</p> <span class="Title"><span class="TitleHeader">Patriots face division rival Dolphins in S. Florida</span></span></p> The Patriots are 6-0 for just the second time in the team's 48-year history and will try to set a record for the franchise's best start to a season in a place where it has been historically hard for New England to win. Miami has defeated the Patriots in five of their last seven visits to South Florida, including a 21-0 shutout last season. In its history, New England has traveled to Miami 14 times during the months of September and October and has won just once.</p> NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS (6-0) at MIAMI DOLPHINS (0-6) Sunday, October 21, 2007 -- Dolphin Stadium (75,540) -- 1:00 p.m. EDT </p> The Patriots are 6-0 for just the second time in the team's 48-year history and will try to set a record for the franchise's best start to a season in a place where it has been historically hard for New England to win. Miami has defeated the Patriots in five of their last seven visits to South Florida, including a 21-0 shutout last season. In its history, New England has traveled to Miami 14 times during the months of September and October and has won just once.</p> STRONG START The Patriots have begun the 2007 season with a 6-0 record, tying the 2004 team for the most consecutive victories to begin a season in franchise history. With a victory this week, the Patriots would be 7-0 for the first time in franchise history.</p> SWEET SEVENTEEN The Patriots have won each of their six games this season by at least 17 points, tying the NFL record for consecutive victories by 17 points or more to begin a season. New England has won by 24, 24, 31, 21, 17 and 21 points this season, tying the mark also achieved by the 1999 St. Louis Rams, who won their first six games by 17, 28, 28, 22, 28 and 31 points. The 1999 Rams lost their seventh game of the season at Tennessee, 24-21.</p> BROADCAST INFORMATION</p> TELEVISION: This week's game will be broadcast by CBS. The game can be seen in Boston on WBZ-TV Channel 4. Greg Gumbel will handle play-by-play duties with Dan Dierdorf providing analysis.</p> RADIO: WBCN 104.1 FM is the flagship station for the Patriots Rock Radio Network. A complete listing of the network's 33 stations can be found here. Play-by-play broadcaster Gil Santos is in his 31st season as the voice of the Patriots and will call the action along with Patriots Hall of Famer Gino Cappelletti. Santos and Cappelletti are celebrating their 24th season as a tandem.</p> SERIES HISTORY The New England Patriots and Miami Dolphins will meet for the 84th time in their history in their 42nd year as division foes. New England is 7-4 in its last 11 games against the Dolphins and the Patriots have won six of the last nine matchups between the teams, but Miami has won three of the last five games in the series. The Dolphins have also won five of the seven games played in Miami since Bill Belichick became head coach of the Patriots in 2000. The Patriots have won in Miami just four times since 1989, holding a 4-15 record over that span. New England is 9-32 alltime in Miami (including playoffs), and trails in the overall series, 48-35 including the postseason. The teams have split the season series in each of the last three years. Last season, the Patriots defeated Miami 20-10 on Oct. 8 at Gillette Stadium and were shut out by the Dolphins 21-0 on Dec. 10 at Dolphin Stadium.</p> QUICK HITS</p> <ul>[*]This week's game will be New England's only 2007 regularseason contest played on natural grass. [*]Eight Patriots were former members of the Miami Dolphins: LB Larry Izzo (1996-2000), LB Junior Seau (2003-05), RB Heath Evans (2005), WR Wes Welker (2004-06), RB Sammy Morris (2004-06), CB Eddie Jackson (2005-06), G Billy Yates (2003) and FB Kyle Eckel (2005-06). [*]Five Patriots are natives of South Florida: Kareem Brown (Miami), Heath Evans (West Palm Beach), Asante Samuel (Lauderdale Lakes), Santonio Thomas (Belle Glade) and Vince Wilfork (Boynton Beach). [*]Four Patriots attended the University of Miami, including three defensive linemen: DL Kareem Brown, DB Brandon Meriweather, DL Santonio Thomas and DL Vince Wilfork[/list] EARLY SEASON SLUMP The Patriots are 1-13 all-time in Miami during the first two months of the NFL season. New England is 1-7 in Miami during the month of October and have never scored more than 19 points in an October game there. In the eight previous October games between the teams in Miami, the Patriots have scored an average of 10.5 points and have allowed an average of 23.4 points. Their only victory in Miami in September or October was in 2003, the Patriots won 19-13 in overtime.