New England Patriots at Miami Dolphins: Top 5 Matchups in NFL Week 17
By Hal Bent
4. Tom Brady vs Miami Secondary
Here is the dirty secret about the Miami Dolphins and their 10-5 season: they have the same kind of defense that the Patriots were repeatedly criticized for here in New England between 2009 to 2014. The Dolphins are 30th in the NFL in total yards allowed but are winning because they are sixth in the league in turnovers.
The Dolphins’ secondary has been ravaged by injury in 2016: starting safeties Reshad Jones (week seven) and Isa Abdul-Quddus (this week) are both on injured reserve. Bacarri Rambo and Michael Thomas are solid but not close to the talent level of Abdul-Quddus (who was having a Pro Bowl caliber season in his first year in Miami) and Jones (a well-deserved Pro Bowl selection last season).
One of the biggest surprises of 2016 was the play of cornerback Byron Maxwell. Many (myself included) ridiculed the Dolphins for trading down in the first round with Philadelphia and taking on Maxwell and linebacker Kiko Alonso in return. Both players have performed better than expected. After struggling in Philadelphia after four years in Seattle, Maxwell bounced back with an impressive season in 2016.
Maxwell’s status for Sunday is up in the air, however, due to an ankle injury (UPDATE: He has been ruled out). Fortunately for Miami, rookie Xavien Howard is back from injury. Howard was injured much of his rookie season but is he is loaded with athleticism and has potential. Opposite him for the Dolphins is last year’s fifth-round draft pick and converted wide receiver Tony Lippett.
Lippett is a great success story. He was converted from cornerback to wide receiver at Michigan State and did not play cornerback again until Miami drafted him last year. He has grown by leaps and bounds and in his first full season as a starter has grown into a solid number two cornerback and leads the team with four interceptions.
Of course, in Week two Miami did not face Tom Brady. Miami was lit-up by Jimmy Garoppolo before injury knocked him out and the Patriots had to turn to rookie Jacoby Brissett. That game seems like it was played last year it was so long ago and the two teams have changed so much since then.
Brady has been otherworldly in 2016 despite being 39 years old. He has completed 66.7% of his passes for 3,278 yards (298 yards per game average), with 25 touchdowns and just two interceptions. His 110.7 quarterback rating would be his third highest of his career only topped by 2007 and 2010–both seasons in which he won the MVP.
Young and inexperienced cornerbacks and back-up safeties should have Brady drooling in anticipation of facing Miami’s secondary: Miami just got lit-up by Tyrod Taylor last week. Seriously. Taylor had 329 yards passing with three touchdowns, no interceptions, and a 118.4 quarterback rating leading the Bills to 31 points.
Brady will no doubt see that in week two his back-up Jimmy Garoppolo went 75-yard touchdown drive, 75-yard touchdown drive, and 76-yard touchdown drive to start the game against a healthy Dolphins defense. Brady may be without Malcolm Mitchell due to injury, but should have Julian Edelman, Chris Hogan, newly acquired Michael Floyd, and tight end Martellus Bennett at his disposal.
Bennett had a big game against Miami in week two catching five passes for 114 yards and a touchdown. Miami has struggled to cover tight ends all season. Last week Charles Clay went off for eight catches for 85 yards and two touchdowns.
Kiko Alonso has surprised many with a strong bounceback season at linebacker against the run but struggles in coverage at time. The loss of veteran Koa Misi hurt the linebacker coverage ability and neither Neville Hewitt, Donald Butler, nor Spencer Paysinger are athletic enough to stay with tight ends in coverage. Jelani Jenkins–unlikely to play with a knee injury– had been their best coverage linebacker this year after flashing potential last year.
Also, expect Brady to continue to incorporate running backs Dion Lewis and James White into the passing attack. The Dolphins safeties and linebackers could be overwhelmed by the New England running back duo in the open field.
Brady has a lot of options in the passing game still and should have the advantage targeting the Miami secondary.