NEVER EASY IN MIAMI
Dolphins always present tough test for Pats
MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — Tom Brady didn’t have too much trouble conquering one of his personal demons earlier this season. He took down the Broncos at Sports Authority Field pretty easily, beating them by 25 and throwing for 266 yards and three scores in the process.
Next up? The Dolphins at Hard Rock Stadium. That’s another house of horrors, haunting Brady and the Patriots for too many years to count.
They’ve wilted in the heat against a Dolphins team that’s built a reputation in recent years on being chippy. Since 2001, with Brady under center, the team is 7-8 in games played in Miami. Most recently, the Fins have taken three of the last four on their home turf.
But this one has extra meaning. With a win, the Patriots lock up their 15th AFC East title since 2001 and their ninth straight.
“I think it’s challenging for us to go down there and that’s just the way it’s always been,” Brady said. “Hopefully, we can get to 8-8 . ... I’d love that. That would mean we won a champion- ship, too.”
The Patriots will be playing tonight without tight end
Rob Gronkowski, who is serving a one-game suspension for the cheap shot he delivered on Bills cornerback Tre’Davious White on Dec. 3. Gronkowski’s impact can never be taken for granted, whether he’s helping in the run game, bailing Brady out in the short passing game or making big plays like he did in the Pats’ 35-17 win over the Dolphins last month at Gillette Stadium, when he caught two touchdown passes.
“He’s an extremely good football player,” wide receiver Danny Amendola said of Gronkowski. “He adds so much to our team. Any time you don’t have Gronk, it’s tough.”
It’s no secret the Dolphins have struggled covering tight ends this season. Dwayne Allen, the No. 2 at the position, will just have to pick up the slack and so will others in the offense.
The Patriots are seeing the Dolphins for the second time in
three weeks, with that earlier victory coming on Nov. 26. That also sets up an unusual dynamic as the Pats try to win at a venue that’s always caused them grief.
“Every week is a challenge, and every week is a different challenge, so this one is a little unusual when you’ve played a team that recently, but we worked hard on the Miami game,” Patriots coach Bill Belichick said, referring to the first game. “I think we put a lot into that game. The things that showed up in the game showed up in it. There were a lot of things that we prepared for that didn’t show up in it that may come up this time, particularly if those situations present themselves differently than they did in this game two weeks ago.”
During the week, Belichick had the team practice in the bubble with the heat cranked up, trying to simulate the humid, south Florida weather conditions that the Patriots aren’t so used to in mid-December.
The Patriots, at 10-2, are currently battling it out with the Pittsburgh Steelers, who they meet next week, for the AFC’s top seed. The Pats are also 6-0 on the road this season and riding a 14-game unbeaten streak away from Gillette Stadium. The Dolphins, meanwhile, are clinging to a thread for a wild card spot at this point. A playoff team last year, they’re sitting at 5-7. So there’s quite a few elements at work. With Jay Cutler back at quarterback last week, they smoked the Broncos, 35-9, at home.
“They play really well at home. I think you saw that this past week,” said Devin McCourty. “I think we’ve got to kind of expect the same thing, especially Monday night. They’ll be ready to go. We’re going to get their best shot I think in every phase of the game. So we have to be well prepared in everything we do.”
McCourty said it really doesn’t matter who the Patriots will be missing. They’re used to playing through those scenarios.
“Being shorthanded, I feel like we’re talking about that every year here. Guys step up, guys play. I don’t even think about that,” said the Patriots defensive captain. “We’ve been focused on understanding where we’re going and what we’re getting into. We know Miami is going to be ready to go.
“To me, this is football in December. You got two teams playing for the opportunity to continue to play after the season. You’re going to get both teams’ best. That’s how it should be. Since I’ve been here, it’s always been tough playing them late in the year (in Miami) . . . they feed off the crowd, they feed off the energy of being home. We know it’s going to be a dogfight.”