Gameday: Five Keys To A Dolphins Win PLUS Prediction

If you're not ready for this one, then you don't have a pulse.

On that note, a very warm good morning to everybody!

And a good morning it is, as the Dolphins and Patriots are just about three hours away from kicking off a HUGE divisional matchup down in Sun Life Stadium.

No Gronk?  No Dobson?  No Thompson?

No win?

Hold your horses.  Tom Brady's still alive, right?  Bill Belichick too?

Yeah, better get to the keys before we get ahead ourselves.  Enjoy.


1.  Intensity, intensity, intensity.  I've said it all week, I have NEVER seen a Dolphins team this confident, or this focused, heading into a Patriots game.  The game is sold out, it's the premiere game of the day, and everything is on the line for the Miami Dolphins.  They need to harness this energy early, and all day long.  You may not be able to out coach Bill Belichick, but you can be more intense than him.

2.  Don't lose sight of Vereen.  Shane Vereen, for all intents and purposes, IS the New England offense right now.  He can run the ball, he can catch the ball, and he can be a matchup nightmare for this Dolphins defense.  It will be PIVOTAL for the Miami Dolphins to keep an eye on Vereen, especially in the passing game, and ESPECIALLY in the screen game.

3.  Make New England one-dimensional.  What's the biggest reason for letting up that 17-3 lead back in week 8?  The Patriots had no run game in the first half.  But in the second half?  Well over 150 yards on the ground.  This will be the most critical aspect to today's game, folks.  IF Miami can make Tom Brady and that Gronkowski-less offense one-dimensional, they will win this game.

4.  Get pressure, then stop the pressure.  Jared Odrick, Cam Wake, and Olivier Vernon had success last time in getting after Tom Brady.  They MUST keep this up today.  It's no secret that the best way to beat the Patriots is to consistently put pressure on Brady with a four men front.  Can't blitz too much.  Can't give him too much time.  On the other side, Ryan Tannehill was sacked SIX times in week 8.  Now, that was a much different offensive line, and a much different Ryan Tannehill.  Put Brady on his back, Keep Tannehill off his, and do it all day long.

5.  Run, run Ryan.  Hey, look at you Ryan Tannehill, look at you USING YOUR FEET!  I don't want to say I've said it all year, but, uh, I've said it all year long.  This offense is BETTER, more SUCCESSFUL, and AT IT'S BEST, when Ryan Tannehill utilizes his athleticism.  I'm not saying run the read option every down, and I'm not saying take off at the first sign of trouble.  But if there is field open ahead of you, RUN, Ryan!  RUN!!


PREDICTION

I'm going to be honest with you guys, I have no idea what to do here.  If the Miami Dolphins are ever to beat the Patriots, TODAY is the day.  No Gronkowski.  No Dobson. No Thompson.  Who's catching passes in a navy uniform that scares you today?  The problem I have is, the man throwing those passes, Tom Brady, hasn't lost to this team since 2009.  Miami has SO much going for them today- they're at home, it's hot, they've won back to back games- so I really, really want to pick them here.  HOWEVER, I've told you this before, and I'm going to stick to my guns here:  I cannot pick the Miami Dolphins UNTIL they actually beat the Patriots.  I just can't do it.

Final: Patriots 27 Dolphins 24


Just under three hours to go, folks.  Hang in there!

Come back right before game time for any last minute news, including the inactives.

Then, as always, make sure to follow the blog throughout the game, starting at the end of the first quarter.

2.5 HOURS

GO FINS