of a really tough stretch of games. Can't let up the throttle even a little bit.

Sicilian said:

The Patriots biggest obstacle this week is coming off an emotional win at the end of a really tough stretch of games

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Going home and having this be for the division against a team that already beat them should offset that.

Any game is losable especially a division game, but I am not all that concerned.

Their defense is decimated right now. Neither Koa Misi nor Jelani Jenkins are practicing and are unlikely to play Sunday. They lost Louis Delmas for the season last Sunday. They went almost overnight from one of the better run defenses to one of the worst.

On offense, they have scored less than 20 points in three of their last five games and scored over 22 points once. So they don't look like a team that can get in a shoot out with the Pats if the Pats get hot on offense again.

The Dolphins are 2-3 over the last five games. They have lost to Detroit, Baltimore, and the Broncos. They barely beat the Jets. The Dolphins are not a great team right now. Easily the easiest opponent the Pats have faced since the Bears.

They are a division opponent and have a good pass rushing d-line, but otherwise the Pats should win this game convincingly.

It's an NFL team. The Raiders beat the 'niners and the Rams beat the Broncos; the Falcons put up 37 points in Lambeau. It's a Division Game. Tannehill could break off some big plays when Revis or Browner aren't in the vicinity; the chip on his shoulder is getting bigger and heavier every week. Throw in a turnover or a special teams play or an officiating call that goes the wrong way and...

Otherwise, I'm afraid of the 53rd guy on their roster if he rolls into Brady's knee (or Gronk's or Willfork's or Julian's or...you get the idea).

This is not the greatest game for us to have Vinovich refing. The O line is really going to get spanked. I would have loved Vinovich in the Broncos or Colts game but against Miami I'm less enthusiastic. Still, it is good to have fewer flags just so the game is better to watch. We should win this one pretty easily, the only issue I'm concerned about is injuries.

If Pats play a no-turnover game the dolphins have no chance.

BradyFTW! said:

Wake, obviously. Vernon is pretty good too, and Odrick is good. Aside from them, Misi's decent, Grimes is excellent, I could see Clay being a major issue, Lamar Miller has looked very good this season (although I'm not too worried, since our run defense has been great these past few weeks). And I could see Tannehill giving us some trouble with his legs, if we let him break contain.

The Dolphins are a legitimately talented team. Luckily they're also kinda dysfunctional and poorly coached.

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...and very beat up.

Their linebackers are missing practice this week http://miamiherald.typepad.com/dolp...ednesday-miami-dolphins-practice-report-.html

Their defense has given up more than 600 yards rushing the last three weeks. The DL is built to rush the passer, and the Dolphins linebackers are hurt, suck or both. Should be a great weekend for Gray, Blount and Vereen.

Miami has 11 players on IR including four defensive backs and their best rusher. Grimes is the only member of the secondary who is healthy - Taylor and Cortland Finnegan missed the last two weeks.

With the secondary a shambles, Brady should use a lot of play action and pick these guys apart.

Charles Clay is a stud at TE. Brian Hartline is the UFA I wanted the Pats to sign in the off season, but he'll be checking in for a three-hour stay on Revis Island at 1:00 p.m. on Sunday.

This game may start out competitively, but I don't expect that to last. Tannehill is getting sacked at an alarming rate (4th-most in the NFL). The Patriots defense needs to keep the Dolphins offense off the field. If they can replicate the work they did in San Diego, this game should turn into a rout as the Miami defense runs out of gas.

Belichick always has his teams up for the game to clinch the AFCE and a playoff spot. Injuries do not appear to be a problem for the Patriots

Well their DL for sure! their run defense is decent. Their offense shouldn't be ignored, they put a 50 burger on SD which NE couldn't and played close to Denver, I think they are a dangerous team fighting for their playoff life.

I fear every team, every week! Anything can and will happen on any given Sunday! I pray for a good outcome and wring my hands every week. Football has never been a relaxing sport for me, it's more of a screaming, cheering, clenching, hold my breath, exquisite agony.

Revis will blanket Hartline

The only real threat from week 1 was the run from Knowshon but he isnt there Sunday so lets call hm Knowshow

One big reason i am not concerned is that no AFC team has swept the pats since #12 took over. Based on how good at home they are...and how good they are in Dec...they will be ready to play as this W would tie up another div title

But this will be the last tough test the pats will face. jets DL and D in general always gives us fits..but their O is bad and we will be ready for the run again.

And the Bills are well...the bills

Cameron Wake and the defensive line of the Dolphins scare me, of course, but the Dolphins defense has yielded 5.8 ypc via the ground the past few games.

Therefore, I expect a heavy dose of the running game Sunday and plenty of play action in the passing game to keep the pass rush of the Dolphins from "pinning their ears back".

MIA fans still mad about the batted ball call against them last year in our house...

DarrylS said:

After coming off a very intense 7 week stretch, mentally this game may be an issue...

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This is not a mentally weak team though. So mentally...this should not be an issue at all. When they have a shot to lock up the division vs a Div oppt they lost too week 1...they will be high motivated and mentally tough.

The Patriots under Belichick have been very good on "hat and t shirt" games.

I am not expecting a let down this week.