Pregame Thoughts and Analysis: Patriots Take on Dolphins in Season Opener

Patriots tailback Shane Vereen could be a big factor in Sunday's game. (USA TODAY Images)

After a long offseason, the NFL is back in action.

The New England Patriots travel to Miami to open the season against the division rival Dolphins. Last season, the teams split the two-game series with the Dolphins losing at New England 27-17 before winning at Miami 24-20.

The Patriots start the 2014 season with three of their first four games on the road. New England has struggled in Miami, illustrated by Tom Brady's 7-6 record. The Dolphins look to take the AFC East reins and make the playoffs for the first time since 2008, while the Patriots are determined to put together another championship run. It starts this Sunday.

Pregame Thoughts --

Miami Heat: As I mentioned before, the Patriots have struggled in Miami. In fact, they have been average when they travel into Sunlife Stadium. But could facing the Dolphins to start the year be a positive? I believe so. They have been practicing in primarily warm weather over the past few weeks and have had several weeks to prepare. If this contest was in the middle of the season, it would make sense if they had more issues. It won't be easy, but starting the year in Miami could be a blessing in disguise.

Can the Patriots Offense Get on Track Early: At the beginning of the year, offenses are usually less efficent and high-powered than midseason. The Patriots have Rob Gronkowski as well as Aaron Dobson returning from injury, newly acquired Tim Wright and a solid group of receivers to spread out defenses. Brady's ability to get in a rhythm and find the open target will be key. Julian Edelman and Shane Vereen stand out as players to be relied upon early while the others get on track.

Dolphins Bring Balanced Attack: The Dolphins have a rebuilt offensive line, which they desperately needed to keep third-year quarterback Ryan Tannehill upright. Lamar Miller and Knowshon Moreno will shoulder the load on the ground, while Mike Wallace, Brian Hartline, Charles Clay and Jarvis Landry stretch the field. New offensive coordinator Bill Lazor will bring a balanced attack and has some weapons to be effective.

Battle in the Trenches Key for Both Teams: The Dolphins want to knock Brady around Sunday. It's their best chance to win. The Patriots have done a lot of shuffling along the offensive line and they moved on from long-time assistant Dante Scarnecchia. There's a lot of uncertainty and Miami will be turning up the heat featuring pass rush terror, Cameron Wake.

On the other side, the Patriots could be aggressive versus a rebuilt Miami line. No quarterback was sacked more than Ryan Tannehill last season and he has shown to make mistakes under pressure. After Chandler Jones and Rob Ninkovich, though, who will step up for New England? Expect some linebacker blitzes and a lot of personnel changes. First-round selection Dominique Easley could offer some interior pressure if he's ready to go.

Players To Watch:

Rob Gronkowski -- Gronk announced he will play earlier in the week. How much action will he see? That will be up to Bill Belichick. In his first three games back last year, he was on the field for 60.4% of the snaps on offense. He won't be in midseason form at the start, but he'll have an impact. Last season the team averaged 11 points-per-game more when he was on the field.

Shane Vereen -- With Gronkowski working his way back, I expect Vereen to see a lot of action. His skill set is unique and he's a tough matchup for defenses. Whether it's in the backfield, next to Brady in shotgun or split out wide, he'll be utilized and leaned upon in this contest.

Chandler Jones -- The Patriots defense is poised for a strong 2014 season. The key pass rusher will be Jones and he'll be needed in this game. Tannehill is prone to mistakes, so getting in his face early-and-often would give a huge edge to New England. The Dolphins allowed 58 sacks in 2013.

Key Matchup:

Charles Clay vs the Patriots Defense -- New England has struggled with opposing tight ends in recent years. Clay is a utility weapon that presents a ton of issues. He had a strong 2013 season, hauling in 69 passes for 759 yards and six touchdowns.

Will Jamie Collins be called to matchup? Darrelle Revis? A safety? Who knows. Last season Belichick double covered Clay at times in their second meeting, clearly game planning to take him out of the Dolphins offense; he finished with only one catch for six yards. It might take that type of effort again in this contest.

Prediction: Patriots 23, Dolphins, 17

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