Dolphins at Patriots
Foxboro Stadium
Foxboro, Mass.
Saturday, Dec. 22, 2001
AT A GLANCE: The AFC East lead will be on the line when
the Dolphins (9-4) travel up the East Coast to take on the Patriots (9-5). Miami won the
first meeting 30-10 at home and has won the last five meetings.
|
| OVERVIEW: The Patriots have been the surprise of the
season in many people’s eyes, and they’ll attempt to take the next step this
week against the current division leader, the Dolphins. The Patriots are positioned just
a half-game behind the Dolphins and would like to gain the upper hand with their bye
approaching in Week 16.
Prior to the first meeting this year, this series had produced many close games in
recent years, with an average margin of victory in the previous eight meetings (not
including playoffs) of 4.0 points.
The Patriots are coming off a gutsy victory over Buffalo, overcoming five sacks and two
turnovers to win 12-9 in overtime. They’ve won four in a row to creep higher in the
AFC playoff picture.
The Dolphins were handed a 21-0 defeat by the 49ers after a short week and a
cross-country flight to the Bay Area.
Both teams are almost completely healthy, though Patriots DE Willie McGinest (leg), who
has been a factor when he’s played, is a week-to-week decision.
When the Dolphins have the ball:
After going three weeks without throwing an interception, QB Jay Fiedler threw three
vs. the 49ers. If the Dolphins are to have any success, it seems they’ll have to rely
on Fiedler and his receivers, as RB Lamar Smith hasn’t been able to get it going this
year.
While Smith had his best game of the year vs. the Patriots in Week Four (29 rushes for
144 yards and a TD), New England has been able to clamp down on the run lately, as rookie
DT Richard Seymour has emerged.
Seymour’s statistics aren’t spectacular, but his teammates sing the praises
of his work taking up blockers and freeing them up to make plays. McGinest, for one, has
benefited from Seymour’s presence when he has been healthy. |
|
|
| Foxboro Stadium |
| Foxboro, Mass. |
| Date: Saturday, December 22, 2001 |
| 12:30 p.m. Eastern Time |
| Type Of Turf: Natural |
| Meeting Of The Year: Second |
| Previous Meeting: |
| |
Miami |
30 |
| |
New England |
(+8) 10 |
| Season Record: |
| |
Miami |
9-4-0 |
| |
New England |
9-5-0 |
| Season Record Vs. Spread: |
| |
Miami |
9-4-0 |
| |
New England |
9-5-0 |
| Home/Road Record: |
| |
Miami (R) |
4-3-0 |
| |
New England (H) |
5-2-0 |
| Home/Road Record Vs. Spread: |
| |
Miami (R) |
4-3-0 |
| |
New England (H) |
6-1-0 |
| Record On Natural Turf: |
| |
Miami |
6-3-0 |
| |
New England |
6-5-0 |
| Record On Natural Turf Vs. Spread: |
| |
Miami |
6-3-0 |
| |
New England |
7-4-0 |
|
| Miami’s best weapons on offense are clearly
at wide receiver, where Chris Chambers is making a case for Rookie of the Year honors. He
and James McKnight have added the deep threat the Dolphins lacked last year. Oronde
Gadsden remains a very solid possession receiver, and rookie RB Travis Minor has been a
very reliable third-down back, especially as a receiver out of the backfield. New
England’s LB corps will have its hands full with him. The Patriots’ defense
gets a big lift from LB Bryan Cox, who not only is a motivator and vocal leader but has
played very well this season. Expect Cox to get his teammates revved up for a game with
huge implications against a former employer of his.
The Dolphins’ offensive line has been ravaged by injuries and disappointing play,
but the Patriots’ defensive line hasn’t made a habit of getting to the opposing
quarterback.
New England will ask its defense to do just enough to keep the team within striking
distance of a victory. And during the Patriots’ current winning streak, the unit has
done just that, helping produce a plus-5 turnover margin.
When the Patriots have the ball:
If the Patriots are the surprise team of the league, then QB Tom Brady is the surprise
player. Since Week Three, Brady has been the biggest stabilizer for what could have become
a terrible season after Drew Bledsoe was hurt in Week Two. But that’s not to say
Brady has been average — he has been downright good and, more importantly, has
emerged as a team leader on offense.
Miami’s defense continues to struggle producing turnovers and pressuring the
quarterback — two things it will need to do much better to rattle Brady. But the
defense typically has been a solid unit and tends to get the job done.
