The Patriots outplayed the Dolphins, but the Fins didn’t lay down.  Tom Brady was very efficient throwing the football, completing 16 of 29 passes for 140 yards and 2 TDs.  Laurence Maroney ran the ball 18 times for 38 yards (2.1 ypc).  Corey Dillon ran the ball 10 times for 45 yards (4.5 ypc).  WR Troy Brown caught 5 passes for 58 yards and a TD.  TE Ben Watson caught 4 passes for 33 yards.  FB Heath Evans caught 2 passes for 11 yards and a TD.

The Patriots played a great defensive game that was led by CB Asante Samuel who made 6 tackles and intercepted 2 passes.  Old guys Tedy Bruschi (10 tackles) and Rodney Harrison (8 tackles) both came to play and the Dolphins paid for it.  The Dolphins could only muster 62 rushing yards on 21 carries (3.0 ypc).  The Fins completed 26 of 41 passes for 221 net yards passing…..but the Pats intercepted 2 passes.

The Patriots are looking good and building a lead in the division that will be hard for other teams to overcome. 

 

 

The Dolphins have wasted great defensive efforts this season because their offense can’t score (12.8 points per game).  The Patriots have reinvented themselves into a power running team (154.0 yards rushing per game) and are off to a good start to the season.

The Dolphins offense has the talent to challenge the Patriots, but they will have to protect the football.  Daunte Culpepper looks like he’s still hurting a bit, but that is no excuse for not getting rid of the ball sooner (21 sacks) or fumbling the football.  Teams have been effective throwing the ball against the Patriots (222.8 yards passing) and the Dolphins have been quick to abandon their running game this season.  The Dolphins would be smart to throw short passes to Wes Welker, Randy McMichael and Ronnie Brown to move the Patriots defense closer to the line, and then go over the top to Chris Chambers and Marty Booker.

The Patriots will not change their offense, even thought the Dolphins have been stingy vs. the run only allowing 3.0 yards per carry.  The Pats will pound the Dolphins with rookie running back Laurence Maroney (294 yards rushing) and Corey Dillon (236 yards rushing).  After the run is established, Tom Brady (891 yards passing) will spread the ball around as he really doesn’t have a favorite receiver.  This is really a testament to Tom Brady’s greatness. 

The Patriots never lose games against inferior teams at home, and they won’t start today.  The Pats will win by at least 10 points.

Starting cornerback Ellis Hobbs has a broken wrist, but is a tough guy that plans to play against the Dolphins this week.  If he can’t go, Chad Scott will take his place.  Scott has played well so far this season.

Tom Brady is trying to keep winning with a vastly different kind of receiving corps.  Gone are his favorite two receivers from the last few seasons….David Givens (Titans) and Deion Branch (Seahawks).  Brady is still spreading the ball around to everyone that is elgible to catch a pass.  Brady has completed 72 of 133 passes (54.1%) for 891 yards with 6 TDs and 3 INT.  Brady has a QB rating of 80.7 this season, which is a little low by his standards.  The one thing that can’t be disputed about Tom Brady is his will to win, and that is the reason the Patriots will be in the playoffs again this season.

The Patriots completely pushed the Bengals around in their own house yesterday.  Tom Brady was efficient again, completing 15 of 26 passes for 188 yards with 2 TDs and an interception.  The running attack was brutal against the Bengals.  Laurence Maroney carried the ball 15 times for 125 yards (8.3 ypc) and 2 TDs.  Corey Dillon has carried the ball 17 times for 67 yards (3.9 ypc) and a TD.  WR Doug Gabriel caught 4 passes for 57 yards (14.3 avg) and a TD.  TE Daniel Graham caught 4 passes for 34 yards (8.5 avg) and a TD.

The defense had played a great game.  DE Jarvis Green had 1 tackle, 3 sacks and a fumble recovery.  The other DE, Ty Warren had 1 tackle, a sack and a fumble recovery.  The Bengals only ran the ball 17 times for 71 yards (4.2 ypc).  The Bengals completed 20 of 35 passes for 208 net yards thru the air.