The New England Patriots will make the trip down to Hard Rock Stadium to take on the Miami Dolphins in a divisional matchup to open up the season. Both the Patriots and the Dolphins are looking to be playoff contenders this season. With both teams sharing a division with the Buffalo Bills, it is unlikely that either team will win the division, however, they will both likely be in contention for a wildcard spot. The Patriots come into the game led by Mac Jones who had a remarkable rookie season with the team. Although he fell short of the Rookie of the Year award, Jones still was head and shoulders the best rookie quarterback last season. The Dolphins come into the game with the new addition of Tyreek Hill to their team. The Dolphins went all in to trade for the speedy receiver and making him the highest-paid wide receiver in NFL history. It is clear that this will be a make-or-break season for Tua Tagovailoa and if he and the Dolphins do not meet their goals for the season, the Dolphins may be in the market for a new quarterback. This game is shaping up to be a very competitive one, and with these two teams being rivals is the cherry on top of it all.
New England Patriots Hope to Notch Early Divisional Win
The New England Patriots shocked many by making the playoffs last season with Mac Jones in his rookie season. Many thought that it would take Bill Bellicheck and the Patriots much more time to recover from losing Tom Brady before they would once again make it to the postseason. The team still has a ways to go before they are once again contending for Super Bowls, however, they are on the right track to getting there. A win to open the season against a very talented Dolphins roster would be a huge boost in confidence not just for Jones, but the entire Patriots roster as a whole. Currently, the Patriots are projected to lose by 9.5 points. While their offense may be outgunned by the Dolphins, the New England defense should have what it takes to slow down Miami’s passing game.
Miami Dolphins Look to Work Tyreek Hill Into the Offense
The Miami Dolphins are coming into the season with one of the scariest passing attacks in the league. Their offense features Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle at the receiver spots and Mike Geiseki at the tight end position. Geiseki is a very reliable pass catcher and a great red zone target. Hill and Waddle are both players that can burn entire secondaries on any given play. It will be very difficult for any defense in the NFL to keep up with the duo, however, there is a big question mark at the quarterback position. The jury is still out on if Tua is capable of being a starting quarterback for a contending team. It is clear that the Dolphins are ready to go into a win-now mode and if Tua is not capable of taking them where they want to go, they will find a replacement. There is a lot of pressure on his shoulders coming into the season, and will either push him to have a breakout year with all of the weapons around him or he will wilt under pressure and likely be out of Miami by 2023. The Patriots will be a great first test for Tua and the Dolpins’s offense to open up the season.
