Miami Dolphins (3-0) vs. New England Patriots (1-2)
Game Facts
DATE: Sunday, Sept. 30
TIME: 1 p.m. ET
SITE: Gillette Stadium; Foxborough, Mass.
TV: CBS
TV ANNOUNCERS: (Kevin Harlan, play-by-play; Rich Gannon, color analyst; Steve Tasker, sideline reporter)
DOLPHINS RADIO NETWORK: KISS (99.9 FM); WQAM (560 AM); WQBA (1140 AM-Spanish)
RADIO VOICES: English broadcast — Jimmy Cefalo, Bob Griese, Joe Rose, Kim Bokamper; Spanish broadcast — Roly Martin, Eduardo Martell
The Series
SERIES RECORD: Miami leads 54-51 (including playoffs)
AT MIAMI: Dolphins lead 37-15
AT NEW ENGLAND: Patriots lead 35-17
AT TAMPA: Patriots lead 1-0
LAST MEETING: 2017 at Miami; Dolphins 27, Patriots 20
HISTORY LESSON: The Dolphins' last two September trips to Gillette Stadium were memorable, starting with the famous Wildcat game of 2008. Then in 2016, the Dolphins faced the Patriots in Week 2 and almost pulled off a tremendous comeback. The Dolphins trailed 31-3 midway through the third quarter before they scored three unanswered touchdowns to make it 31-24. The Dolphins came up short in the end, though they had two shots at the end zone from the New England 29-yard line in the final seconds.
SERIES TREND: The Dolphins will be looking for their first victory at Gillette Stadium since 2008. The teams have split the season series four of the past five seasons.
Scouting Report
NEW ENGLAND'S RECORD: 1-2
LAST GAME: Lost 26-10 at Detroit
OVERVIEW: The Patriots have gotten off to a slow start in 2018 and they'll be looking Sunday to avoid a third consecutive loss, something that hasn't happened to them since 2002. New England is coming off losses against the Jacksonville Jaguars and Detroit Lions, and the latter was a surprisingly lopsided Sunday night game against former Patriots defensive coordinator Matt Patricia. This will be the final game for the Patriots without wide receiver Julian Edelman, who has been serving a league suspension, and it could mark the New England debut for wide receiver Josh Gordon. Quarterback Tom Brady, who turned 41 in August, had solid outings in the opener against Houston and against Jacksonville, but he passed for only 133 yards against Detroit. The Patriots again are employing a committee approach at running back, though the hope is that first-round pick Sony Michel can make an impact. One of those running backs, James White, leads the team in receptions with 14, while perennial Pro Bowl tight end Rob Gronkowski has 13.
KEY NEW FACES: RB Sony Michel (draft-1st), DE Adrian Clayborn (Atlanta), DT Danny Shelton (Cleveland), C Brian Schwenke (Tennessee), CB Jason McCourty (Cleveland), WR Josh Gordon (Cleveland), WR Cordarrelle Patterson (Oakland), T Trent Brown (San Francisco)
KEY VETERANS GONE: RB Dion Lewis, WR Brandin Cooks, T Nate Solder, WR Danny Amendola, RB Brandon Bolden, CB Malcolm Butler, S Jordan Richards, WR Julian Edelman (suspended), RB Jeremy Hill (IR)
Final Injury Report
Miami Dolphins: Out — LB Chase Alen (foot), DE Andre Branch (knee), TE A.J. Derby (foot); Questionable — DT Davon Godchaux (ankle), S Reshad Jones (shoulder), WR DeVante Parker (quadricep), DE Cameron Wake (knee), T Sam Young (shoulder)
New England Patriots: Questionable — T Marcus Cannon (calf), S Patrick Chung (concussion), CB Keion Crossen (hamstring), S Nate Ebner (hip), DE Trey Flowers (concussion), WR Josh Gordon (hamstring), DL Geneo Grissom (ankle), TE Rob Gronkowski (ankle), TE Jacob Hollister (chest), LB Brandon King (foot), CB Eric Rowe (groin), DT Danny Shelton (elbow)
