The Patriots travel to Miami for Week 8 after a loss in Chicago, and Pats Pulpit predicts they have the edge. Quarterback Drake Maye’s pass offense posts the league‑best 0.423 dropback EPA since Week 4, while Miami’s pass defense ranks 23rd, giving New England a strong aerial advantage. Although the Patriots’ pass defense has struggled, the Dolphins’ passing attack lacks the depth to exploit it. The run game favors Miami, with Ollie Gordon II’s 100‑yard performances, but New England’s run defense has kept opponents under 100 yards so far. Special‑teams matchups are fairly even, and veteran coaches Mike Vrabel and Josh McDaniels add experience. Overall, the analysis leans toward a Patriots win.
The Dolphins host the Patriots in Week 8 on November 24, with the game airing locally on CBS for Florida and New England markets. Miami and surrounding areas (Miami, West Palm Beach, Fort Myers) will see the matchup, while the rest of the nation watches the Chiefs–Broncos game. CBS also airs the Bills‑Ravens game in South Florida and the Colts‑Jaguars game up the Panhandle; FOX splits the rest of the state's slate, showing Raiders‑Jets, Vikings‑Lions, Falcons‑Buccaneers, and Cardinals‑Cowboys. Sunday Night Football features the Eagles at Commanders. The article details broadcast regions and other games across the state.
The Miami Dolphins face a steep challenge against the Patriots, but these three keys could give them a blueprint for pulling off a massive upset.
Former Indiana wideout Omar Cooper Jr. earns his second consecutive Pepsi Rookie of the Week award after a 115-yard, one‑touchdown performance with five catches versus the Miami Dolphins on Oct. 25. The Jets rookie follows a 103‑yard, one‑touchdown game against New England the week prior, becoming only the eighth player since the AFL‑NFL merger to post 100+ receiving yards in two of his first three career games and the first Jet to do so. The back‑to‑back feats put Cooper in early conversation for NFL Rookie of the Year.
The Patriots face the Dolphins in Week 8 with a clear game plan: establish the run, especially leaning on Rhamondre Stevenson after a lackluster ground game against the Bears. Analysts debate New England's ability to dominate the line against Miami's strong run defense, while turnovers remain a concern. The injury report shows a healthier roster, including CB Carlton Davis's return, and the team is gearing up for a Rob Gronkowski induction on Nov. 7. Experts from the Patriots Pulpit break down key matchups, trade‑deadline needs, and the potential role for TreVeyon Henderson as New England looks to secure a decisive win in Miami on Sunday.
After a 3‑0 start, the Las Vegas Raiders have dropped four straight, falling to Kansas City, New England, Buffalo and Los Angeles. Defensive end Maxx Crosby blames the run‑defense collapse on a lack of attitude and energy, urging teammates to “whoop a‑**” and improve second‑half effort. He says the Raiders must study film and revive the aggression that fueled early wins. The Raiders aim to snap the skid against the New York Jets on Sunday before a daunting stretch that includes the 49ers, Seahawks, Broncos and Browns.
Seattle has held opposing wide receivers to 642 yards in seven games, a problem for Rome Odunze before Chicago’s Monday night trip.
The Miami Dolphins claim former Seattle Seahawks third‑round pick offensive guard Christian Hayles off waivers, beating the Baltimore Ravens due to higher waiver priority. Hayles, a 2024 third‑rounder who started five games for Seattle this season, becomes Miami’s next guard after the Seahawks traded for Quenton Nelson. To make room, the Dolphins released rookie rookie DJ Campbell (200th overall, 2026). With left guard Kadyn Proctor in concussion protocol, Hayles joins a line featuring Jonah Savaiinaea, Caedan Wallace and Jarrett Kingston as Miami prepares for a Sunday matchup against the New England Patriots.
The Miami Dolphins could use the trade deadline to get ahead of 2027 free agency by targeting young defensive standouts.
Buffalo Rumblings unveils APEX (Actual Passing vs. Expectation), a new NFL metric that rates each pass‑game against the quality of defenses faced. By comparing a quarterback’s EPA per dropback to the baseline EPA allowed by that defense, APEX reveals when a "good" EPA figure is actually under‑performing and vice‑versa. After seven weeks, the Bills lead the rankings, while Miami’s 1‑5 record looks harsher than its 18th‑place APEX suggests. Notable shifts include Houston’s C.J. Stroud slipping to 14th in APEX and the Cardinals rising to 21st despite a low EPA rank. The metric aims to give a fairer snapshot of pass‑game effectiveness across the season.
Miami Dolphins LB Jordyn Brooks makes it clear that this team believes they can win every game, no matter how impossible it sounds.
The Patriots will meet Miami’s rookie quarterback Malik Willis for the first time on Sunday, but New England’s coach Mike Vrabel is no stranger to him. Vrabel drafted Willis in the third round for the Titans in 2022 and has followed his progress through a brief stint in Tennessee, a trade to Green Bay, and a three‑year, $67.5 million deal with the Dolphins. Willis has posted modest numbers — 1,057 passing yards, four TDs, four picks and three rushing scores — while Miami sits 5‑1, but Vrabel believes his arm strength and mobility are finally clicking.
The Los Angeles Chargers enter Week 8 with a 0-6 record and the league's worst offense, prompting quarterback Justin Herbert to defend offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel. Despite high hopes after hiring McDaniel, the Chargers rank 28th in yards (287.2 per game), last in EPA per play (-0.26), and score just 15 points per game. Herbert, sacked 21 times and pressured on 42.1% of dropbacks, says the blame lies with the entire offense, not the coach. The team aims to rebound against the Rams on Sunday.