</p> CONNECTIONS </p> <ul>[*]Patriots wide receiver Wes Welker signed with the Dolphins in 2004 after being waived by the San Diego Chargers. In 2004, Welker became the first player in NFL history to return a punt, return a kick, kick a field goal, kick an extra point and kick off in the same game when he did so against New England. On March 5, 2007, he was acquired by the Patriots in exchange for draft picks in the second and seventh rounds of the 2007 NFL Draft. [*]Patriots running back Sammy Morris signed with the Dolphins as an unrestricted free agent in 2004. Six of Morris's career highs were set against New England as a member of the Miami Dolphins. His personal bests in rushing attempts (25), rushing yards (123), receptions (6), receiving yards (46), total touchdowns (2) and rushing touchdowns (2) all came with the Dolphins at the expense of the Patriots. Morris also registered his first career 100-yard rushing game against New England when he ran for 123 yards on Dec. 10, 2006. Morris signed with the Patriots as an unrestricted free agent on March 3, 2007. [*]Patriots linebacker Junior Seau was traded to Miami by the San Diego Chargers in 2003. He started 15 games for the Dolphins that season (missing one due to injury) and was placed on injured reserve each year for the next three seasons. Seau signed with the Patriots as a free agent on August 18, 2006. [*]Patriots linebacker Larry Izzo originally signed with the Dolphins as a rookie free agent following the 1996 NFL Draft. He missed his rookie season after being placed on injured reserve in August, then went through a free agency period and re-signing in 1999 before being granted unconditional free agency in 2001. Izzo earned Pro Bowl honors with Miami in 2000. [*]Patriots fullback Heath Evans played in the first six games of the 2005 season for the Dolphins and earned two starts. He was signed by the Patriots on Nov. 1, 2005. Evans is a native of West Palm Beach, Fla. [*]Patriots guard Billy Yates was originally signed by the Dolphins as a rookie free agent in 2003. He was waived by Miami in September 2004 and signed to the Patriots active roster on Feb. 4, 2005. [*]Patriots cornerback Ellis Hobbs is the nephew of former Dolphins defensive lineman William Gaines. Gaines also played for the Washington Redskins. [*]Patriots wide receiver Donte Stallworth, wide receiver Kelley Washington and safety Rashad Baker played at Tennessee in 2001 with Dolphins cornerback Jason Allen. Baker also played at Tennessee with Miami tight end David Martin in 2000. [*]Patriots defensive linemen Kareem Brown, Santonio Thomas and Vince Wilfork were teammates with Dolphins tackle Vernon Carey at the University of Miami from 2002-03. Brown is originally from Miami, while Wilfork is from Boynton Beach, Fla. [*]Patriots cornerback Randall Gay and defensive lineman Jarvis Green were on the same Louisiana State defense as Dolphins cornerback Travis Daniels in 2001. [*]Patriots quarterback Tom Brady and Dolphins kicker Jay Feely were Michigan's primary scorers from 1997-98. [*]Patriots tackle Wesley Britt and Dolphins linebacker Derrick Pope both played at Alabama from 2002-03. [*]Patriot James Sanders and Dolphin Cameron Worrell were both safeties at Fresno State in 2002. [*]Patriots wide receiver Jabar Gaffney is from Jacksonville, Fla. and attended the University of Florida. [*]Patriots rookie defensive back Brandon Meriweather, a Florida native, is an alumnus of the University of Miami and attended Apopka High School in Apopka, Fla. (near Orlando). [*]Patriots safety Mel Mitchell is from Rockledge, Fla., near Cape Canaveral. [*]Patriots cornerback Asante Samuel is an alumnus of Central Florida and hails from Lauderdale Lakes, Fla. [*]Patriots defensive lineman Kareem Brown is from Miami and attended the University of Miami. [*]Patriots defensive lineman Santonio Thomas is from Belle Glade, Fla. and attended the University of Miami. [*]Patriots linebacker Junior Seau, Dolphins defensive tackle Paul Soliai and Dolphins fullback Reagan Mauia are all of Samoan decent and spent time living in American Samoa. [*]Dolphins Director of College Scouting Chris Grier's first NFL position was as an intern for the Patriots in 1994. He spent five seasons working in the personnel department before joining Miami in 2000. Grier was a two-year letterman at the University of Massachusetts-Amherst. He is the son of Bobby Grier, the