Coming off a disappointing season opener, the New England Patriots will travel to Miami for their first division game of the year. Taking on the Dolphins in a battle of 0-1 squads, they will hope to get back on track and celebrate the first win of the Mike Vrabel era.
Standing in their way is a Dolphins team that has not lost to the Patriots at home since 2019, but one that has had its issues so far this year. With that said, let’s take a closer look at New England’s Week 2 opponent.
Dolphins key stats
As noted above,
the Dolphins opened the season with a loss. Their statistics reflect the lopsided nature of that 33-8 defeat at the hands of the Indianapolis Colts.
Record: 0-1 (4th AFC East)
Scoring differential: -25 (32nd)
Turnover differential: -3 (32nd)
Offense: 8.0 points/game (31st), 211.0 yards/game (30th), 3 giveaways (t-30th), -0.472 EPA/dropback (32nd), 0.387 EPA/run (1st)
Defense: 33.0 points/game (29th), 418.0 yards/game (29th), 0 takeaways (t-19th), 0.360 EPA/dropback (25th), 0.082 EPA/run (27th)
The Dolphins were bad across the board in their season opener. They turned the ball over three times in their first four possessions, struggled moving the ball or stopping their opponent, and as a result were already down 30-0 by the time they finally found the end zone midway through the fourth quarter.
Unsurprisingly, that outing has Miami ranked near the bottom of the league in virtually all of the major statistical categories outlined above. All but one, that is: the Dolphins’ running game was superb, at least through the eyes of the expected points added metric. That number, however, is not an entirely accurate reflection of the team’s potency on the ground given the game script and the fact that Miami ran the ball just 12 times all day (gaining 78 net yards in the process).
Then again, none of the numbers above necessarily show what the Dolphins (or Colts) are capable of. With only one game in the books, it is simply too early in the season to draw definitive statistical conclusions.
Dolphins 2025 season
As noted above, the Dolphins got blown out in Week 1 and were never truly competitive in their season opener. It will therefore be fascinating to see where the journey takes the team this season; the calls for head coach Mike McDaniel will only get louder should Miami continue to losses to a season tally that currently looks like this:
- Week 1: 33-8 loss at Indianapolis Colts (0-1)
On paper, the Dolphins will have a solid chance to bounce back in Week 2. The Patriots, who lost their own season opener 20-13, also look like a potentially vulnerable team themselves. Both teams will be under quite a bit of pressure already come Sunday.
Dolphins active roster
(Note: Roster up-to-date as of Sept. 11, 7 a.m. ET; *indicates projected starter)
Quarterback (3): Tua Tagovailoa* (1), Zach Wilson (0), Quinn Ewers (14)
Running back (4): De’Von Achane* (28), Jaylen Wright (5), Alec Ingold (30 | FB), Ollie Gordon II (31)
Wide receiver (6): Tyreek Hill* (10), Jaylen Waddle* (17), Malik Washington* (6 | KR/PR), Nick Westbrook-Ikhine (18), Dee Eskridge (82), Tahj Washington (84)
Tight end (3): Julian Hill* (89), Tanner Conner (80), Darren Waller (83)
Offensive tackle (4): Patrick Paul* (52 | LT), Austin Jackson* (73 | RT), Kendall Lamm (70), Larry Borom (79)
Interior offensive line (5): Jonah Savaiineaea* (72 | LG), Aaron Brewer* (55 | C), Kion Smith* (71 | RG), Daniel Brunskill (64), Cole Strange (69)
Interior defensive line (6): Zach Sieler* (92), Kenneth Grant* (90), Jordan Phillips (94), Benito Jones (95), Matthew Butler (91), Zeek Biggers (93)
Defensive edge (5): Bradley Chubb* (2), Jaelan Phillips* (15), Chop Robinson (44), Matthew Judon (8), Cameron Goode (53)
Linebacker (4): Tyrel Dodson* (25), Jordyn Brooks* (20), Willie Gay Jr. (40), K.J. Britt (3)
Cornerback (6): Storm Duck* (36), Jack Jones* (23), Rasul Douglas* (26), Jason Marshall Jr. (33), JuJu Brents (32), Ethan Bonner (27)
Safety (5): Minkah Fitzpatrick* (29), Ifeatu Melifonwu (9), Dante Trader Jr. (11) Ashtyn Davis (21), Elijah Campbell (22)
Specialists (2): Jake Bailey (16 | P/H), Joe Cardona (49 | LS)
One game into his sixth season in the NFL, Tua Tagovailoa remains an enigma. Even though he has played some high-quality football in Mike McDaniel’s offense, distributing the boy quickly and accurately to a set of talented receiving options, the questions whether he is a player capable of elevating the offense around him remain. Against Indianapolis last week, that was not the case: he went 14-of-23 for 114 yards with a touchdown, two interceptions and a lost fumble.
