New England Patriots

Patriots vs. Dolphins: 6 bold predictions for Week 2

Published Jun. 30, 2017 6:28 p.m. ET

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Malcolm Mitchell (19) of the New England Patriots hauls in a pass against the Cardinals. Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

After a rousing opening day victory against the Arizona Cardinals, the New England Patriots host a divisional rival in Week 2. Just like we will do every Thursday in the regular season, it’s time to break down some bold predictions for the Patriots.

We start with a promising Patriots rookie.

Patriots Week 2 Bold Prediction Number Six: Malcolm Mitchell will break out

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You heard it here first: Patriots rookie wideout Malcolm Mitchell will drop a bomb on the fantasy football world by producing a stat line of eight receptions, 134 yards and two touchdowns.

Why will Mitchell break out? Simply because the Patriots have a wealth of potent receiving targets, and because the Dolphins are a bit lacking in the secondary.

Expanding on the former point, just look at all the weapons Jimmy Garoppolo will have at his disposal in Week 2: Julian Edelman, Danny Amendola, Chris Hogan, Rob Gronkowski (hopefully), Martellus Bennett and James White. Now that Hogan has emerged as a top wideout in the offense, opposing defenses have yet another threat to worry about.

Furthermore, the Dolphins are scaring anybody with their cornerbacks. Byron Maxwell is old news, Xavien Howard is inexperienced, and Tony Lippett and Bobby McCain aren’t scaring anyone either.

The combined effect of being in the midst of a star-studded receiving corps and facing an underwhelming group of cornerbacks will put Mitchell in position to break out.

Speaking of rookies…

Cyrus Jones (24) of the New England Patriots will have a pick-six in Week 2. Credit: Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports

Patriots Week 2 Bold Prediction Number Five: Pick-six for Cyrus Jones

It will be a great day for Patriots rookies, as second-round pick Cyrus Jones will echo Mitchell’s big day by recording his first career NFL interception and simultaneously his first career NFL touchdown by stepping in front of a Ryan Tannehill pass and using his speed and elusiveness to take it the distance.

Jones saw just five defensive snaps last week against the Cardinals, but expect that number to increase as the Patriots use more cornerbacks to cover the Dolphins’ impressive stable of young wideouts. Justin Coleman may be the main No. 3 corner right now, but the Patriots will want to see what their initial pick in the 2016 NFL Draft can do against a divisional opponent.

This pick-six will begin Jones’ Defensive Rookie of the Year candidacy. There will be a group of deserving candidates for that award like always, and Jones should be in the conversation.

Leonte Carroo (88) of the Miami Dolphins will have a big game in Week 2. Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports

Patriots Week 2 Bold Prediction Number Four: Leonte Carroo will be Dolphins’ leading receiver

Remember Leonte Carroo? Before the draft, several mocks had the Patriots selecting Carroo at No. 61 overall, but the Pats passed on the Rutgers product and the Dolphins snagged him in the third round. Thus far, the rookie has been impressive in the preseason and caught two passes in Week 1.

According to the Palm Beach Post, Carroo earned praise from Richard Sherman after the game. Here’s what Carroo said:

He [Sherman] came up to me after the game and said, ‘You’re a hell of a player. Great job. You know I have a lot of respect for you, just being a rookie.’ Because I was pretty physical with him in the run game and pass game. And I didn’t look at it as I’m going against Richard Sherman this week. I looked at it as I have to execute and make plays for my team.

In Week 2, Carroo will continue to execute and make plays for his team, but this time his success will be very much reflected on the stat sheet. Expect a stat line of four catches for 75 yards and a score as Carroo gains a greater role in the Miami offense against the Patriots.

Trey Flowers (98) will have three sacks for the New England Patriots in Week 2. Credit: Jim Dedmon-USA TODAY Sports

Patriots Week 2 Bold Prediction Number Three: Trey Flowers will post a hat trick of sacks

Flowers saw 20 snaps in Week 1, but that number will nearly double in Week 2 as the Patriots rotate Flowers in with Jabaal Sheard and Chris Long more frequencly. And the Arkansas product will deliver by putting up three sacks of Tannehill.

All preseason, Flowers looked like a new player after missing the entirety of his rookie season due to injury. He played well enough to push out fellow 2015 defensive end draft pick Geneo Grissom. Speaking of Grissom, the Oklahoma product was active for almost all of the 2015 regular season, eventually sacking Tannehill in Week 17; this time, it will be Flowers who sacks Tannehill, and on more than one occasion in Week 2.

The Patriots’ pass rush will be lethal against a sub-standard Miami offensive line, and it will be Flowers who leads the charge.

Fore more reading on Flowers, give this excellent Boston Herald piece a look.

Isa Abdul-Quddus (24) will make his mark in Week 2. Credit: Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports

Patriots Week 2 Bold Prediction Number Two: Isa Abdul-Quddus will have two interceptions

Last week, Abdul-Quddus picked off his first pass since the 2012 season with the New Orleans Saints. In Week 2, the veteran safety will see his good luck continue, as he will be on the receiving end of two errant Garoppolo deep throws.

It was pretty amazing that Garoppolo played so well against one of the toughest defenses (in particular, secondaries) in the NFL last week. That Jimmy G didn’t throw an interception was surprising (although he did fumble the ball). However, that will change in Week 2, as Garoppolo will get a little too trigger-happy on deep throws.

Abdul-Quddus’ interception last week came as a result of the former Detroit Lions safety playing smart in the back end and having the hands to reel in Russell Wilson’s overthrown ball. Look for both of these interceptions to happy like that; overthrown deep balls that land more or less in the veteran safety’s lap.

Bill Belichick’s group will shut out the Dolphins in the second half. Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Patriots Week 2 Bold Prediction Number Two: Pats will shut-out Dolphins in second half

It will be a back-and-forth first half, with the Patriots and Dolphins trading blows seemingly every possession. Both of Abdul-Quddus’ interceptions will occur in the first half; as will Carroo’s interception. For the Patriots, a Mitchell touchdown will come after one of Flowers’ drive-ending sacks.

The two teams will go into the locker room knotted up at 13 points apiece.

But the second half will be entirely New England’s. Garoppolo will shake off his rocky start to the game by using Mitchell early and often; Flowers will finish out his hat trick of sacks; Jones will have his pick-six at the tail end of the third quarter.

Additionally, strong running by LeGarrette Blount in the fourth quarter will put this game out of reach. The Patriots will go 2-0 on the season.

FINAL SCORE PREDICTION: Patriots 30, Dolphins 13

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