These are two teams going in different directions as the Patriots have started the season 6-0 and they’ve pounded everyone they have played this season by at least 17 points!  The Dolphins have started the season 0-6 and they appear to be a team that will be in contention for the first pick in the NFL Draft next April.

The New England Patriots will be without starting tight end Ben Watson and leading rusher Sammy Morris who are both injured….but fear not as they have plenty of weapons available for Tom Brady.  The Patriots will likely be able to do whatever they want against a Dolphins defense that is starting to look their age at key positions.  Laurence Maroney and Kevin Faulk will likely tear up the Fins defense which is allowing 168.5 yards rushing per game and 4.5 yards per carry.  The Dolphins hope that Jason Taylor (4 sacks) can get to Tom Brady and force him into making some mistakes….but don’t hold your breath.  After all, Brady has a QB Rating of 128.9 which leads the NFL.  Look for Brady to spread the ball around to Randy Moss (40 rec, 610 yards, 8 TDs), Wes Welker (38 rec, 386 yards, 3 TDs) and Donte’ Stallworth (19 rec, 316 yards, 2 TDs) who should find a lot of running room against the Dolphins.

The Dolphins will try to get the ball to Ronnie Brown as much as possible.  Brown has rushed for 526 yards this season and he’s also caught 34 passes for 356 yards so he will be a challenge to the Patriots linebackers.  The Patriots are only allowing 78.0 yards rushing per game but that’s mostly because teams get taken out of the running game due to the Pats offense getting a jump on them.  The Patriots blitz from all angles so the Fins need Cleo Lemon to protect the football which could be a problem as 3 of his 70 pass attempts this season have been intercepted.  Without Chris Chambers around, look for Marty Booker and TE David Martin to be the main men in the passing game.  Ted Ginn Jr. and Derek Hagan will also have increased roles against the Patriots and they need them to produce and not be intimidated.

PREDICTION:  The Dolphins ambushed the Patriots last season in Miami 21-0 and the Patriots will have a let down one of these weeks.  Look for the Dolphins to give the Patriots a game for at least a half.  PATRIOTS 30, DOLPHINS 14.

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The Miami Dolphins lost on the last play of the game last week on a 54-yard field goal by Kris Brown of the Texans.  The Browns fought hard last week against the Patriots but they were outmanned in the game and it showed on the scoreboard.

Ronnie Brown probably can’t wait until Sunday!  He has been outstanding the last couple of weeks and the Browns are allowing 174.2 yards rushing per game and 4.9 yards per carry.  It will be interesting to see if the Browns defensive line gets any push as they have made some changes.  Cleo Lemon will get the start at QB this week and he will likely have some success throwing the ball against the Browns who have allowed 15 TD passes and 267.0 yards per game passing.  The secret weapon of the Dolphins could be Ted Ginn Jr. who might be happy to be back in Ohio.

Look for the Browns to also attempt to run the football as much as possible against a Dolphins defense that is allowing 174.2 yards rushing per game and 4.5 yards per carry so far this season.  Will Jamal Lewis semi-doubtful for this game, Jason Wright could have a big game.  He has carried the ball 19 times for 102 yards (5.4 ypc) and he’s also caught 6 passes for 51 yards (8.5 avg).  It will be up to MLB Zach Thomas and OLB Channing Crowder to stop Wright/Lewis in the running game and out of the backfield on passes.  DE Jason Taylor must get pressure on QB Derek Anderson because if he has time to pass the Dolphins will be in trouble because TE Kellen Winslow (24 rec, 416 yards, 2 TDs) and Braylon Edwards (24 rec, 485 yards, 4 TDs) are bad matchups for their secondary.

PREDICTION:  The Browns will win a high scoring game as neither team will have a hard time moving the football.  I would take the over if I were betting on this football game.

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Both of these teams come into this football game on losing streaks.  The Dolphins have lost all 4 of their football games by an average of 10.3 points per game and they have allowed 103 points in the last three games.  The Texans have lost two hard fought games against the Colts and the Falcons.

Look for the Dolphins to come out running the football as they will attempt to control the clock and keep their defense on the sideline.  Ronnie Brown will be the focus of the offense as he is off to a good start.  He has rushed for 311 yards (5.2 ypc) and he also has caught 20 passes for 248 yards (12.4 avg).  Look for Brown and linebacker DeMeco Ryans to have a lot of high impact collisions.  The Texans do have a solid run defense as they are only allowing 80.0 yards per game and 3.4 yards per carry.  The Texans are vulnerable to the passing game as they allow 229.5 yards passing per game so Trent Green should have some success as long as the Dolphins’ offensive line keeps the Texans out of the backfield. 

The Texans running backs have to be foaming at the mouth after watching game film of the Dolphins’ defense all week long.  The Dolphins allow 199.3 yards rushing per game and 4.9 yards per carry so far this season.  Ahman Green is iffy with a bad knee but even if he doesn’t play look for Ron Dayne to have a big game against the Dolphins.  The Dolphins pass defense is not that good either and QB Matt Schaub will come after them by throwing the ball deep to Andre Davis and short to Owen Daniels.

PREDICTION:  The Dolphins are one of the worst teams in the entire NFL and it will show again this week on the field.  Look for the Texans to defend the home turf and win this game by a touchdown.

Both of these football teams are off to rough starts to the season as they are both 0-2.  The Dolphins would like to run the football against the Jets who allow 126.0 yards rushing per game but that might be easier said than done.  The Dolphins are only averaging 63.5 yard rushing per game and 3.1 yards per carry so far this season.  Ronnie Brown (65 yards rushing, 3.0 ypc) and Jesse Chatman (10 car, 42 yards) need to give the Dolphins offense better balance.  This could be the game that Trent Green really breaks out as the Jets don’t have a sack yet this season and opposing QBs have a 119.9 QB Rating against the Jets!  Chris Chambers (15 rec, 201 yards) and Marty Booker (7 rec, 99 yards, TD) should both have good games against the injury depleted secondary of the Jets.  Look for TE David Martin (3 rec, 22 yards) and #3 WR Derek Hagan (2 rec, 33 yards, TD) to be the Dolphins’ secret weapons this Sunday.

The Jets will likely try to get their running game going this week against a Dolphins’ defense that is allowing 178.5 yards rushing per game and 4.6 ypc.  If MLB Zach Thomas doesn’t play (he’s injured), Thomas Jones will find the Fins defense much easier to run against than the Patriots and Ravens.  Jones has only rushed for 109 yards this season and 2.9 yards per carry but he could be in line for a huge football game.  The Dolphins also have problems at safety so look for Chad Pennington to target Jerricho Cotchery (13 rec, 222 yards) and Laveranues Coles (13 rec, 116 yards) deep.

PREDICTION:  This game will be exciting.  Neither team has much of a defense and both teams have played tough defensive teams so far so the offenses should excel this week.  I think the Jets are the better football team and they are at home so look for the Jets to win a high scoring football game by a field goal.