New England Patriots vs. Miami Dolphins: Sunday morning thoughts
Here are some Sunday morning thoughts regarding the New England Patriots vs. Miami Dolphins matchup this afternoon, written in a bed in Amherst, MA.
Sunday morning thought: At long last, Patriots football in Foxboro.
For the first time since the 2015 Divisional Round, the Patriots will play at Gillette Stadium. Much has transpired since the last time the muskets were fired in Foxboro; an AFC Championship Game loss in Denver; a busy offseason filled with additions and subtractions; a thrilling Week 1 win in Arizona.
More from Musket Fire
- Patriots get steal of the night with perfect first round pick
- What trading Mac Jones during the draft can do for the Patriots
- Best and worst draft picks during the Bill Belichick era
- Early round Patriots draft picks you’ll hate now, love later
- Musket Fire Roundup: Our own final predictions for round 1
You can bet that the Patriots are looking forward to wearing their home blues and getting absolutely jacked up to play a divisional opponent that gave them headaches in Week 17 last year. Speaking of that game…
Sunday morning thought: Revenge on the mind.
By stifling the Patriots in the regular season finale by a score of 20-10, the Dolphins foiled the Pats’ attempt to secure the No. 1 overall seed in the playoffs. That really came back to bite the Patriots when they had to travel to Denver for the AFC Championship Game, a city where Tom Brady and the Patriots struggle mightily.
Without a doubt, revenge will be on the Patriots’ mind as they take the field in a matter of hours.
Sunday morning thought: All eyes on the offense.
A buddy of mine brought up a good point in our group chat this morning. Pretty much, he said that it will be really interesting to watch the Jimmy Garoppolo-led offense in its second incarnation, as the Dolphins have been watching film on the unit all week. In other words, Jimmy G’s offense is a bit more of a known quantity entering Week 2, and it will be intriguing to see how Josh McDaniels keeps the magic alive.
In particular, keep an eye on how the Dolphins defend Garoppolo’s scrambling ability.
Sunday morning thought: Chance to get inside track on the AFC East.
By winning in Week 2, the Patriots would put some added distance between themselves and the rest of the AFC East field. Not only would the Pats hop to 2-0 while the Miami Dolphins and Buffalo Bills both sit at 0-2, but they would also earn a valuable divisional win that carries weight at the end of the regular season as tiebreakers deciding seedings.
Next: Patriots vs. Dolphins: 6 Bold Predictions
Alright, it’s time to get out of bed and figure out breakfast. Big game day means big breakfast.