Dolphins (10-6 in 2020) at Patriots (7-9)

Time/TV: 4:25 p.m., CBS

Series record: Dolphins lead 57-54

Last meeting: Dolphins beat Patriots 22-12 on Dec. 20, 2020 in Miami Gardens, Florida

Dolphins player to watch: QB Tua Tagovailoa

Patriots player to watch: Rookie QB Mac Jones

Key matchup: Jones vs. the Dolphins secondary

Game notes: The teams split two games last season, both winning by exactly 10 points at home: Patriots prevailing 21-11 in Week 1, Dolphins winning 22-12 in Week 15 . ... There are seven Alabama players on the rosters, including Tagovailoa and Jones — who were teammates in Tuscaloosa . ... Jones will become the first Patriots rookie quarterback to start the season opener since Drew Bledsoe in 1993 . ... Under Bill Belichick, quarterbacks are 6-0 in their first career starts. Of those, Eric Zeier (Cleveland in 1995) and Jacoby Brissett (2016) made their first career starts during their rookie seasons . ... With rookie K Quinn Nordin making the 53-man roster, the Patriots have now had an undrafted free agent make that for 18 consecutive seasons . ... CB J.C. Jackson was second in the NFL with a career-high nine INTs in 2020. He is the only player with five or more INTs in each of the past two seasons . ... LB Kyle Van Noy had 69 tackles, six sacks and a career-high 10 tackles for a loss in 2020 with the Dolphins and now is back with New England.