NFL WEEK 18

KEYS TO THE GAME

Make Patriots’ Mac Jones uncomfortable: Jones, the Patriots’ 2021 first-round pick, doesn’t have much mobility, so the Dolphins defense should utilize the blitzes and pressures they have used all season to produce their 46 sacks against him. Miami needs to get Jones off his spots and mess up his timing on routes.

Protect Tua Tagovailoa and keep his pocket secure:

Like most quarterbacks, Tagovailoa is at his best when he has time to scan the field and execute the offense without a defender in his face. That hasn’t happened much this season, but he’s still one of the least sacked quarterbacks in the NFL (19s) heading into the season finale.

Rush for more than 100 yards:

The Dolphins’ rushing attack has been terrible most of this season, but it has shown signs of improvement with Duke Johnson (4.6 yards per attempt) as the lead back. Last Sunday Johnson gained 49 rushing yards on seven carries against the Titans before Miami had to abandon the ground game.

Win field position battle:

The Patriots typically win the special teams aspect of a game, and subsequently win the field position battle against most opponents. That’s why the Dolphins must be effective in kickoff and punt coverage on Sunday.

Pass catchers not named Jaylen Waddle must step up:

The Patriots traditionally take away the opposition’s favorite playmaker from a strategic approach, which means the Dolphins must rely on players outside of Waddle, who is three receptions away from setting an NFL rookie record, and

12 yards from becoming the

11th 1,000-yard receiver in franchise history. DeVante Parker, Mike Gesicki, Isaiah Ford, Mack Hollins and Durham Smythe are all going to have to find ways to get open, and bring down contested catches to deliver plays against New England, which features one of the NFL’s stingiest passing defenses in the league (192.4 passing yards per game).