Looking forward to the week 8 matchup i have several key areas that the patriots need to exploit and cover up. Starting off with the strengths i think we have to look at what i think is the most obvious, the Qb's.
As good as tannahill was on his "coming out party" through the first three weeks he managed a meteoric fall back to earth after that. He's thrown seven interceptions and fumbled five times already this year proving he coughs up the ball.The patriots defense is beat up in several key areas and talib is still questionable but as a unit they are still opportunistic, look for a key pick or strip sack. On the other hand brady is having the worst statistical year of his career with a passing percentage in the fifties and a few more interceptions then usual but he's still tom brady. Wouldn't be surprised to see the middle of the field open in the passing game.
The dolphins offense will have plenty of issues working the ball outside the hash marks and over the top as mike wallace will be bracketed and dennard has been playing great for the patriots. look for hartline to be open underneath in the dolphins pass heavy offense. The patriots on this one will probably sit back and play a lot of bend but don't break defense, giving up the underneath yardage but trying to keep the score down.
The linebackers for me in this game is a wash, both the dolphins (ellerbe, misi, wheeler) and the pats (spikes, hightower) have good down hill linebackers that like to stack up the runningback. both teams however leave a lot to be desired with coverage from the linebackers. Hightower was consistently torched last week so look for him to have a better day.
The line play will most likely determine this game for me. the pats o-line is having an up and down year and once again the Connolly and cannon are both not fully healthy leaving a lit to be desired on the inside, especially when you include wendell's average play. With the pats line playing up and down olivier vernon and cameron wake will be looking to hit brady. The patriots linemen will also be looking to hit tannehill with a weak interior line for the dolphins and newly acquired bryant mckinnie playing against chandler jones. I think the patriots get outplayed here and brady is under some heavy pressure, but they just have to keep this battle close enough to win.
If the pats can keep the battle between the lines close the secondary will be where they win this game. the dolphins safeties reshad jones and Chris clemons leave a lot to be desired from a coverage standpoint and other then brent grimes the dolphins have very unproven corners. some quick short passes may get the pats some big plays. Even without talib the patriots win this matchup because mccourty will challange any deep ball and has been excellent over the top in bracket coverage. wallace will be eliminated from the game and hartline simply cannot beat the patriots alone.