former Vice President of Player Personnel for New England. [*]Patriots head athletic trainer Jim Whalen spent three years as the assistant athletic trainer at the University of Miami. [*]Patriots assistant athletic trainer and director of rehabilitation Joe Van Allen holds a master's from the University of Miami. [*]Dolphins college scout Ron Brockington is a 1997 graduate of the University of Massachusetts-Amherst, where he was a three-year letterman at running back. [*]Patriots secondary coach Joel Collier spent 11 years (1994- 04) with the Dolphins as an assistant coach - four as a defensive staff assistant and seven as the running backs coach. [*]Patriots coaching assistant Kevin Bickers was a graduate assistant at Florida State from 2004-05. [*]Dolphins assistant linebackers coach Glenn Pires was a fouryear letterman on the offensive line at Springfield (Mass.) College. Pires is originally from New Bedford, Mass. [*]Dolphins running back Patrick Cobbs went to training camp with New England as an undrafted free agent in 2006. He was traded to Pittsburgh on Sept. 1. [*]Dolphins defensive tackle Keith Traylor signed with New England as an undrafted free agent on March 31, 2004. He was waived on May 4 of that year.[/list] PASSING PERFORMANCES Tom Brady is scheduled to start at quarterback against Miami for the 13th time and has recorded a 7-5 record in his previous 12 starts against the Dolphins. Brady has recorded a 2-4 record as a starter in games played in Miami. Brady is 31-8 in his career as a starter in regular-season division games, with five of the eight losses coming to the Dolphins.</p> </p>
Dophins? Talk about no respect.</p> I think the game page at NFL.com is broken. It's listing Dolphin players as having made tackles and it's clear from the score that the Dolphin D hasn't tackled anyone.</p>
And you guys thought that the Dolphins would be a test? Or are they?</p> Theres no stopping the Patriots, and the Colts know it.</p> This is a special team, ranked with the best in the history. Just watch the games what they're doing. Brady, just put him in the hall of fame right now. Moss = trouble? ...not anymore, not when you're winning, not when you have a chance at the ring.</p> GO PATRIOTS!!!</p>
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (DolfanDale)</div><div class='quotemain'></p> Dophins? Talk about no respect.</p> </div></p> Yeah. Who typed the thread title? Homer Simpson?</p> It could just be I'm in shock not seeing an L attached to the phins this season. rofl?</p> <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (DolfanDale)</div><div class='quotemain'>I think the game page at NFL.com is broken. It's listing Dolphin players as having made tackles and it's clear from the score that the Dolphin D hasn't tackled anyone.</p> </div></p> Gamecenter @ NFL dot com is slow and pathetic... I should not complain too much as its the only way I can follow them.</p> Did anyone see the final stats? It looks like JT is mailing it in yet again... trade the bum ASAP.</p> </p>
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (CelticKing)</div><div class='quotemain'></p> And you guys thought that the Dolphins would be a test? Or are they?</p> </div></p> I would have said Pats 42-13 but you did not ask. I looked in late 2nd Qtr and it was 35-7; I thought turnovers were doingthem in. Instead, its just Brady was en fuego &the phins D sucking yet again.</p> <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (CelticKing)</div><div class='quotemain'>Theres no stopping the Patriots, and the Colts know it.</div></p> Smug yet worried about the future; To quote Arte Johnson from Laugh In, "verrrry intersting."</p> <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (CelticKing)</div><div class='quotemain'>This is a special team, ranked with the best in the history. Just watch the games what they're doing. Brady, just put him in the hall of fame right now. Moss = trouble? ...not anymore, not when you're winning, not when you have a chance at the ring.</p> </div></p> By special? Do you mean in the context of Carlos Mencia? You know. Dee. Dee Dee.</p> Some advice for ya, CK. Proverbs 16:18.</p> </p>
