NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS (10-2) at MIAMI DOLPHINS (5-7)
Monday Dec. 11, 2017 at 8:30 p.m. ET. Hard Rock Stadium (64,767)
PATRIOTS: Download Release | **Roster** | **Depth Chart** | **Watch Games**
DOLPHINS: Opponent Release| **Roster** | **Depth Chart**
The New England Patriots will travel to face the Miami Dolphins in their only Monday Night Football game of the season. It will be the second time in three weeks that the two teams will play. The Patriots hosted Miami on Nov. 26, and came out in front, 35-17. The only time under head coach Bill Belichick that the Patriots have played a team two times in a three week span was in 2000 when the Patriots hosted the Colts on Oct. 8 and then traveled to Indianapolis to face the Colts again on Oct 22.
A victory or a tie over Miami or a Buffalo loss or tie will extend the Patriots record to nine straight AFC East titles and their 17th division title since Robert Kraft purchased the team in 1994.
CHAMPIONSHIP DRIVEN
If the Patriots claim a victoiry at Miami on Monday Night Football this week, they will clinch the 20th division championship in franchise history, including their ninth straight. It would be the 17th Division Title since Robert Kraft purchased the Patriots in 1994. The Patriots have the most division titles since the 1994 season with 16.
SERIES HISTORY
The New England Patriots and Miami Dolphins will square off for the 105th time, including three playoff games, and for the second of two meetings in 2017. The Patriots beat Miami, 35-17, just two weeks ago at Gillette Stadium. It is the 52nd year as division foes.
Last season, the Patriots swept the season series for the 10th time with a 31-24 win at Gillette Stadium on Sept. 18, followed by a 35-14 victory at Miami on Jan. 1 in the regular-season finale. The win at Miami last season snapped a three-game losing streak against the Dolphins in Miami.
The Patriots have had the upper hand at home against Miami, holding a 34-17 record in games played in New England in the regular-season, including a 14-2 record at Gillette Stadium. But the Patriots are only 16-36 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 two have played three times in the postseason with New England holding a 2-1 advantage.
SERIES BREAKDOWN
MIAMI 53, NEW ENGLAND 51
(Including New England 2, Miami 1 in Playoffs)
*-A Miami home game was played in Tampa in 1969
Record in New England, 35-17 (Incl. 1-0 in playoffs)
- Record in Foxborough, 33-15 (1-0)
- Record in Boston, 2-2
Record in Miami, 16-36 (Incl. 1-1 in playoffs)
- Record at Dolphins / Pro Player / Joe Robbie/ Sun Life, 12-18
- Record at Orange Bowl, 3-18 (1-1)
Record in Tampa*, 1-0
Seasonal Sweeps, Patriots 10, Dolphins 13
Seasonal Splits, 26 (Most recent 2015)
Bill Belichick vs. Miami, 23-15 (23-12 with New England)
Tale of the Tape
| **2017 Regular Season** | **New England** | **Miami** |
| Record | 10-2 | 5-7 |
| Divisional Standings | 1st | 3rdT |
| Total Yards Gained | 4,958 | 3,511 |
| Total Offense (Rank) | 413.2 (1) | 292.6 (29) |
| Rush Offense | 120.6 (9) | 84.7 (29) |
| Pass Offense | 292.6 (1) | 207.9 (20) |
| Points Per Game | 29.0 (4) | 17.4 (26) |
| Touchdowns Scored | 37 | 24 |
| Third Down Conversion Pct. | 44.9 | 33.1 |
| Team Passer Rating | 109.9 | 78.5 |
| Total Yards Allowed | 4,508 | 4,079 |
| Total Defense (Rank) | 375.7 (28) | 339.9 (18) |
| Rush Defense | 120.8 (26) | 116.5 (21) |
| Pass Defense | 254.9 (29) | 223.4 (15) |
| Points Allowed/Game | 18.6 (9) | 24.8 (24T) |
| Touchdowns Allowed | 26 | 36 |
| Third Down Defense (Pct.) | 40.3 | 36.9 |
| Field Goals Made/Attempted | 29/32 | 13/14 |
| Possession Avg. | 31:13 | 29:15 |
| Sacks Allowed/Yards Lost | 27/158 | 27/203 |
| Sacks Made/Yards | 28/203 | 21/142 |
| Passing TD/Int. (Off.) | 26/4 | 19/17 |
| Passing TD/Int. (Def.) | 19/11 | 22/7 |
| Penalties Against/Yards | 78/694 | 97/772 |
| Punts/Avg. | 40/42.6 | 66/44.7 |
| Takeaway/Giveaway Ratio | +9 (4) | -10 (30) |
QUICK HITS
- Since Bill Belichick became Patriots head coach in 2000, New England is 23-12 (.657) against the Miami Dolphins.
- Since 2000, the Patriots are 81-28 (.743) against AFC East opponents. The Patriots are 23-12 against the Dolphins over that span and are 25-10 against the New York Jets and 30-5 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.
BRADY VS. MIAMI
Tom Brady is scheduled to start at quarterback against Miami for the 31st time and has compiled a 21-9 record in his previous 30 starts against the Dolphins. Brady is 74-18 in his career as a starter in the regular season against AFC East opponents, with nine of the 18 losses coming to the Dolphins. One of those losses was in the final game of the 2005 season when Brady was pulled after the first quarter.
BELICHICK ON MONDAY NIGHT
Bill Belichick is 19-11 all-time on Monday Night Football, including 17-7 as head coach of the Patriots. As head coach of the Patriots, Belichick is 8-6 on the road on Monday and 9-1 at home.
BRADY ON MONDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL
QB Tom Brady owns a 15-6 record when playing on Monday Night Football. His best statistical performance on Monday Night Football was in the 2011 season-opener when he completed 32-of-48 pass attempts for 517 yards and four touchdowns, including a 99-yard touchdown pass to Wes Welker in the win at Miami (9/12). Brady has thrown three or more touchdowns in a Monday Night game ten times, including four four-touchdown performances.
BROADCAST INFORMATION
TELEVISION: This week's game will be broadcast by ESPN and can be seen locally on WCVB-TV Channel 5 in Boston. Sean McDonough will handle play-by-play duties withJon Grudenas the color analyst. Lisa Salters will work the sidelines. The game will be produced by Jay Rothman and directed by Chip Dean.
NATIONAL RADIO:This week's game will be broadcast to a national audience by Westwood One Sports. Kevin Harlan andKurt Warner will call the game. Hub Arkush will work the sidelines.
RADIO:98.5 FM, The Sports Hub, is the flagship station for the Patriots Radio Network. A complete listing of the network's 40 stations can be found here. Play-by-play broadcasterBob Socci will call the action along with former Patriots quarterback Scott Zolak, who will provide color analysis. The games are produced by Marc Cappello.
