It’s been a while since the Patriots have faced a regular season game as big as this weekend’s rematch in Miami. And it's been even longer since the Pats were tied in the division... for SECOND.
We all remember what happened the first time these two teams met, which can be summed up in two words: “Wildcat” and “booing”. If you had a third word to add it would have to be “embarrassment” because the Pats were blown off their home turf in week three. So now the Patriots are facing what is basically a “must-win” game in a place where they're 10-32 all-time.
Both the 2001 and 2004 Super Bowl winning Pats teams lost in Miami. The 2003 team needed overtime to dispatch of a 4-1 Dolphin team.
The point is that no matter how good or bad these teams appear on paper, Miami always plays New England hard when they're playing in Florida.Both teams badly need this game to keep their playoff hopes alive so expect a cage fight. So we should be in for a great football game.
After last week’s buzz-kill loss to the Jets there’s a lot less concern about Matt Cassel these days. What is of concern is the state of the Pats defense. This is always about the time they turn it on, and we're going to need them to do just that on Sunday. The Keyz to beating the Dolphins…
1. Leash that Wildcat – If you follow the Patriots in any capacity you are probably ready to blow your brains out if you're forced to read one more Wildcat formation article. When I saw Mike Reiss with the pad and pen out, diagramming plays, I packed it in and stopped reading or watching anything "wildcat" related. So I really don’t want to add fuel to the whole "wildcat" wildfire, but you can't mention the Dolphins these days without stroking the Wildcat boner, so it has to be a Key.
Regardless of how many people the Pats D is missing this week, I have to trust the Belichick will have them well prepared to put an end to this wildcat shit. If Mike Reiss is telling you how to stop it the Pats D better be able to figure it out.
2. Stick in 7, Hard and Fast – It would be nice to take control of this game from the very first drive. Usually I'm a 'defer to the second half' kind of a fan but this week I say we put the offense on the field and march down the field and punch in 7 right off the bat. Like what the Jets did to us last week. Ouch. I'm still trying to swallow that one. That's okay, hopefully Tennessee will play as good as everyone is saying they are and by Sunday night we'll be back tied for first.
3. Don't Let Porter Hassle the Cassel – So holy crap Matt Cassel isn't quite as horrible as everyone thought he was. I credit the organization for sticking with Cassel even after he looked like a flaccid turd in the Preseason. So now we see if he gets time, he can make plays with his arm. He's also making decisions faster which helps the line give him more time.
Look, Cassel can get a billion dollars from the Lions for all I care, but he's going to need to show he can actually win the big game at some point, and not just pull a moral victory out of a loss only because he kept it close and didn't throw three picks. Moral victories don't get you into the playoffs.
This is as big a game as the Patriots can face that isn't a playoff game. It's time for Cassel to show he can win the big game if he's going to be a solid NFL quarterback.
4. Get Off... the field on third down – The Pats are 27th in the NFL in 3rd Down defense. It was what killed them against the Jets. Some of it might have to do with the young players, especially at linebacker where it was either Guyton or Mayo who dropped into the wrong zone to allow Dustin Keller to convert that 3rd and long in OT, but the D has got to get stops. It's simple really, keep Chad Pennington and his wildcat on the leash on the sideline. Let the Pats offense chew them up.
5. Win – The Patriots have always played their best when their backs are against the walls and there hasn’t been a bigger moment of that in recent memory than this weekend. If Cassel and the offense continue their play of late they will ensure the Pats stay in the game, unlike week three.
The Pats were embarrassed the last time these two teams met, I expect them to show up and play their best game of the season, sending a message to the rest of the NFL that they Patriots will be in it come January.
Keywords: Miami Dolphins, New England Patriots
