Patriots' Mac Jones Strategy vs. Vulnerable Dolphins Defense: 'Let It Rip!'
No rest for the weary ... or the New England Patriots. As just a week after losing a heartbreaking-yet-encouraging opener to the Philadelphia Eagles, coming to Gillette Stadium this weekend is another 2022 playoff team in the Miami Dolphins.
In their win over the Los Angeles Chargers, quarterback Tua Tagovailao threw for 466 yards, receiver Tyreek Hill caught 11 passes and two touchdowns, and the Dolphins put up 36 points. It's enough to scare any opponent. Except ...
Miami is also bringing to Foxboro its porous defense. Despite hiring renowned coordinator Vic Fangio and his 36 years of NFL experience in the offseason, the Dolphins' defense against the Chargers coughed up 34 points, created 0 turnovers and surrendered a whopping 234 yards and three touchdowns on the ground.
Despite former All-Pro cornerback Jalen Ramsey being on injured reserve after knee surgery, the way to attack Miami's vulnerable defense appears to be in the running game. The Patriots were atrocious in Week 1 against the Eagles, mustering only 76 yards on 22 carries.
But when they play Miami, something's gotta give.
"I liked how we responded and didn’t back down," tight end Hunter Henry said of his team digging out of an early 16-0 hole and driving within nine yards of the winning touchdown in the final minute. "The thing we need to improve upon is obviously ball security."
Both of New England's turnovers - which led to 13 Eagles' points - came in the passing game in the form of a Mac Jones Pick 6 and an Ezekiel Elliott fumble after catching a screen.
Though backs Elliott and Rhamondre Stevenson will likely have more room to run this Sunday, Jones remains adamant that the Pats will remain aggressive in the passing game. Both Henry and Mike Gesicki were involved as receiving tight ends against Philly, Kendrick Bourne caught two touchdowns and JuJu Smith-Schuster is expected to up his reps from only 48 snaps.
New England had success using bunch formations of multiple receivers, with Jones picking apart the middle of the field for 316 yards and three touchdowns.
"We're going to control the controllables," said Jones, who for the second consecutive week will face a former Alabama teammate quarterback (Philly's Jalen Hurts, Miami's Tua). "Other than that, play fast and let it rip."
The Patriots split with the Dolphins last season, but are only 2-4 in the series since Tom Brady left after the 2019 season.