Gridiron Experts breaks down the final fantasy‑football trade window, highlighting low‑priced buy targets and overvalued sell‑offs for weeks 8‑14. The article warns against early‑season impulse trades like a Sam LaPorta‑Matthew Golden for Saquon Barkley swap and points to players whose workload exceeds their points: Chase Brown (CIN RB), Ollie Gordon II (MIA RB), DeVonta Smith (PHI WR) and Michael Wilson (ARI WR). Each prospect includes role, injury and depth‑chart context, plus timing tips around bye weeks. Readers learn which high‑volume backs and WRs to snag now and which underperformers to cash out before the deadline.
Taylor Kyles (CLNS Media) and Mike Kadlick (SI) go live from Gillette Stadium to break down the Patriots’ first practice of Dolphins week, then shift to a trade‑watch segment spotlighting potential New England targets such as wide receiver Josh Downs. The discussion offers insight into the team’s preparation and speculative roster moves ahead of the upcoming game.
The Miami Dolphins claim ex‑Seahawks guard Christian Haynes off waivers, outpacing the Baltimore Ravens despite the latter’s earlier announcement. Haynes, a 2024 third‑round pick from UConn who posted a 5.03‑second 40‑yard dash at the draft combine, was released by Seattle after the team traded for All‑Pro lineman Quenton Nelson, sending a 2027 third‑rounder and a 2028 fifth‑rounder to the Colts. Haynes appeared in 31 games with five starts for the Seahawks and started five times in 2026 before his waiver. The Dolphins secured his services thanks to a higher claim priority.
The Miami Dolphins claimed former Seahawks guard Christian Haynes off waivers, adding offensive line depth as Kadyn Proctor enters concussion protocol.
The Los Angeles Chargers have confirmed that offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel will retain play‑calling duties despite the unit ranking last in the NFL with a 15.0 points‑per‑game average and the team’s 0‑6 start. Head coach Jim Harbaugh announced the decision during the bye week, despite criticism targeting McDaniel for the Chargers' offensive woes, injuries, and quarterback struggles. The move follows a six‑point outing against the Chiefs that left the Chargers at the bottom of the league. McDaniel, previously praised for his work with the Dolphins, now faces mounting pressure as the season stalls.
Returning from a high‑ankle sprain, Patriots wideout A.J. Brown has struggled, catching just six of 16 targets for 75 yards over two games and dropping passes against the Jets. He admits to missed blocks that hurt Rhamondre Stevenson’s run game but says he’s “okay” physically and refuses to make excuses. Brown hopes to rebound against Miami’s ailing secondary, the league’s worst pass defense, while quarterback Drake Maye expresses confidence that Brown will find his flow soon.
Patriots cornerback Carlton Davis III is set to return Sunday against the Miami Dolphins after a neck injury that kept him out for five games. Davis, who missed the season opener, Week 2, and the last three contests, says he’s finally feeling ready and eager to contribute. His comeback bolsters a secondary that’s also missing safety Craig Woodson and corner Christian Gonzalez, who is recovering from illness. The unit’s full lineup for the first time since Week 1 promises a boost in cohesion and playmaking as New England aims to improve its defensive performance.
The Miami Dolphins have successfully claimed offensive guard Christian Haynes off waivers, outranking the Baltimore Ravens after Seattle released him. Haynes, a 26‑year‑old former UConn standout and 2022 second‑team All‑American, was a third‑round pick in the 2024 draft. He is in the third year of a four‑year, $5.8 million rookie deal, carrying a $1.58 million cap hit in 2026, and has appeared in seven games with five starts for the Seahawks this season.
The Patriots arrive at the Dolphins with a clean 53‑man roster after right guard Ben Brown returns from a knee injury, while cornerback Carlton Davis III ends a three‑game neck‑injury stretch. Miami lists OT Kadyn Proctor (concussion) and CB JuJu Brents (neck, concussion) as non‑participants, with several players limited, including WR Malik Washington and TE Greg Dulcich. New England’s limited list features WR A.J. Brown (knee, ankle), OT Morgan Moses (foot) and DT DaQuan Jones (back). With the offensive line allowing just two sacks in the past two games, the injury updates set the stage for Sunday’s 4:25 p.m. ET clash at Hard Rock Stadium.
The Miami Dolphins face a tough challenge against the Patriots this week, and they may have to do it without two of their best starters.
Sharp Football Analysis’s Week 8 fantasy worksheet pits Patriots QB Drake Maye against Dolphins QB Malik Willis in a high‑scoring clash. Maye has fired 12 TDs and 0‑2 interceptions over four weeks, boasting a league‑leading 8.9 yards per attempt and a 66% deep‑ball completion rate, while Miami allows a league‑worst 0.61 passing points per attempt. The Patriots are -7.5 favorites; the implied total is 26 points. New England ranks 3rd in points per drive (2.88) and excels in 10‑yard passes (33.5%), but Miami’s defense gives up a 66.7% completion rate in the red zone. Willis, a volatile QB2, showed a season‑high 9.9 yards per pass and added rushing upside, making him a floor play in a matchup where the Dolphins have struggled against the pass.
The Dolphins clinched their first win of the season, 28-25 over the Jets, but now face two starters in concussion protocol ahead of Sunday’s AFC East showdown with the Patriots. Starting left guard Kadyn Proctor, who played every offensive snap, and cornerback JuJu Brents, who missed only six defensive snaps, both showed concussion symptoms earlier this week. Proctor missed Wednesday’s practice, while Brents was seen doing conditioning drills, suggesting he may be further along in recovery. Coach Jeff Hafley did not confirm when symptoms began, leaving their availability for the Patriots game uncertain.