New England Patriots (1-0) vs. Miami Dolphins (0-1)
Sunday, Sept. 18, 2016 at 1:00 p.m. ET. Gillette Stadium (66,829)
PATRIOTS: **Download Game Release** | Roster| **Depth Chart** | **Watch Games**
DOLPHINS: Roster | Depth Chart | **Scouting Report**
The New England Patriots will face the first AFC East foe of the 2016 season when they play the Miami Dolphins in the home opener. Since Gillette Stadium opened in 2002, the Patriots are 13-1 in home-openers.
The Patriots have played Miami in the home-opener six previous times and have a 4-2 record. The last time the Patriots played Miami in the home opener was on Sept. 9, 1990, a 27-24 loss.
The Patriots are off to a 1-0 start after a taking a 23-21 victory last week in Sunday Night Football game against the Arizona Cardinals at University of Phoenix Stadium.
SERIES HISTORY
The New England Patriots and Miami Dolphins will square off for the 102nd time, including three playoff games, in their 51st year as division foes and for the for the first of two meetings in 2016. The Patriots will travel to Miami to play at Hard Rock Stadium in the final game of the regular season on Jan. 1, 2017.
New England and Miami will be meeting in the Patriots' home-opener for the seventh time in team history and for the first time since the 1990 season. The Patriots are 4-2 against the Dolphins in those home-openers.
The Patriots and Dolphins have split the annual series for the last two seasons with both teams winning their home contests and losing on the road. Last season, the Patriots beat Miami, 26-7, at Gillette Stadium on Oct. 29, 2015 and then lost at Miami, 20-10, on Jan. 3, 2016.
The Patriots have had the upper hand at home against Miami, holding a 32-17 record in games played in New England in the regular-season, including a 12-2 record at Gillette Stadium. But the Patriots are only 15-36 all-time in Miami, including two postseason games. Miami beat the Patriots at Gillette Stadium for the first time in the final game of the 2005 season, 28-26, when Patriots starting QB Tom Brady was pulled out of action after the first quarter. Miami also beat the Patriots, 38-13, at Gillette Stadium, on Sept. 21, 2008.
The Dolphins and Patriots met for the first time in 1966 and began playing twice a year during the regular season in 1967, except in 1982 during the strike year. The Patriots swept the series nine times.
The two have played three times in the postseason with New England holding a 2-1 advantage.
SERIES BREAKDOWN
MIAMI 53, NEW ENGLAND 48
(Including New England 2, Miami 1 in Playoffs)
*-A Miami home game was played in Tampa in 1969
Record in New England, 33-17 (Incl. 1-0 in playoffs)
Record in Foxborough, 31-15 (1-0)
Record in Boston, 2-2
Record in Miami, 15-36 (Incl. 1-1 in playoffs)
Record at Dolphins / Pro Player / Joe Robbie/ Sun Life, 11-18
Record at Orange Bowl, 3-18 (1-1)
Record in Tampa*, 1-0
Seasonal Sweeps, Patriots 9, Dolphins 13
Seasonal Splits, 26 (Most recent 2015)
Bill Belichick vs. Miami, 20-14 (20-12 with New England)
QUICK HITS
- Since Bill Belichick became Patriots head coach in 2000, New England is 20-12 (.633) against the Miami Dolphins.
- Since 2000, the Patriots are 73-27 (.730) against AFC East opponents. The Patriots are 20-12 against the Dolphins over that span and are 22-10 against the New York Jets and 28-4 against the Buffalo Bills in that time. The Patriots were 3-1 against Indianapolis from 2000 through 2001 when they were in the AFC East.
- The Patriots have not been swept in their season series with a divisional opponent since 2000, when they lost both games to Miami and also to the New York Jets.
TALE OF THE TAPE
| **2016 Season Statistics (NFL Rank in 2015)** | **New England Patriots** | **Miami Dolphins** |
| Record | 1-0 | 0-1 |
| Divisional Standing | 1st | T-2nd |
| Total Yards Gained | 363 | 214 |
| Yards Per Game (Rank) | 363.0 (6th) | 214.0 (26th) |
| Rush Offense | 106.0 (30th) | 64.0 (23rd) |
| Pass Offense | 257.0 (5th) | 150.0 (19th) |
| Total Yards Allowed | 344 | 352 |
| Yards Allowed Per Game | 344.0 (9th) | 352.0 (25th) |
| Rush Defense | 92.0 (9th) | 112.0 (28th) |
| Pass Defense | 252.0 (17th) | 240.0 (21st) |
| Possession Average | 33:59 | 25:28 |
| Sacks Allowed / Yards Lost | 2/7 | 5/36 |
| Sacks Made / Â Yards | 3/19 | 3/18 |
| Passing Touchdowns / Intercepted - Offense | 1/0 | 0/0 |
| Passing Touchdowns / Intercepted - Defense | 2/0 | 1/1 |
| Total Touchdowns Scored | 2 | 1 |
| Penalties Against / Yards | 8/69 | 4/40 |
| Punts / Average | 2/44.5 | 7/46.7 |
| Turnover Differential | -2 | +2 |
BROADCAST INFORMATION
TELEVISION: This week's game will be broadcast by CBS and can be seen locally on WBZ-TV Channel 4 in Boston. Greg Gumbel will handle play-by-play duties with Trent Green as the color analyst. Jamie Erdahl will work the sidelines. The game will be produced byJim Rikhoffand directed by Suzanne Smith.
NATIONAL RADIO:This week's game will be broadcast to a national audience on ESPN Radio. Mark Kestecher and Bill Polian will call the game and Sal Paolantonio will be the sideline reporter.
LOCAL RADIO: 98.5 FM, The Sports Hub, is the flagship station for the Patriots Radio Network. Play-by-play broadcaster Bob Socci will call the action along with former Patriots quarterback Scott Zolak, who will provide color analysis. Produced by Marc Cappello.
HOME OPENERS AT GILLETTE
Since Gillette Stadium opened in 2002, the Patriots are 13-1 in home openers. The Patriots won their first 10 openers at Gillette before suffering their first loss, a 20-18 defeat to the Arizona Cardinals on Sept. 16, 2012. Overall, the Patriots enter this week's game with a 31-25 record in home openers.
PATS VS. FINS IN HOME OPENERS
The Patriots have played Miami in the home-opener six previous times and have a 4-2 record. The last time the Patriots played Miami in the home opener was on Sept. 9, 1990, a 27-24 loss.
