Patriots Pregame Thread Week 18: Dolphins at Patriots, 4:25 on Fox

[jmt57]

I think it is somewhat fitting that the Patriots will celebrate a highly successful 2025 regular season on the one-year anniversary of Jerod Mayo's firing.

Patriots are favored by ten, though to me predicting week 18 games is extremely difficult, if not futile.

Miami gave Tampa Bat a vicious gut punch on Sunday, but in my opinion that was as much due to the Bucs' inexplicapable ineptitude as it was to Quinn Ewers doing anything fantastic.

The Good, Bad & Ugly from the Miami Dolphins Week 17 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Dolphins rookies shine in 20-17 victory over Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

www.thephinsider.com

Miami loses two impact defenders to injury
The Dolphins got the victory over the Buccaneers on Sunday, but it wasn’t without a few casualties along the way.

EDGE defender Chop Robinson left the contest early with a concussion. It is the second time this season that Robinson has been ruled out of a game with a head injury — with Robinson also leaving Miami’s game against Baltimore in Week 9 for the same reason.

In addition to Robinson’s exit, the Dolphins also played most of the final half of action without star inside linebacker Jordyn Brooks. Brooks exited during the third quarter with a hamstring injury, but remained on the sideline. He would not return to the game after contributing five total tackles, with one tackle for loss and a pass defensed.

Miami Dolphins overreaction Monday: Quinn Ewers QB starter in 2026?

The Miami Dolphins are 7-9 headed into a season finale at New England. Is it an overreaction to pair Mike McDaniel and Quinn Ewers in 2026?

www.palmbeachpost.com

Dolphins are getting production from their young players, an encouraging sign for the future | FOX Sports

Mike McDaniel stood in the locker room after the Miami Dolphins’ 20-17 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and began calling out the names of the game’s most impactful players

www.foxsports.com

It doesn’t sound like Mike Vrabel will bench starters for Week 18 vs. Dolphins

The Patriots locked up the AFC East on Sunday ahead of their regular-season finale against the Dolphins. But if a player is healthy, it sounds like they will play.

www.masslive.com

“Probably everybody that’s healthy will play,” the coach said during his weekly appearance on WEEI on Monday. “That’s just where we’re at. I haven’t looked too far into it this morning here, but, I would anticipate everybody that’s healthy will play in the football game.”

Will Campbell is eligible to return from injured reserve this week, as is cornerback Alex Austin. Kayshon Boutte (concussion), left guard Jared Wilson (concussion), defensive tackle Khyiris Tonga (foot), edge rusher Harold Landry (knee) and linebacker Robert Spillane (ankle) all missed Sunday’s blowout win over the New York Jets.

Milton Williams, who returned to practice last week, is also a candidate to return in Week 18.

 

[Triumph]

Broncos will play at the same time.

 

[Zoomnbyu]

Play everyone that can until either the clock strikes zero or a 28 point lead. Players need to play, rust needs to get knocked of the walking wounded, processes need to be stuck to, and if we lose and Denver loses there's no way the team doesn't regret the opportunity that they let slip and that will factor into the next game. LFG!

 

[Triumph]

I doubt that the Dolphins are firing McDaniels and that Miami will come to play.

Its probably refreshing to get rid of Tua as your QB. Ewers has nothing to lose. Quinn Ewers Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College | Pro-Football-Reference.com

 

[jmt57]

Broncos will play at the same time.

Yeah, there's going to be a lot of scoreboard-watching with the late games.

Texans, Jaguars, Chargers, Bills can all move up or down depending on outcomes too.

 

[TheRainMaker]

Pats are going to beat them down.

 

[Ring 6]

Pats are going to beat them down.

Of course they are.
The only thing this team has lacked was allowing teams to stay in games by not stepping on their throat (and forgetting to run the ball in the second half with a lead) and that has been corrected by the soon to be Coach of the Year.