When it comes to the supporting cast around the 27-year-old, three names stand out. Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle remain one of the better wide receiver duos in the NFL, whose speed and ability to pick up yards after the catch is well documented. Meanwhile, De’Von Achane is a do-it-all threat in the backfield who gained almost 2,500 scrimmage yards and scored 23 touchdowns in his first two seasons in the league.
None of the dangerous trio truly stood out in Week 1, in part due to circumstances. However, there is no underestimating what they can do and how McDaniel and offensive coordinator Frank Smith regularly put them in positions to be successsful.
Elsewhere on offense, injuries have been an issue. The offensive line lost starting right guard James Daniels just three snaps into the season opener, while right tackle Austin Jackson is also a question mark for Sunday due to a toe injury.
Miami’s defense does not get the same attention as its offensive counterpart, but the unit does features some talent at all three levels. Up front, the starting four of Zach Sieler, Kenneth Grant and edges Bradley Chubb and Jaelan Phillips has immense disruptive potential. Grant, Chubb and Phillips are the big names due to their statuses as highly-drafted, and in the latter two’s case well-established, players, but former seventh-round pick Sieler might be the most consistent of the bunch.
That group also features former Patriots star Matthew Judon, who had a quiet debut as the fourth member in the edge rotation.
At linebacker, Tyrel Dodson is the name to watch. The former Buffalo Bill and short-time Seattle Seahawk has been a breakout star for Miami since his arrival as a waiver claim last November. A volume player who rarely leaves the field, he is particularly good attacking downhill.
In the secondary, the Dolphins have some prominent names. Re-acquired Minkah Fitzpatrick is the big one, while Patriots fans are also familiar with Jack Jones; Rasul Douglas and Ifeatu Melifonwu (whose brother Obi won a Super Bowl with the Patriots) are also established players. Overall, however, the unit lacks quality and depth particularly at corner; a series of injuries has left that group thinned out, and starter Storm Douglas dealing with an ankle issue does not make things any easier.
In the kicking game, meanwhile, we can see that Miami rosters only two specialists: punter Jake Bailey and long snapper Joe Cardona; the team is expected to elevate kicker Riley Patterson from the practice squad come Saturday. All three are ex-Patriots.
Dolphins reserves
Practice squad (16): RB JaMycal Hasty (37), RB Jeff Wilson (34), WR A.J. Henning (88), WR Theo Wease Jr. (81), TE Greg Dulcich (85), TE Hayden Rucci (87), OT Braedan Daniels (66), OL Josh Priebe (68), DT Alex Huntley (96), ED Quinton Bell (56), ED Derrick McLendon (59), CB Cornell Armstrong (38), CB Isaiah Johnson (46), S Jordan Colbert (43), S John Saunders Jr. (35), K Riley Patterson (47)
Injured reserve (11): RB Alexander Mattison, TE Jalin Conyers (IR-R), OT Yodny Cajuste, OT Obinna Eze, OT Germain Ifedi, OL James Daniels (IR-R), OL Andrew Meyer (IR-R), CB Artie Burns, CB Kader Kohou, CB Jason Maitre, K Jason Sanders (IR-R)
Physically unable to perform (1): OL Liam Eichenberg
Non-football injury/illness (1): CB Cam Smith
With only one game in the books, Miami’s injury lists are already substantial and including starters in all three phases of the game. Under normal circumstances Liam Eichenberg and Jason Sanders would both start at their respective positions, while Artie Burns, Kader Kohou and Cam Smith might just be a starting cornerback trio for the team.
Dolphins coaching staff
Head coach: Mike McDaniel
Coordinators: Frank Smith (OC), Anthony Weaver (DC), Craig Aukerman (ST)
On the offensive side of the ball, Miami’s coaching staff has been a bastion of stability since Mike McDaniel’s arrival in 2022. He and Frank Smith have led the unit for the last three years, and are continuing to do so this seasosn.
Defensively and in the kicking game, meanwhile, there has been some turnover. Anthony Weaver was hired last year to replace defensive coordinator Vic Fangio after his departure to Philadelphia (where he promptly won a Super Bowl). Craig Aukerman, meanwhile, was brought aboard in 2025 to take over what had been a disappointing special teams unit late during Danny Crossman’s tenure.
