New England Patriots vs. Miami Dolphins: Week 2 Predictions, Picks and Odds 9/17/23
Tua Tagovailoa was the best quarterback in the NFL in Week 1 and now sits behind only Patrick Mahomes in MVP odds.
If the Miami Dolphins prove this offense can sustain itself over long stretches, a Super Bowl is not out of reach.
The next test comes on Sunday Night Football when Miami faces off with the New England Patriots in Foxboro. The Dolphins have been instituted as a slight favorite but the oddsmakers feel like this is a game that could go either way.
Odds courtesy of DraftKings on September 15:
Spread: Dolphins -3
Moneyline: Dolphins -155; Patriots +130
Over/Under: 46.5
The Patriots did a really good job against the high-powered Eagles offense last time out and will face another tough challenge in this one.
Will Bill Belichick have a game-plan to slow down the Dolphins? I think Miami’s insanely talented duo of Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle will lead the way to another win.
New England Patriots vs. Miami Dolphins Prediction
New England Patriots vs. Miami Dolphins Prediction
Some are hesitant to put the Dolphins in the upper echelon of contenders, but this offense has been fantastic when Tagovailoa has been on the field.
He is a major injury risk, but for now he is healthy, which means Miami should be able to keep it rolling. Coach Mike McDaniel has proven to be a very smart game manager as he heads into a contest of matching wits with Belichick.
The Patriots are a solid team and will likely finish around .500 again this season, but they don’t have the talent to stick with Miami.
New England is so fundamentally sound that it will do enough to hang around but in the end, look for some big plays by the Dolphins’ explosive offense to be the difference.
Prediction: Dolphins 27, Patriots 20
Prop Bet Odds and Pick: Patriots QB Mac Jones Over/Under 34.5 Pass Attempts
The Dolphins had a game plan of allowing the Chargers to run the ball last week, but that was against star quarterback Justin Herbert. I think they will be fine putting the ball in Mac Jones’ hands in this one by playing more against the run.
New England had to throw 54 times in the opener because it fell behind early and I could see Jones throwing a bunch in the second half in a similar scenario.
The Patriots would undoubtedly love to run the ball and keep the Miami offense on the sideline, but I think the Dolphins will get ahead and force Jones to become the main event.
Prediction: Jones over 34.5 pass attempts (-130 at DraftKings)
How to Watch New England Patriots vs. Miami Dolphins
The New England Patriots will host the Miami Dolphins on Sunday, September 17th, 2023 at 8:20 p.m. ET at Gillette Stadium in Foxboro, Massachusetts. This Week 2 matchup can be seen on NBC.
