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Patriots: Ranking the 2019 regular season opponents

By Patrick Morgan

ATLANTA, GEORGIA - FEBRUARY 03: Tom Brady #12 of the New England Patriots makes a pass against the Los Angeles Rams during Super Bowl LIII at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on February 03, 2019 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
ATLANTA, GEORGIA - FEBRUARY 03: Tom Brady #12 of the New England Patriots makes a pass against the Los Angeles Rams during Super Bowl LIII at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on February 03, 2019 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) /
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MIAMI, FL – DECEMBER 09: Kenyan Drake #32 of the Miami Dolphins carries the ball for the game winning touchdown during the fourth quarter against the New England Patriots at Hard Rock Stadium on December 9, 2018 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
MIAMI, FL – DECEMBER 09: Kenyan Drake #32 of the Miami Dolphins carries the ball for the game winning touchdown during the fourth quarter against the New England Patriots at Hard Rock Stadium on December 9, 2018 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images) /

8. Miami Dolphins (AWAY)

The “Miracle in Miami” will forever mean more to Dolphins fans than Patriots fans. Not simply because it resulted in a win for Miami and a loss for New England; also because it came in a season that the Patriots ultimately reached and won the Super Bowl. Any Fins fan who brings up that fateful final play can try to rub it in a New Englander’s face if they want, but the Pats fan need only silently hold up six fingers in rebuttal, and it should be enough to win the argument.

What’s not up for debate is the Patriots’ struggles in Miami. While New England holds +11 and +31 all-time records against division foes New York and Buffalo, respectively, the Dolphins still maintain a +3 all-time series edge over the Patriots.

New England has won just once in their past five visits to Florida. Something about South Beach just seems to give Brady and Belichick the heebie-jeebies, whether it’s the heat, the humidity, the distance traveled, or just plain bad luck (see: Miracle in Miami). Whatever the cause, the Patriots often seem as likely to lose as they are to win when facing the Dolphins at Hard Rock.

You heard it here first though: all that changes in 2019. If all goes according to plan, New England will win twice in Miami next season: first during the regular season, and then a second time in Super Bowl 54 on February 2, 2020.

The Dolphins simply don’t have the roster to contend with the Patriots next season, and Belichick will do whatever it takes to avoid losing to another former assistant/player during the regular season (he lost to Matt Patricia’s Lions and Mike Vrabel’s Titans in 2018).

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