Quote (USArmy8786 @ Sep 6 2014 04:12pm)
Week 1
MIAMI DOLPHINS (0-0) vs. NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS (0-0)
GAME FACTS
DATE: Sunday, Sept. 7
TIME: 1 p.m. ET
SITE: Sun Life Stadium, Miami Gardens, Fla.
TV: CBS
TV ANNOUNCERS:(Greg Gumbel, play-by-play; Trent Green, color analyst)
DOLPHINS RADIO NETWORK: Clear Channel, WBGG (105.9 FM) and WINZ (940 AM) and a network of affiliates throughout Florida; WQBA (1140 AM-Spanish)
RADIO VOICES: English broadcast — Jimmy Cefalo, Bob Griese, Joe Rose, Keith Sims; Spanish broadcast — Raul Striker, Roly Martin
THE SERIES
SERIES RECORD: Miami leads 51-46 (including playoffs)
AT MIAMI: Dolphins lead 34-14
AT NEW ENGLAND: Patriots lead 31-17
AT TAMPA: Patriots lead 1-0
LAST MEETING: 2013 at Miami; Dolphins 24, Patriots 20
HISTORY LESSON: This year’s game will mark the first time since 1996 the Dolphins have opened the season at home against the Patriots in a day game. That 1996 season opener marked the Dolphins debut of Head Coach Jimmy Johnson and rookies Zach Thomas and Karim Abdul-Jabbar, and it was a successful one for all of them. Thomas led the Dolphins defense with nine tackles, including a sack, while Abdul-Jabbar rushed for 115 yards and a touchdown in a 24-10 victory. The Dolphins’ two other touchdowns that day came when safety Sean Hill returned a fumble 10 yards and when wide receiver Scott Miller recovered a fumble in the end zone after fullback Stanley Pritchett had lost the ball at the 1-yard line.
SERIES TREND: The Dolphins’ victory at Sun Life Stadium last December snapped their seven-game losing streak against the Patriots, which had tied for New England’s longest winning streak in the series. The Dolphins can only hope history repeats because when they snapped a seven-game losing streak against the Patriots in 1989, it began a run of nine consecutive victories against New England.
SCOUTING REPORT
NEW ENGLAND’S 2013 RECORD: 12-4
NEW ENGLAND’S 2014 PRESEASON RECORD: 2-2
LAST GAME: Lost 16-13 at New York Giants
OVERVIEW: The Patriots head into the season having captured the AFC East title 10 of the 12 seasons since the NFL realignment to eight divisions in 2002, including the last five. Such is the standard New England has set that the focus often is on the fact the Patriots haven’t won the Super Bowl since the 2004 season. With the arrival of Darrelle Revis and the return from injury of some key players on defense, the Patriots once again figure to be among the elite teams in the AFC, if not the entire NFL.
KEY NEW FACES: CB Darrelle Revis (Tampa Bay), CB Brandon Browner (Denver), WR Brandon LaFell (Carolina), TE Tim Wright (Tampa Bay), LB Darius Fleming (San Francisco), DL Dominique Easley (draft-1st round), QB Jimmy Garoppolo
(draft-2nd)
KEY VETERANS GONE: CB Aqib Talib, RB LeGarrette Blount, DE Andre Carter, LB Brandon Spikes, WR Austin Collie, LB Dane Fletcher, DT Tommy Kelly, G Logan Mankins, QB Ryan MallettI love these little pregame reports that you post.