Miami is coming to New England this weekend. We know how history favors the Pats after December 1st with the Dolphins coming to Foxboro. Vegas favors them again this weekend but only by 3.5 points assuming the Patriots are going to rest their starters in a game that means nothing to them.
I touched on it on Tuesday’s post about how I would coach the game. In case you’ve forgotten scroll down or click here.
Weather is setting up for rain on Sunday. The early forecast is showers but that could change to full-on monsoon by Sunday. We’ll have to see how that plays out.
If there’s rain, I’m more gun shy in putting the starters out there. I don’t want another Wes Welker type injury with a player slipping on wet turf. I suppose they’ve played in weather already this year and maybe I’m being too cautious, but there’s nothing to play for this Sunday. The #1 seed is their seed regardless of what happens.
After getting stuck watching the Dolphins a few times this season while waiting for the Pats, the team doesn’t scare me the way they scared a whole bunch of people at the start of the season. There were some folks that actually picked the Dolphins to win the East. For all that Chad Henne was supposed to be “the man” in Miami, he hasn’t lived up to those expectations, not this year at least.
I think back to 2003 when the Pats beat the Dolphins after we got tons of snow dumped on us. The Patriots shut out Miami 12-0 and of course that image of Bruschi celebrating in the end zone is burned in all our heads.
So I’m taking the Pats even with Miami 6-0 against the spread on the road this season.
Have a safe and happy new years, I’ll be back Monday with a recap.
