Friday, December 28, 2012
Foxboro
Freeeze to Slow Down Dolphins and Patriots: Anyone Got A Snow Blower?
After a relatively mild
winter up to now but this past midweek snowstorm completely engulfed the East
Coast and left it a winter wonderland. So Sunday when the New England Patriots
host the Miami Dolphins in Foxboro, frigid winter weather conditions will be in
full effect.
NFLWeather.com
forecasts a 30% chance of precipitation with snow expected in the morning and
likely later on in the day. The high temperature will max out around 32 and a Northeastern
wind is expected to swirling between 10 and 16 mph. So which will the Dolphins
struggle to handle with the most, Mother Nature or the league’s top offense?
To be frank, the ‘Phins
typically struggle in December and January; especially when they play the Pats
where they’re 1-6 since Tom Brady took over the reigns. And according to the NFLWeather.com
Historical Analytics, Miami
is 2-3 in their recent December away games while the Pats are 7-1 at home in
the wintery month.
Even though the Jacksonville
Jaguars nearly tripped up New England a week ago, with a potential first round
bye still in the picture it’s unlikely Bill Belichick will let that coveted
week off slip away, especially given all the defensive lapses his team has
faced in recent weeks, injury related or not. But after surging to the
forefront of the AFC title race and passing the eye test of a genuine Super
Bowl contender, the 49ers made the long haul from San Francisco and took a
31-10 lead into the fourth quarter while mercilessly ripping through the
suspect Pats’ defense in a damp and dense fog. The weather was a factor then
and it stunted the entire offense and there’s a good chance of repeating.
Despite being the NFL’s best
in yards and total points, the New England offense hasn’t looked it recently.
Much has to do with a struggling offensive that’s getting Brady roughed up and
forcing him into poor passing decisions. For the first time in seemingly
forever has Brady thrown multiple picks in back-to-back games. A suspect o-line
and a windy snowstorm should keep the Pats offensive game plan pretty grounded.
With Brady under constant pressure and the natural elements likely to have an
obvious effect of play calling, it’s up to Stevan Ridley and Danny Woodhead to
find seams in the Miami defense.
However, the Dolphins can
contain the run relatively well. Ranked 10th in the league holding
their opposition to under 105 rushing yards per game and tied for tops in the
league giving up 67 first downs from the run. With bad weather impacting the
Pats’ high-octane aerial assault, they’ll desperately want to extend drives by
grinding it out between the tackles and a stout Dolphins front seven could keep
that New England offense in a funk.
But one offense that has been
noticeably improving and a young quarterback who’s evolving into a leader has
been the ‘Phins and rookie Ryan Tannehill. Not having thrown an interception
since late November, he’s making the right decisions and avoiding forcing the
ball just to get rid of it. Given, this week’s weather conditions will compel
the game plan to revolve around Reggie Bush and Daniel Thomas but Tannehill will
be called upon to convert crucial first downs. If he can avoid costly
turnovers, especially in their own end of the field, Miami might be able to
pull off what the Jaguars couldn’t.
Swirling winds in the frozen
air will be a piercing feeling for players and fans alike. Even though the
Dolphins don’t have many opportunities to play in the snow, this is a golden
opportunity to deny their rivals a much needed week off. Even though the
postseason is out of the question, an upset in snowy Foxboro would be coal in
the stocking for Brady and company.
By
Will Strome
NFLWeather.com Columnist
