Having the league’s highest-scoring offense is familiar territory for the New England Patriots. Having one of the worst defenses is another matter.
That’s exactly the position the Patriots find themselves in as they brace for a visit to the Miami Dolphins for an AFC East clash on Monday Night Football.
It’s the third consecutive division game for New England (2-1), which held off the Bills Buffalo, 38-30, last week after falling to the New York Jets, 28-14, in Week 2.
Miami (2-1) will be making its second straight appearance in prime time, having absorbed a 31-23 defeat to the Jets last Sunday night.
With the Jets already off to a 2-0 start in the AFC East, the loser of Monday night’s game could be staring at an uphill battle within the division.
Priority No. 1 for the Patriots will be to tighten up their defense. New England has surrendered 82 points already – the third-highest total in the AFC and a startling number for a Bill Belichick-coached club.
In the second half alone, New England has been torched for 53 points, including 18 unanswered in its loss to the Jets.
The Dolphins saw that trend firsthand the last time the Patriots were in town, rallying from an 11-point second-half deficit to upend New England, 22-21, on Dec. 6, 2009.
Patriots quarterback Tom Brady had his second straight three-touchdown passing day last week, finishing 21 of 27 for 252 yards and no interceptions.
Brady, who needs one win to reach 100 for his career, filled up the stat sheet against the Dolphins last season, throwing for 684 yards with three TDs and three interceptions as the teams split a pair of games for the second straight year. He has averaged an interception per game in his career against Miami.
Wide receivers Randy Moss and Wes Welker have had huge games against the Dolphins. Moss has five touchdowns catches while ex-Dolphin Welker has 27 catches in the last three meetings.
Miami is better equipped to match points with the Patriots thanks to the offseason acquisition of wideout Brandon Marshall from the Denver Broncos.
Marshall had 10 catches for 166 yards and a touchdown last week and could be primed for a banner day against New England’s porous secondary. When he faced New England last season while with Denver, Marshall had eight catches for 64 yards and two touchdowns.
Dolphins quarterback Chad Henne, in his first full season as a starter, threw for a career-high 363 yards with two TDs and an interception in last week’s loss to the Jets.
He had a huge game in Miami’s comeback win over the Patriots in December, throwing for 335 yards and a pair of scores.
The Dolphins would like to get increased production from their ground game. Ronnie Brown and Ricky Williams have combined for 319 yards rushing in the three games but they have just one touchdown between them.