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5 things to watch in Patriots regular-season finale vs. Dolphins
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- 5 things to watch in Patriots regular-season finale vs. Dolphins
FOXBOROUGH – The playoffs are almost here. Before the Patriots embark on a hopeful postseason run, they need to finish strong on Sunday against the Miami Dolphins .
For Mike Vrabel’s team , there are some things on the line this weekend.
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At 13-3, the Patriots are tied for the best record in the AFC. For them to get the top seed, however, they need the Denver Broncos to lose to the Los Angeles Chargers . That’s not looking like the likely outcome since the Chargers are sitting quarterback Justin Herbert .
If the Patriots win, they won’t finish lower than the AFC’s No. 2 seed. Their next opponent is dependent on Sunday’s game. The most likely opponents are the Los Angeles Chargers, Buffalo Bills , and Houston Texans . If the Texans win the division, then the Jacksonville Jaguars would be a wildcard team.
If the Bills lose, they’ll end up the No. 7 seed and head to Gillette Stadium. If Buffalo wins, Houston wins, and the Chargers lose, the Patriots will take on Los Angeles.
Of course, before the Patriots worry about their playoff matchup, they need to beat the Dolphins . Here are five things to watch:
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Drake Maye ’s MVP run
Drake Maye has been one of the best players in the NFL this season. That’s why he’s considered a favorite for the NFL MVP award along with Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford . Last week, against the New York Jets , Maye was near perfect. This week, against Miami, he has a chance to try to leave a final impression.
The Dolphins head into this matchup with the 18th-ranked pass defense. Opposing quarterbacks have a 104.6 passer rating when throwing the ball against Miami. That’s the fifth-highest mark in the NFL. The Dolphins’ defense has allowed 28 passing touchdowns in the league. That ties them for the eighth most in the league.
Stefon Diggs
Stefon Diggs doesn’t lack any distractions in this one. This past week, the Patriots receiver was accused of strangling his female chef . He’s facing charges of felony strangulation or suffocation and misdemeanor assault and battery, and is due in court on Jan. 23. The veteran is still practicing and expected to play on Sunday.
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We’ll see how Diggs handles the off-field distraction against the Dolphins. The veteran heads into this matchup just 30 yards away from his seventh-career 1,000-yard season. Diggs leads the Patriots with 82 receptions, 970 yards, and four touchdowns.
Stop the run
This one isn’t a secret. The Miami Dolphins benched veteran quarterback Tua Tagovailoa and will start the rookie quarterback for the third-straight game. The Dolphins are coming off an upset win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers , and in that game, Miami ran over its opponent. The Patriots need to make sure that doesn’t happen.
Miami’s best player is running back De’Von Achane. The Pro Bowler has 1,350 rushing yards to go with eight touchdowns. He leads the NFL in yards per carry (5.7). The Patriots need to stop the run and force the ball into the hands of the Dolphins’ rookie quarterback.
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Turnover battle
If the Dolphins are going to beat the Patriots, they need to win the turnover battle. Miami is 5-2 over its last seven games. In that span, the Dolphins have forced 13 turnovers and have committed seven turnovers of their own. Miami upset the Buffalo Bills in Week 10 and won the turnover battle that day.
Over the last seven games, the Dolphins haven’t lost when they win the turnover battle. The Patriots have a +1 turnover margin this season. They have 17 total takeaways in 16 games this season. They need to win the turnover battle on Sunday.
Stay healthy
The Patriots started this week with 15 players on the injury report. They finished the previous week with 15 players on the injury report. Simply put, Vrabel’s team is limping into their regular-season finale. The most important thing in Sunday’s game is that the Patriots don’t suffer any serious injuries.
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The Patriots need to head into the playoffs as healthy as possible. It would be very helpful to have a healthy Milton Williams , Robert Spillane , Khyiris Tonga , Harold Landry , and Will Campbell for the postseason.
Prediction: Patriots 27, Dolphins 17
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