X's and O's: Patriots at Dolphins

Winslow Townson/AP Images for Panini

The Patriots play their first game of two games this season against the Dolphins this week. After Beating the Steelers, on Sunday night football, the Patriots looked really good. They ended up winning 33-3. The Patriots are also adding Antonio Brown this week. It'll be quite interesting if you ask me.

Miami runs a base 4-3 defense and a cover-2 in their secondary. A cover-2 scheme is a zone scheme where all of the linebackers and defensive backs drop into their zones. The two safeties drop back into the outside "deep thirds" while the middle linebacker takes the middle third. The cornerbacks drop backs and cover anything five to ten yards away from the line of scrimmage. The cornerbacks will cover the flats and the outside linebackers will cover anything over the middle. (Pictured Below)



If the Dolphins come out in a cover-2 scheme, the Patriots could run a smash concept on side while running a double cross pattern on the other side. The Patriots also had a great running attack last week with Sony Michele and Rex Burkhead. If the Patriots can establish an early run game, this could get really ugly. The Dolphins have a really good defensive back group. Xavien Howard, the Dolphins cornerback is probably a top-three cornerback in the NFL. The Patriots will want to use Josh Gordon, Julian Edelman, and James White as much as possible today. (Pictured below)



The Pats are going to win today. The Pats are going to force a lot turnovers. Gordon will score, Michel will score, Burkhead and Edelman will score. I also think Antonio Brown gets his first touchdown as a Patriot. Pats fans will go nuts after that. The Patriots will win today 42-10.

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