New England Patriots vs Miami Dolphins: Game 14 Preview and Prediction
By Hal Bent
WHAT IS THE HIDDEN KEY TO THE GAME?
Can the Patriots Run the Ball Again Against Miami?
The fact is, the loss of Rob Gronkowski to suspension is going to affect the entire New England offense. Beyond his ability to take over a game and provide big chunk yardage plays at the tight end position, he is Brady’s top target in the red zone and on third down. No one player is going to replace Gronkowski, but the team needs each and every member of the offense to do a little more to make up for the suspended All-Pro tight end.
What Gronkowski never receives enough credit for is his blocking. The Patriots have left him matched-up one-on-one with edge rushers in the passing game in the past and he is a devastating run blocker. Dwayne Allen can help with blocking but the running backs and wide receivers will have to get open and give Tom Brady the chance to move the ball through the air.
The best way to mitigate the Miami pass rush and give Brady time to throw is through effective play action passing. For the play action passing to be effective, the Patriots need to continue to run the ball like they have the past two weeks.
Against Buffalo last week Dion Lewis led the way with 92 yards on 15 carries and with 112 yards on 15 carries the week prior against Miami. Rex Burkhead was right behind Lewis in production with 78 yards on 12 carries last week and with 13 rushes for 50 yards in week 12 versus the Dolphins. New England still has James White at running back and running back Mike Gillislee in reserve as Gillislee has been a healthy scratch since last playing in the Chargers game in week eight prior to the bye week.