RB Antowain Smith is shooting to be the first 1,000-yard rusher in New England since
1998, when Robert Edwards accomplished the feat in his rookie year. Smith has had an
up-and-down season, but recently he’s found a rhythm. In his last seven outings,
Smith has had three 100-yard games and has scored six of his 10 rushing touchdowns.
Dolphins MLB Zach Thomas will be asked to keep tabs on him. Thomas and DE Jason Taylor
have done solid jobs this year.
The health of the Pats’ offensive line and emergence of rookie OT Matt Light have
greatly helped Smith and Brady. While the line is giving up an average of 3.0 sacks per
game, the unit has been mostly solid.
New England’s surprising WR corps will be challenged by a Dolphins secondary that
hasn’t produced many big plays but still has been a pretty solid shutdown unit.
All game previews and depth charts were compiled as of Dec. 16. |
Offense |
| WR |
86 GADSDEN, 87 Ward, 88 Ogden |
| OLT |
60 FOLAU, 70 Swayne, Vincent |
| OLG |
66 IRWIN, 65 Andrew* |
| C |
61 RUDDY, 65 Andrew* |
| ORG |
75 T. PERRY |
| ORT |
71 WADE |
| TE |
83 GOODWIN, 82 Weaver, 89 E. Perry |
| WR |
80 McKNIGHT, 84 Chambers* |
| QB |
9 FIEDLER, 6 Lucas, 8 McNown |
| RB |
26 L. SMITH, 34 Minor*, 32 J. Johnson |
| FB |
44 KONRAD, 33 Dyer |
Defense |
| DLE |
79 MIXON, 91 Bromell, 96 D. Bowens |
| DLT |
95 T. BOWENS, 97 Grant, Taylor |
| DRT |
94 HALEY, 97 Grant |
| DRE |
99 TAYLOR, 90 Ogunleye |
| SLB |
52 GREENWOOD*, 56 Russell |
| MLB |
54 THOMAS, 51 Hendricks |
| WLB |
59 RODGERS, 58 Galyon |
| LCB |
23 SURTAIN, 24 Fletcher* |
| RCB |
29 MADISON, 21 Cousin |
| SS |
45 WALKER, 41 McGarrahan, 40 Green |
| FS |
31 MARION, 27 Freeman, 35 Wooden |
Specialists |
| P |
1 TURK |
| PK |
10 MARE |
| H |
1 TURK, 88 Ogden |
| KR |
84 CHAMBERS*, 31 Marion |
| PR |
88 OGDEN, 31 Marion |
| LS |
89 E. PERRY, 83 Goodwin |
* Rookie |
|
|
Offense |
| WR |
86 PATTEN, 81 C. Johnson, 84 Coleman |
| OLT |
72 LIGHT*, 76 G. Williams |
| OLG |
77 COMPTON, 74 K. Jones* |
| C |
65 WOODY, 77 Compton, 67 Ruegamer |
| ORG |
63 ANDRUZZI, 67 Ruegamer |
| ORT |
64 ROBINSON-RANDALL, 76 G. Williams, 61 Neal |
| TE |
83 RUTLEDGE, 85 Wiggins, 48 Love |
| WR |
80 BROWN, 88 Glenn |
| QB |
12 BRADY, 11 Bledsoe, 19 Huard |
| RB |
32 A. SMITH, 33 Faulk, 21 Redmond |
| FB |
44 EDWARDS, 35 Pass |
Defense |
| DLE |
91 HAMILTON, 97 Parker, 92 Nugent |
| DLT |
96 MITCHELL, 97 Parker, 71 Sullivan |
| DRT |
93 SEYMOUR*, 97 Parker |
| DRE |
98 PLEASANT, 55 McGinest, 99 Turner* |
| SLB |
50 VRABEL, 52 T. Johnson, 58 Chatham |
| MLB |
54 BRUSCHI, 51 Cox, 52 T. Johnson, 53 Izzo |
| WLB |
95 PHIFER, 55 McGinest |
| LCB |
24 LAW, 27 Buckley |
| RCB |
45 O. SMITH, 22 Shaw, 25 Myers* |
| SS |
36 MILLOY, 23 Harris |
| FS |
34 T. JONES, 26 Stevens, 30 Cherry |
Specialists |
| P |
13 WALTER |
| PK |
4 VINATIERI |
| H |
19 HUARD |
| KR |
33 FAULK, 21 Redmond, 35 Pass |
| PR |
80 BROWN, 33 Faulk, 27 Buckley |
| LS |
66 PAXTON, 77 Compton |
* Rookie |
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