The Patriots have a game in the books against the Steelers and now head out on the road for the first time in 2019. Away games were the bane of the team in 2019, as the team went 3-5 away from Foxboro. This week they’re traveling to Miami which has been a non-stop bummer for the Patriots since the Dolphins entered the league in 1966.
Slow starts have plagued the team in September in recent years, with a win on Sunday against the Dolphins the Patriots have the chance to begin the season 2-0 and more importantly, win their first divisional game, with two more against the Jets and Bills to follow in the ensuing weeks.
Here are our Patriots players to watch this week down in South Florida as the Patriots try to break out of the 1-5 slump they’ve had down there the past six visits.
Sony Michel:
Michel had an impressive summer and looked like the explosive Georgia version of himself during training camp and in limited reps in the preseason. We were excited to see what he could bring to the table against a very stout Pittsburgh front seven last week. But the Steelers ensured that Michel wasn’t going to beat him and keyed on him and the run when he was in the game. He ended up with only 14 yards on 15 carries.
The Dolphins struggled in run support last week and were gashed for 265 yards on the ground by the Ravens. We expect the Patriots to put some emphasis this week on establishing the run and to also open up play-action passes.
We’re looking for Michel to get a lot of work early in this one to help spring the offense into high gear. The Patriots offensive line will be also looking to set the tone for this one early. Look for Michel to run behind some good holes in this one.
Phillip Dorsett:
Whenever we discuss the Patriots wide receivers, Dorsett is always kind of an afterthought. But Dorsett and the Patriots are fine if Miami forgets about him as well. He had a huge game on Sunday, catching all four passes thrown his way for 95 yards and two touchdowns of 25 and 58 yards from Tom Brady.
Dating back to last year, Dorsett has caught the last 20 passes thrown in his direction, 19 from Brady, and one from Brian Hoyer. The last time he was targeted and the pass was incomplete was the Miami game in Foxboro during Week 4 in 2018. So, while he doesn’t get targeted a lot when he is thrown to, he makes the catch.
This week should be more of the same, Brady and Josh McDaniels should have some plays where Dorsett is going to be the “forgotten man” by the defense and facing a backup corner. And he will be counted on to come thru. We’re looking for Brady to give Dorsett a few more looks this week in the passing game. It is never a bad idea to ride the hot hand.
Kyle Van Noy:
Van Noy missed last week’s game due to his wife giving birth to a child on Sunday. But it didn’t stop the Patriots’ linebacker to tweet out during the game as he was keeping an eye on the events that unfolded. Van Noy has been an absolute steal since coming over from Detroit. He’s arguably one of the biggest playmakers on the defense.
The linebacker position is stacked this year with Jamie Collins, Dont’a Hightower, Van Noy, Elandon Roberts, and Ja’Whaun Bentley. So much so that Roberts, one of the Patriots’ team captains didn’t play a snap.
Van Noy had a very good summer and was primed to begin the season exactly where he left off last year. After missing the Steelers game, he has to be chomping at the bit to get back on the field. Look for him to have a big impact on Sunday.
Josh Gordon:
Gordon was/is a question mark heading into the 2019 season due to his repeated suspensions and his struggle to stay on the straight and narrow. Last week, many were questioning whether he’d be sharp as he was suspended from December until late August when he was reinstated. But he played well and chipped in with 73 yards receiving in Week 1, including a 44-yard bomb from Brady.
If there is a silver lining to the circus surrounding anything and everything Antonio Brown it is that Gordon is now pushed onto a back burner by the media a bit. And he’s free to prepare for Miami without all of the scrutinies that he’d otherwise be subjected to.
Gordon is a tough matchup for the Dolphins, with his size, speed, and athleticism. I’d look for Xavien Howard to lineup opposite him and this should be an intriguing one to watch. Howard is easily Miami’s best cover corner and it promises to be entertaining.
Tom Brady:
Ah yes, the GOAT. Although he owns a nice 22-11 record against the Dolphins, that number falls to 7-10 in Miami. Brady will no doubt be asked about it, if anyone, …ever decides to ask a football question again [do we detect a pattern here?] and we know Brady thrives on a challenge.
Forget what happened last week against Baltimore…doesn’t matter. Pundits picking Miami to be the worst team in the NFL? He could care less. The way that game ended last year in Miami and for the Patriots to go home with a loss is a major factor with #12 and it has been festering since last December.
Look for Brady to come out just like this is a playoff game was laser intensity and focus. He’ll approach it as if Miami was trying to take his spot away from him. A big day awaits if they execute well enough.
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A former US Army Special Forces NCO and Officer, Steve has been following the Patriots since their days at Fenway Park. Steve has worked in the film industry and wrote as an Military Editor at SpecialOperations.com, 1945.com as a reporter for the Millbury Daily Voice, Millbury-Sutton Chronicle, and the Grafton News. He's also a member of the Pro Football Writers of America (PFWA)