[quote name='blackadder']</p> Yeah. Who typed the thread title? Homer Simpson?[/QUOTE]</p> Your mom did.</p> [quote name='blackadder']I would have said Pats 42-13 but you did not ask. I looked in late 2nd Qtr and it was 35-7; I thought turnovers were doingthem in. Instead, its just Brady was en fuego &the phins D sucking yet again.[/QUOTE]</p> Who are you that I should ask you?</p> [quote name='blackadder']Smug yet worried about the future; To quote Arte Johnson from Laugh In, "verrrry intersting."[/QUOTE]</p> Just like I was worried about the Dolphins. lol (that worried) haha </p> [quote name='blackadder']By special? Do you mean in the context of Carlos Mencia? You know. Dee. Dee Dee.[/QUOTE]</p> You know damn right in what context I mean. Re-read again.</p> [quote name='blackadder']Some advice for ya, CK. Proverbs 16:18..[/QUOTE]</p> Since when you're a preacher? Are we talking about religion here? You're probably mistaking it with the Christianity thread that we have out there.</p> </p> </p>
This is a historic team. No team in NFL history has been fined as many draft picks for cheating, and had the talent to combine with cheating to not lose.</p>
CK; Its obvious you are taking this too seriously... well far more than I am or ever will.</p> Other than the crack about my mom, I thought your retorts were okay. Without getting into too much past history, lets just say its impossible for my mom to write anything.</p> We do share something in common; neither of us is worried about the Dolphins.</p>
First, I don't recall saying the Dolphins would be a test for the Patriots. I do hope the Patriots join their fanbase in overlooking opponents because that will bite them sooner or later. Next week, the Patriots play the 4-2 Redskins who are led by a Hall of Fame coach that has more Super Bowl rings than Bill Belicheat. I wouldn't overlook them even if it does look like the Patriots have more talent.</p> Second, BA is DWO. That's all the resume he needs.</p> Third, this Patriots team has to win a Super Bowl before we can start talking history and a lot can happen between now and then. What happens if Brady goes down? They aren't winning the Super Bowl without him and I don't know how special a team is when their future hinges on one player. Remember, Griese went down in 72 and the Dolphins still finished PERFECTLY. Also, the Patsies running game isn't anything special and lopsided teams tend to get beat sooner or later. All it takes is one less than stellar passing day and the Patsies are looking at getting beat. I should know. I was a Dolphin fan in 1984.</p>
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (blackadder)</div><div class='quotemain'></p> CK; Its obvious you are taking this too seriously... well far more than I am or ever will.</p> </div></p> I don't like being called dumbass, and by saying homer wrote the title, you're saying that.</p> <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (blackadder)</div><div class='quotemain'></p> Other than the crack about my mom, I thought your retorts were okay. Without getting into too much past history, lets just say its impossible for my mom to write anything.</p> </div></p> Glad you didn't take more than that, cause it wasn't meant to be more than that. (and I apologize if I offended you)</p> <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (blackadder)</div><div class='quotemain'></p> We do share something in common; neither of us is worried about the Dolphins.</div></p> We share something else in common. We both like football. </p> </p> </p> </p>
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (DolfanDale)</div><div class='quotemain'></p> First, I don't recall saying the Dolphins would be a test for the Patriots. I do hope the Patriots join their fanbase in overlooking opponents because that will bite them sooner or later. Next week, the Patriots play the 4-2 Redskins who are led by a Hall of Fame coach that has more Super Bowl rings than Bill Belicheat. I wouldn't overlook them even if it does look like the Patriots have more talent.</p> </div></p> Well you didn't say it that way but you said to not overlook them. Here is the proof.</p> this is what you said "The Patriots still have to play the Dolphins and Redskins before they play the Colts. The Dolphins suck this year, but they have beaten the Patriots before when they have sucked"</p> and I'll respond to that here, I'm not overlooking other teams on the schedule, I am simply saying that we'll be able to beat each and every one of them, with the exception of the Colts, which are the only real test. Now we could get a loss somewhere else as well due to injuries, or the team not showing up, but if they do show up and everyone is healthy, there is no stopping them. If you think otherwise, you are simply blind or haven't seen a single Pats game so far. (i'm not saying you specifically dolfandale)</p> </p> <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (DolfanDale)</div><div class='quotemain'></p> Third, this Patriots team has to win a Super Bowl before we can start talking history and a lot can happen between now and then. What happens if Brady goes down? They aren't winning the Super Bowl without him and I don't know how special a team is when their future hinges on one player. Remember, Griese went down in 72 and the Dolphins still finished PERFECTLY. Also, the Patsies running game isn't anything special and lopsided teams tend to get beat sooner or later. All it takes is one less than stellar passing day and the Patsies are looking at getting beat. I should know. I was a Dolphin fan in 1984.