New England Patriots

Patriots-Dolphins Capsule Preview

Published Dec. 6, 2018 2:13 p.m. ET

NEW ENGLAND (9-3) at MIAMI (6-6)

Sunday, 1 p.m. ET, CBS

OPENING LINE - Patriots by 9 1/2

RECORD VS. SPREAD - New England 8-4, Miami 7-5

SERIES RECORD - Dolphins lead 54-52

LAST MEETING - Patriots beat Dolphins 38-7, Sept. 30

LAST WEEK — Patriots beat Vikings 24-10; Dolphins beat Bills 21-17

AP PRO32 RANKING - Patriots No. 4, Dolphins No. 18

PATRIOTS OFFENSE - OVERALL (7), RUSH (11), PASS (9).

PATRIOTS DEFENSE - OVERALL (22), RUSH (13), PASS (24).

DOLPHINS OFFENSE - OVERALL (29) RUSH (24), PASS (28).

DOLPHINS DEFENSE - OVERALL (29), RUSH (30), PASS (21).

STREAKS, STATS AND NOTES - New England is 17-7 against Dolphins since 2007, but has lost four of past five at Miami. ... Dolphins coach Adam Gase is 1-4 against Patriots. ... In his past three home games against Patriots, QB Ryan Tannehill is 3-0 and has thrown for seven scores and 840 yards with one interception. ... Patriots clinch 10th consecutive AFC East title with win or tie. ... New England has won eight of past nine games to clinch 18th consecutive winning season, second-longest streak in NFL history. ... Coach Bill Belichick earned 250th victory with Patriots last week, including playoffs. ... QB Tom Brady has 579 career TD passes, including postseason, tied with Peyton Manning for NFL record. ... Brady became 1,000-yard career rusher last week and is averaging 1.7 yards per carry. ... Brady has won 12 of past 13 starts vs. AFC East. ... FB James Develin has three TDs in five carries, including two scores last week. ... Patriots haven't allowed 100-yard rusher since Week 3. ... RB Sony Michel ranks fourth among rookies with 649 yards rushing. ... Patriots RBs combined for 45 touches last week. ... Only one team has fewer sacks than Patriots' 19. ... New England ranked third worst in NFL in punt coverage. ... Miami has been outgained by 1,168 yards and is on pace to break 1967 team record. ... Dolphins rank third with 25 takeaways. ... Tannehill has won his past eight home starts. ... Dolphins LT Laremy Tunsil hasn't allowed sack this season. ... Five of WR Kenny Stills' 24 catches have gone for TDs. ... RB Frank Gore is fifth in NFL in rushing yards since 2015. Gore has 18,414 career scrimmage yards and needs 43 to surpass LaDainian Tomlinson's 18,456 for fifth in NFL history. ... Former Patriots WR Danny Amendola leads Dolphins with 48 catches and 469 yards receiving. ... Kiko Alonso is tied for second in NFL with 106 tackles, and his three interceptions are tied for second among LBs. ... RB Kenyon Drake is third Miami player ever to total at least four rushing and four receiving TDs in season. ... K Jason Sanders is 16 for 17 on field goals, and his 94 percent success rate is on pace to set Dolphins record. ... Fantasy tip: Dolphins have trouble covering TEs, and Rob Gronkowski has five TD catches in past six games against Miami.