STAFF PREDICTIONS

Latest line: Dolphins are favored by 1 ½ points. Over/ under: 41.

DaveHyde, Sports Columnist (Season record:

7-6): Dolphins 17, Patriots

13

Neitheroffense looks capable of putting up a lot of points between the Dolphins’health and the Patriots’problems. Bill Belichick is finding what life is like without a premier quarterback— some up, some down, lots of mediocre. The Dolphins, fighting for their playofflives, should have enough to make that continue thisweek. Miami is averaging anNFL-worst 3.6 yards per rush as a team, but should still hold offNew England to remain in theAFC playoffchase.

OmarKelly, Dolphins Columnist (Season record: 7-6): Dolphin 24, Patriots 17

Will the pupil outwit the teacher? For the first time in this series, Bill Belichick has an inferior team. ButNew England’s strengths play intoMiami’sweaknesses. Brian Flores will create a gameplan to maskMiami’s injuries and shortcomings and deliver amuch-needed victory. The Dolphins are tied for theNFL lead in takeaways

(25) and are tied for second in turnover differential

(plus-10).

SafidDeen, DolphinsWriter (Season record: 9-4): Dolphins 27, Patriots 17

TuaTagovailoa is going up against Bill Belichick for the first time in hisNFL career, and hemay have some early strugglesmoving the offense early. But his preparations against a similar defense in practice everyweek should help theDolphins in a must-win game. Miami’s NFL-best 10-3 record against the spread should continue thisweek.

KathyLaughlin, Sports Editor(Season record: 76): Dolphins20, Patriots 13

Sure, the Patriotswon the season opener, but thatwas inNewEngland— and it feels like a lifetime ago, doesn’t it? The Pats certainly don’t fare sowell atHard Rock Stadium, and the Dolphins havewon 8 of 12 games since then. Bill Belichick’s team has lost 7 of 12 since. Rookie quarterbackTuaTagovailoa is riding a little confidence after staging a comeback against the Super Bowl champion Chiefs lastweek, even if it ultimately fell short.

Keven Lerner, Assistant SportsEditor(Season record: 8-5): Dolphins23, Patriots20

If standout tight endMike Gesicki is unable to play because of his shoulder injury, the Dolphins will be missing their top offensive weapon. Nevertheless, Miami should beatNewEngland at homewith so much on the line. The Patriots will have had a fewextra days to prepare for the Dolphins as they played on Thursday night aweek ago, but their inept passing offense (ranked 29th inNFL) is no match forMiami’s defense — which ranks second in points allowed (18.8) and has at least one takeaway in 19 consecutive games.

SteveSvekis, Assistant SportsEditor(Season record: 8-5): Dolphins 17, Patriots 10

TheDolphins’defense has been so stellar that the Patriots should pose little challenge. The defense allowed24points against the Chiefs, whoentered the game putting upmore than 29 points pergame. Conversely, after scoring 24.3points per gametheir first three games, thePatriots haveplummeted to 17.6percontest. Meanwhile, TuaTagovailoa’s rollercoaster season continues, with eight touchdownpasses (and twoTDdrops) and one interception. Also, in career starts one, three and five, Tagovailoa has been sacked onlyonce. But in starts two, fourand sixhe has been broughtdown13 times. So, ifTua gets an“odd” game, Miami’s chances are enhanced.