Merrimack Valley

Sizing 'em up


Published: September 21, 2008

Miami Dolphins (0-2) vs. New England Patriots (2-0)

Today, 1 p.m., at Gillette Stadium, Foxboro

TV: WBZ-TV, Ch. 4 (Ian Eagle and Solomon Wilcots)

Radio: WBCN, 104.1 FM (Gil Santos and Gino Cappelletti)

Last meeting: Patriots 28-7, Dec. 23, 2007, at Gillette Stadium

Latest line: Patriots -12.5; Over-under total: 35

2008 Rankings

Patriots%%Dolphins

1st, AFC East%Standings%4th, AFC East

299.0 ypg (22)%Offense%256.5 ypg (26)

115.0 ypg (16)%Rushing%60.5 ypg (29)

184.0 ypg (15)%Passing%196.0 ypg (14)

270.0 ypg (9)%Defense%369.0 ypg (26)

Won 2%Streaks%Lost 2

By the Numbers

Patriots

1.0— Yards per carry last week by the running tandem of Sammy Morris (8 carries, 0 yards) and Laurence Maroney (8 carries, 16 yards).

0 — The number of interceptions Matt Cassel has thrown this year in 41 pass attempts.

100 — Today will be the 100th game as a pro for left tackle Matt Light.

Dolphins

2.5 — Yards per carry for Ricky Williams the last two seasons (27 for 67). Williams' career average is 4.0.

3 — Miami players who served on Mormon missions. Long snapper John Denney in New Jersey, quarterback John Beck in Portugal and guard Shawn Murphy in Brazil. Denney and Beck are BYU alums, while Murphy went to Utah State.

27 — Dolphins with less than four years of NFL experience. Also the number of Dolphins who weren't on the team's active roster or practice squad at the end of last year.

Keys to a Patriots victory

1. Dot the I's, cross the T's — The Patriots weren't spectacular last week, but they were proficient. The Pats made no mistakes, no turnovers and just two inconsequential penalties. It must carry over.

2. Monster effect — One of the front three, Ty Warren, Richard Seymour or Vince Wilfork, is about to go off. The one that gets the one-on-one blocking should exploit Miami's deficiencies.

3. Watch the pass — Believe it or not, the Dolphins, statistically, throw it better than the Pats. Ellis Hobbs had better put a body on Greg Camarillo, and the pass rush must disrupt Chad Pennington.

Hector Longo's prediction: Patriots 31, Miami 0 (Season record 1-1).

Bill Burt and Hector Longo will be blogging live from press row at Foxboro. Visit blogs.eagletribune.com.