AFC East Clash

By: Mike Rifkin

For the New England Patriots and Miami Dolphins this season will begin the same way last season did (and ended in the regular season) against each other. Last season was the first time the Dolphins swept the Patriots for the first time since 2000 Bill Bellichick’s first season as Pats coach.

For the Dolphins it will be the first game of the Mike McDaniel era. McDaniel takes over for Brian Flores who was fired after three seasons. 127.4 yards per game, while the Dolphins were 30th in rushing averaging 92.2 yards per game. McDaniel was brought in to help Quarterback Tua Tagovailoa develop. Tagovailoa, the former fifth overall pick last year had a 67.8 completion percentage, 2,653 yards, 16 touchdowns, 10 interceptions and three rushing touchdowns. What McDaniel and Chris Grier did this offseason was surround Tua with the best supporting cast possible to see if he is the solution to the Dolphins woes at Quarterback since Dan Marino retired. In Three games against the Patriots Tua has a 68.0 completion percentage averaged 152 yards per game with two touchdowns and two interceptions. The Dolphins added three time pro bowler Terron Armstead from the New Orleans Saints and Connor Williams from the Cowboys to sure up the offensive line. In the backfield Mike Mcdaniel brought in a familiar face in Raheem Mostert. Mostert broke out in 2019 with 772 yards (averaged 5.6 ypc) and eight touchdowns in 16 games. In 2020 Mostert battled through injuries and had 521 yards and two touchdowns in eight games. Last year Mostert hurt his knee in the season opener and had surgery and missed the rest of the season. The Dolphins also brought in Chase Edmonds from the Cardinals. Edmonds had a career high 592 rushing yards last year for the Cardinals. Edmonds also is a very good receiver out of the backfield. Dolphins traded for Chiefs wide receiver Tyreek Hill. The Dolphins traded this year’s first and second round picks (29 and 50), a fourth round draft pick also this year and a fourth and sixth round picks next year. In his career Hill has 479 catches for 6,630 yards and 56 touchdowns.The Dolphins drafted Jaylen Waddle sixth overall last year and all he did was break the rookie record for receptions with 104. He had 1,015 yards and six touchdowns. The team also franchised Tight End Mike Gesicki and signed Cedric Wilson. Gesicki had 73 catches for 780 yards and two touchdowns. Wilson had 45 catches for 602 yards and six touchdowns. The dolphin defense was fantastic during their seven game winning streak last season. The defense was in fifth in the NFL with 48.0 sacks. Emmanuel Ogbah led the way with nine and rookie Jaelan Phillips had 8.5. Cornerback Xavien Howard led the team with five interceptions.

The Patriots won 10 games again last season before getting dismantled by the Bills in the playoffs. In his rookie season Mac Jones had a 67.6 completion percentage averaged 223.6 yards per game with 22 touchdowns and 13 interceptions. Against the Dolphins Jones had 71.0 completion percentage, 271 yards per game average, two touchdowns and an interception. Last season the Patriots were eighth in the NFL in rushing yards per game averaging 126.5 yards per game. Damien Harris led the way with 929 yards and 15 touchdowns. Hunter Henry led the receivers with nine touchdowns while Jakobi Meyers and Kendrick Bourne had 800 yards or more. The Patriots traded for Devante Parker from the Dolphins. Parker in 10 games last year had 40 catches for 515 yards and two touchdowns. But the Pats offense did take a hit when Offensive Coordinator Josh Mcdaniels left to coach the Las Vegas Raiders leaving former Special Teams Coach Joe Judge and former Defensive Coordinator Matt Patricia to call plays. Last year the Patriots defense was fourth in yards allowed giving up 310.8 yards per game. They were in the middle of the pack in sacks with 36 led by Matthew Judon’s 12.5. They were tied for eight with a +7 turnover differential led by JC Jackson’s eight interceptions. But Jackson departed for Los Angeles and  Stephon Gilmore was released during last season, somebody is going to have to step up in the Pats secondary. 

For these two AFC East rivals their quests for the playoffs begin against each other on Sunday.