</p> </div></p> Three superbowls in four years, what more can you ask for. Soon to be 4 in 6. (would be first team to do that, if I'm not mistaken)</p> And I agree, without Brady the Pats won't win it. Just like the Colts will not win anything without Manning.</p> The running game, maybe not the best out there, but its getting the job done, and we're getting the Ws.</p> </p> </p>
My saying to not overlook opponents is not the same as saying that those teams will test them. I believe the mentality that looks past opponents opens teams up to getting beat by teams that they should beat. Why? Because they might not prepare as hard. They may not come as focused as they should be. The last year that the Patriots won the Super Bowl, the Dolphins beat them on Monday Night Football which I believe was one of four wins for the Dolphins that year. Was that Dolphins team better than the Patriots. Obviously not, but they were the last team to beat the Patriots that year.</p> Now, I don't see how you can count victories before they have happened and say that your not overlooking opponents. Counting victories before they happen is the very definition of overlooking opponents. I think this Patriots team could find itself beaten any given Sunday and that's not be blind. The team is lopsided offensively. The rushing game isn't anything special. All that needs to happen is for the Patriots to run up on a team that happens to match up well against them. You can bring up past Super Bowls, but I don't see what Super Bowls from a couple of years ago has to do with this year's Patriots. The fact is that this Patriots team has only faced ONE team that had a winning record at the time of the meeting. I'm not saying this Patriots team isn't good, but they have had an easy schedule. However, I'm not going to keep arguing. I hope the Patsies start believing their own hype. That's when they're going to get their butts handed to them.</p>
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (CelticKing)</div><div class='quotemain'></p> <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (blackadder)</div><div class='quotemain'></p> CK; Its obvious you are taking this too seriously... well far more than I am or ever will.</p> </div></p> I don't like being called dumbass, and by saying homer wrote the title, you're saying that.</p> </div></p> My intent wasnotto imply or for you to infer anything. It was a simpleplay on words/pronunciation. Though,a comparisonto Flanders or Smithers would be an insult.</p> I don't know if we both like football after all I'm a Dolphins fan. rofl? I'm sorry I'm being sarcastic again. D'oh.</p> I follow the phins online & then watch the highlights w/ Olbermann & Costas which is pretty much the extent of my NFL viewing</p> </p>
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (CelticKing)</div><div class='quotemain'> And sorry dolfandale, I just saw it now that I missed the L. It wasn't on purpose, I swear.</p></div> If anything you should have called them the Olphins
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (ehmunro)</div><div class='quotemain'><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (CelticKing)</div><div class='quotemain'></p> And sorry dolfandale, I just saw it now that I missed the L. It wasn't on purpose, I swear.</p> </div> If anything you should have called them the Olphins </div></p> You could, but that would be to disregard NFL history. The Dolphins may have fallen on some lean years, but they are still 115-120 games above .500 all-time, I believe, as opposed to the Patriots who haven't even won 10 games more than they have lost all-time. Of course, I keep forgetting that most Patriots fans think that NFL history starts in 2001 when Belicheat invented football. By the way, even with last Sunday's win by the Patriots, the Dolphins still lead the Dolphins-Patriots series 48-36.</p> </p>
