The Miami Dolphins can announce their solidify as a legitimate AFC East contender by defeating the division’s former standard-bearer.
Miami goes into Gillette Stadium to play the New England Patriots on Sunday Night Football. Even as the road team, the Dolphins are a two-point favorite to beat Bill Belichick and Co. on NBC’s primetime stage.
ESPN Analytics seems to like that bet. The Matchup Predictor gives the Dolphins a 61.6 percent win probability at Foxborough.
Miami back in Foxborough on Sunday night! #FinsUp pic.twitter.com/0gATYcrvUt
— Sunday Night Football on NBC (@SNFonNBC) September 15, 2023
The Dolphins opened 2023 with a week-high 536 total yards in a 36-34 win over the Los Angeles Chargers. In his first game back from a season-ending concussion, Tua Tagovailoa amassed 466 of those yards and three touchdowns through the air.
Meanwhile, New England narrowly upset the Philadelphia Eagles. The Patriots gained 131 more yards than the defending NFC champions in a 25-20 loss.
Sunday’s matchup pits an explosive Dolphins offense led by 40-year-old head coach Mike McDaniel against a formidable Patriots defense helmed by 71-year-old Bill Belichick. McDaniel discussed the importance of winning their first AFC East game.
“A division game on the road this early in the season doesn’t need much motivation. Especially it’s Sunday night,” Mike McDaniel said Friday. Trying to find other things to think about, there’s plenty to think about with that. Division games early in the season are very important to us so that’s all we’ve really needed to focus on is the Patriots, and that’s been enough.”
Sunday night’s matchup kicks off at 8:20 p.m. ET.