Patriots Face Injury Lurges In Miami
With three wide receivers on injured reserve and both starting guards out, Boston relies on backups to beat a 1-5 Dolphins team.
By Madison Morris ·
The New England Patriots enter Sunday’s game against the Miami Dolphins with a turnover ratio of minus 7, the 31st worst mark in the league. The deficit reflects eight interceptions and six lost fumbles committed by the offense through seven weeks. Head coach Mike Vrabel has labeled the issue an embarrassment, and the team faces another chance to correct it on the road.
The roster is thin at critical positions. Wide receivers Romeo Doubs, Mack Hollins, and A.J. Brown are all on injured reserve. That leaves Efton Chism, DeMario Douglas, and Kyle Williams as the only healthy options on the 53-man roster. The team plans to elevate a receiver from the practice squad, with Ryan Miller, who started the season in Miami, considered the most experienced choice. On the interior, guards Alijah Vera-Tucker and Mike Onwenu are out, leaving Walter Rouse, Matt Pryor, and Ben Brown to fill the holes.
Offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels and pass game coordinator Thomas Brown expect tight ends Hunter Henry and rookie Eli Raridon to absorb more work. Brown noted that the Patriots can run plays designed for wide receivers using two-tight end sets. Quarterback Drake Maye faces a Dolphins pass defense that has allowed a 158.3 passer rating to cornerback Jason Marshall Jr. over three games, suggesting an open field for the Boston attack.
The Dolphins, currently 1-5, present a specific threat on the ground. They average 131.5 rushing yards per game, ranking seventh in the league. Running back Ollie Gordon and quarterback Malik Willis drive that offense. The Patriots are 22nd in expected points added per rush and allowed Braelon Allen to dominate two weeks ago. Vrabel praised the Dolphins’ defensive core, including Jordyn Brooks, who has led the league in tackles in the last two seasons, and Zach Sieler, who blocked a field goal against Boston last year.
Carlton Davis III is expected to return from a neck injury, giving the secondary its first full complement since Week 1. The defense must also find a way to pressure the quarterback without relying on blitzes, as the four-man rush has been inconsistent. Elijah Ponder, Gabe Jacas, and Dre’Mont Jones will need to generate pressure from the edge to keep Willis from extending plays.
The Patriots are favored by seven points in a game with a total of 43.5. The matchup offers a clear test for the offensive line and the depth chart on the perimeter as the team seeks a win over its divisional opponent.
Source: Boston Herald
