Patriots-Dolphins Week 2 Predictions
BOSTON (CBS) -- The Patriots play in front of their home fans for the first time this season on Sunday, hosting the Miami Dolphins at Gillette Stadium as they look to improve to 2-0 under Jimmy Garoppolo.
New England is flying high after an upset win over the Cardinals in Arizona in Week 1, but division games are always tough. Here's how the WBZ-TV, 98.5 The Sports Hub and WBZ NewsRadio sports team sees Sunday afternoon playing out:
Steve Burton, WBZ-TV Sports
The Patriots should have the same results in Week 2 against the Dolphins as they did in Week 1 against the Cardinals: a victory. Only this time, that win will come in front of the home fans.
Miami does play the Patriots tough, but Bill Belichick is so prepared and his players, every single one of them, are held accountable. Jimmy Garoppolo is humble but confident, and that confidence is growing.
If the Patriots keep Miami quarterback Ryan Tannehill in the pocket, this one shouldn't be a problem and the Patriots will be 2-0 on the season.
Patriots 28, Dolphins 17
Dan Roche, WBZ-TV Sports
What did we learn from the opener? Jimmy G. can play quarterback in the NFL.
The New England offense should find a way to put up some points against the Miami defense. I'm curious to see how the Pats defense plays against Ryan Tannehill, who has had success in the past against the Pats. Turnovers will be key in this one.
Patriots 27, Dolphins 20
Levan Reid, WBZ-TV Sports
Following the Patriots win over the Cardinals on Sunday night, they return home for the home opener. Since the Patriots have opened up Gillette, they are 13-1 in home openers -- that lone loss to Arizona in 2012.
I don't see the Pats losing to the Dolphins this weekend. They are the better team across the board and Miami is still trying to find themselves under new coach Adam Gase. He may be the new offensive flavor of the year, but his team has to get used to the way he coaches. That's going to take some time.
Right now, the Dolphins have Jarvis Landry on offense and that's it. Kenny Stills and Arian Foster are good but not big threats. Defensively, Cameron Wake and Ndamukong Suh are tough, but they always play the Pats better in Miami.
Jimmy Garoppolo still has something to prove. Every time he gets a victory, you can put $10 million more on the negotiating table for him. He probably won't have Rob Gronkowski in this game, but I'm still saying that's no problem.
Patriots 24, Dolphins 10
Adam Kaufman, 98.5 The Sports Hub/WBZ NewsRadio 1030
Whether Rob Gronkowski winds up testing his injured hammy in this one or not, expect a Patriots win in their home opener. They've taken 13 of 14 home openers since moving into Gillette and 13 of their last 15 against the Dolphins in Foxborough.
First-year 'Fins coach Adam Gase's banged up defense performed well in Week 1 in Seattle and nearly matched New England with an improbable road upset to start the year, but Miami's offense largely won't rattle New England's defensive corps. So long as Jimmy Garoppolo gets some protection, and he isn't so amped to perform in front of the home crowd in his first starting opportunity that it psychs him out, the Pats should ultimately cruise. Maybe Jimmy G. will earn himself a banner for Thursday night.
Patriots 28, Dolphins 13
Mike 'Sarge' Riley, 98.5 The Sports Hub/WBZ NewsRadio 1030
I think the Patriots O-line is going to have trouble with the Miami front-seven and Jimmy G. will hit the ground at least four times. But, it's the Patriots' home opener and they'll pull out a late win against the fish.
Patriots 20, Dolphins 17
Rob "Hardy" Poole, 98.5 The Sports Hub
The Patriots host Miami this weekend. Miami, as in "Moons over Miami." Or "Moons Over My Hammy," which is a delicious dish at Denny's. How many moons are there in "Moons Over My Hammy?" Two. Two moons. Which means, two points.
Patriots 2, Dolphins 0
Tune in to Patriots-Dolphins Sunday afternoon at 1pm on WBZ-TV and 98.5 The Sports Hub -- the flagship stations of the New England Patriots! Pregame coverage begins on 98.5FM at 10am with Patriots Preview, with three full hours of postgame coverage after the game. WBZ-TV begins their coverage at 11:30am with Patriots GameDay, and catch Jimmy Garoppolo and Bill Belichick's postgame press conferences LIVE on Patriots 5th Quarter over on myTV38 following the game.