 

[PATSYLICIOUS]

Guessing we approach the same way as the Jets game. Let the injured rest and the healthy play. Milton and Campbell may get in as a tune up just because it’s been so long, spillane too if he can go but not sure his ankle will be fully healed.

 

[patfanken]

Broncos will play at the same time.

Was this always a 4pm game or was it moved? I always prefer 1pm games. It was the time God intended for all games to start. I actually wanted the Bills to win so that this game would mean something. At any rate, the bye is still in play though the Chargers have nothing to gain and a lot to lose by playing THEIR starters. In other words, it's a long shot at best.

 

[n1997y]

Was this always a 4pm game or was it moved? I always prefer 1pm games. It was the time God intended for all games to start. I actually wanted the Bills to win so that this game would mean something. At any rate, the bye is still in play though the Chargers have nothing to gain and a lot to lose by playing THEIR starters. In other words, it's a long shot at best.

Last week of regular season all game times were TBD until after the results yesterday.

 

[BobDigital]

Well this is why i dislike the single bye structure. I think 12 teams in was perfect.

Anyway, the main thing about this game is no new injuries. We have some people who can still come back for our run. Anyone in week 17 or 18 is probably out of it all together. We thankfully dodged week 17. Now we dodge week 18 and we start getting guys back.

 

[PATSYLICIOUS]

Well this is why i dislike the single bye structure. I think 12 teams in was perfect.

Anyway, the main this about this game is no new injuries. We have some people who can still come back for our run. Anyone in week 17 or 18 is probably out of it all together. We thankfully dodged week 17. Now we dodge week 18 and we start getting guys back.

Always hated it, the playoff system was perfect with 6 teams and 2 byes. Hate it even more now that we are getting screwed… imagine a 14 win division champ playing on wild card weekend.

 

[jdlboot14]

If Broncos are up by 14+ at half, Vrabel might sit Maye & vet starters.
But I guarantee they go into this game the same as last week. I think they'll go in to attack and build a lead.
However, if it's still a dogfight in the 4th and even if Broncos won, then I can see Vrabel letting starters fight to win.

 

[TommyD4207]

If Broncos are up by 14+ at half, Vrabel might sit Maye & vet starters.
But I guarantee they go into this game the same as last week. I think they'll go in to attack and build a lead.
However, if it's still a dogfight in the 4th and even if Broncos won, then I can see Vrabel letting starters fight to win.

I think we'll be getting a couple of players back who need to knock some rust off.

I would be surprised if Vrabel sits anyone unless there's another massive lead at halftime.

 

[jdlboot14]

Update - just realized if Chargers win, they'll go back to Denver the first round. That's a horrible option for them, so they'll be in full tank mode. It seems 99% that we won't win 1st seed & we'll get Chargers in rd. 1

 

[TommyD4207]

Update - just realized if Chargers win, they'll go back to Denver the first round. That's a horrible option for them, so they'll be in full tank mode. It seems 99% that we won't win 1st seed & we'll get Chargers in rd. 1

Not necessarily. If they Bills lay down, the Chargers still have a shot at the 5 seed.

That 5 seed is the place to be wildcard weekend.

Even so, Denver's been skating by with some of the ******** luckiest wins against awful teams - and got clocked in the mouth at home when they had to play a real team. They might just lose anyway, even if the Chargers rest people.

 

[Uptown]

 

[Uptown]

 

[jmt57]

I think it is somewhat fitting that the Patriots will celebrate a highly successful 2025 regular season on the one-year anniversary of Jerod Mayo's firing.

This is available in the clearance section of the Patriots Pro Shop, for $9.71 (down from $12.95).
I don't know if they could sell any at a 99% discount.
(Although somebody is trying to sell one on e-bay for $26.89!!!)

https://proshop.patriots.com/new-england-patriots-2024-team-yearbook/p-352280584559168876+z-96-3097662426?_ref=p-OSLP:m-GRID:i-r4c1:po-13

 

[WhatJustHappened]

My Word.