***MNF IN THE SWAMP - NE @ MIA***
***NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS @ MIAMI DOLPHINS***
We got an AFC East battle tonight taking place on the MNF stage. I don't have a ton of time to write here, so I'll do my best to keep it short and sweet. We all know that the Pats are big brother to the Dolphins, Jets, and Bills over the last decade and during the Tom Brady/Bill Belichick era. The Pats currently sit at with a 10-2 record and a win tonight would clinch the Division title yet again for them. I'm here to tell you, in the words of Lee Corso- "not so fast my friend!" The Dolphins are 5-7 and sitting on a Wild Card berth bubble that is about to burst for them unless they do something drastic, like upset the Pats tonight at home. Just hear me out! These two teams last faced off just two short weeks ago in New England, where the Dolphins hung around, until they didn't, and eventually they fell victim to defeat as most do up in Foxboro, losing the game 35-17. The Pats did what they do and inflicted their superiority and dominance, coming at the Dolphins from all angles by utilizing different players both on the ground and through the air. The Miami defense seemed unprepared, but now find themselves in an unusual spot, getting a quick re-do and at home in Miami, on MNF. I believe it is a beautiful spot for them to resurrect their season and make a possible postseason run, and that they are primed to take advantage of it! I mean, what better spark for a talented team to run the table the rest of the way than to upset their Super Bowl Champion rival at home on Prime Time? The Pats have their biggest game of the season on deck, playing the Steelers on the road in what will most likely be for the number 1 seed in the AFC and homefield advantage throughout the playoffs. If I know Billy boy, he is looking to get in and out of Miami with a clean win, and doesn't care by how many as long as everybody remains healthy. I feel like we've seen this movie many times, and Big Bill is always all business. On the contrary, I foresee the Dolphins being charged up here with motivation to the maximum, coming off a blowout win at home hosting the lowly Denver Broncos last weekend.
The Pats will be without TE Rob Gronkowski due to a suspension and have some other key players already nursing some injuries. Also, I must mention that this time around, QB Smoking Jay Cutler will be under center instead of the veteran backup Matt Moore, who was in the match two weeks ago. I'm on record saying that the Dolphins would be improved with Smokin' Jay when they acquired him back in the offseason, maybe that was what set the weird voodoo in the Swamp in motion this season, I'm not sure. All I know is, the dude has a cannon for an arm and is good for like 1 or 2 superior outings a season. That being said, my man Cutty is due, and tonight is that night. The guy has a plethora of weapons that he finally seems to be clicking with in WRs Jarvis Landry, DeVante Parker, and Kenny Stills, not to mention who seems to be his new favorite target in the Redzone, TE Julius Thomas. RB Kenyan Drake will be getting the start again tonight since Damien Williams is out but Drake has been flourishing recently and I'm liking what I see from the 'ol Bama bruiser. Bottom line, there is only one place where Tom Brady seems to struggle, if you can even call it that, and that is Miami. Tonight, in a possible lookahead spot to the Steelers, I think it will be hard for the Pats to match the Dolphins energy here. I can see this Miami defense getting after Tom and making some big plays to seize the momentum early and set Cutler and this offense up. Head Coach Adam Gase is too good to get blown out again in my opinion, and at the least bit I think this one will be within the number. The Dolphins have been blown out in I think three out of four Prime Time games already this year, and have not won any. If they were to do the unthinkable tonight, Miami is right back in the race with the Titans and LAC whom they have the tiebreaker over, KC who they face next week, and the Bills who they are yet to play twice. All I'm saying is, I think there is a chance they get it done here, and on that note, I'm taking the points. DOLPHINS+10.5
