Experts share their picks for the Patriots Week 2 matchup against the Miami Dolphins.
Mike Reiss, ESPN:
Pick: Patriots 37, Dolphins 16
Bold Prediction: Assuming the NFL doesn't step in and place him on the commissioner's exempt list, Pats receiver Antonio Brown will play and score at least one touchdown. Tom Brady will want to get Brown involved early in his New England debut.
Cameron Wolfe, ESPN
Pick: Patriots 44, Dolphins 20
You could see potential career days for Sony Michel, James White and the Patriots' running game. The Dolphins loaded the box to stop the Ravens' run game last week, and as a result, they were torched by Lamar Jackson's arm. But even then, they still gave up 265 rushing yards to Mark Ingram II and the rest of the Ravens' backfield.
Mike Golic, ESPN: Patriots
Seth Wickersham, ESPN: Patriots
Mina Kimes, ESPN: Patriots
Dan Graziano, ESPN: Patriots
Trey Wingo, ESPN: Patriots
Louis Riddick, ESPN: Patriots
Gregg Rosenthal, NFL.com
Pick: Patriots 34, Dolphins 17
Belichick should be glowing (on the inside) because of his defense, with a dynamic linebacker group and players like slot corner Jonathan Jones ready to make the leap. All the continuity in the secondary allows the defense to start in midseason form, while the Dolphins are just looking to find keepers after their Week 1 embarrassment. On the plus side, Ryan Fitzpatrick played about as well as a quarterback can in a 59-10 loss, and NFL rosters are too balanced for such beatdowns to continue. At least the expectations are now so low that a 17-point home loss could be considered a moral victory.
Pete Prisco, CBS Sports:
Pick: Patriots 40, Dolphins 10
This has all the makings of a blowout. But the Patriots have traditionally had issues in Miami. Will that factor here? No chance. The Dolphins are a mess and Tom Brady will carve them to shreds. This will be tough to watch. Kids should cover their eyes.
Jason La Canfora, CBS Sports: Patriots
Will Brinson, CBS Sports: Patriots
Dave Richard, CBS Sports: Patriots
Ryan Wilson, CBS Sports: Patriots
Mike Florio, Pro Football Talk:
Pick: Patriots 45, Dolphins 17
Jarrett Stidham could get more than 20 minutes of work in this one.
Michael David Smith, Pro Football Talk:
Pick: Patriots 27, Dolphins 10
This is one of those games where the Patriots could name their own score. If they want to win by 50 they can, but I suspect Bill Belichick will call off the dogs early against his protege Brian Flores.
Jenny Vrentas, MMQB: Patriots
Conor Orr, MMQB: Patriots
Paul Perillo, Patriots.com:
Pick: Patriots 37, Dolphins 13
Miami is in full rebuild mode and the Patriots have too much for the Dolphins to handle.
Mike Dussault, Patriots.com:
Pick: Patriots 35, Dolphins 10
While early season games, especially in Miami, can pose problems for the Patriots, Tom Brady's team is just too stacked on both sides of the ball no matter who does or doesn't play. If New England finds their ground game this week they'll be firing on all cylinders.
Erik Scalavino, Patriots.com
Pick: Patriots 24, Dolphins 6
Couple things to consider here. Miami's coaching staff knows the Patriots well, since most of them coached here for many years. They also got clobbered in Week 1 and are likely to put up more of a fight this week against their former colleagues. Also, the great equalizer could be Mother Nature, as a potential Tropical Storm could strike South Florida this weekend. New England should still win this based on the unbalanced talent scales, but Miami, a typically hard place for the Patriots, won't make it easy.
