COMMENTARY | Coming off of a divisional loss at the hands of the
New York Jets, the
New England Patriots will face another divisional opponent this week in the
Miami Dolphins. They should easily be the best team in the division, and the Patriots can not afford consecutive losses to the Jets and Dolphins. The Patriots haven't looked the same this season as the offense continues to struggle to find an identity. The defense has been much better than anyone expected, particularly due to the presence of
Aqib Talib.
Looking forward to this weekend, here are a few Patriots to keep your eye on as they face off against the Dolphins.
Brandon Spikes
Jerod Mayo and
Vince Wilfork are still out, and Spikes will continue to be right in the middle of all the action.
Spikes had a big tackle total in the team's loss to the Jets, and you can expect a similar result against the Dolphins. Miami's success in the running game is directly tied to how Spikes performs, although he needs to continue to step up without Wilfork occupying blockers in front of him.
Ryan Tannehill is a good quarterback, but the Patriots can do some serious damage if they can shut down the running game and force the Dolphins to pass.
