Patriots vs. Dolphins: 6 Bold Predictions

Patriots vs. Dolphins: 6 Bold Predictions

We’re about 72 hours away (give or take) from kickoff between the New England Patriots and Miami Dolphins. As a Patriots fan, you should be pumped up for this divisional showdown—if you’re not, we’ve got six reasons to be excited for Week 17. In this article, we’re going to explore six bold predictions. Enjoy:

6. Pick-six for Malcolm Butler

No player on the Patriots’ defense plays with as much swagger as Butler. The first thing Butler did when he came to New England probably involved carrying veterans’ equipment in training camp; now, he’s a Pro Bowl cornerback. Oh, and he’s the reason that Tom Brady has another ring on his finger.

4 things you should know about the Dolphins

Earlier this week, Bill Belichick gave us his take on the comparison between Brent Grimes and Butler. Both of the No. 1 corners hail from Division II colleges, entered the league as undrafted free agents, and have exceeded expectations while wearing No. 21. In Week 17, Butler will outplay Grimes by picking off Ryan Tannehill and returning it the distance.

The Patriots are about due for a pick-six. They are one of only six teams without one this year; the others include the Oakland Raiders, New York Jets, New Orleans Saints, Chicago Bears and Seattle Seahawks. In fact, the Patriots haven’t had a defensive player intercept a pass and take it back for a score since Tavon Wilson did it against the Baltimore Ravens, in garbage time during the Pats’ 41-7 victory that day.

You get the idea. Butler will pad his stat sheet a bit in this game, regardless of who he’s covering.

Next: 5. 100 yards, TD for Steven Jackson