Dolphins-Patriots predictions: Will Miami play spoiler against longtime rival?

Dolphins (8-8) vs. Patriots (10-6), Sunday, Hard Rock Stadium, 4:25 p.m., CBS

Latest line: Patriots are favored by 6 1/2 points; over/under is 40.

Dave Hyde, Sports Columnist (Season record: 11-5): Patriots 17, Dolphins 16

New England volition play to win, due to the fact that it tin theoretically triumph the AFC East if Buffalo loses to the New York Jets. No, that astir apt won’t happen. But Bill Belichick can’t presume that — does helium ever presume anything? The Dolphins, too, volition play hard successful a crippled without effect due to the fact that Brian Flores’ teams ever play hard. This score, by the way, is what it would person been successful Foxboro successful the play opener if the Patriots had kicked a tract extremity from the 9-yard enactment astatine the extremity alternatively than fumbling to Xavien Howard.

Omar Kelly, Dolphins Columnist (Season record: 11-5): Patriots 24, Dolphins 20

There is thing for the Dolphins to play for but pride, and that’s a unsafe spot to beryllium successful during a play finale against a squad trying to get playoff acceptable similar the Patriots. New England can’t spend to get swept by the Dolphins, truthful you tin expect a bare squad warring for the No. 1 effect successful the AFC.

David Furones, Dolphins Writer (Season record: 11-5): Patriots 23, Dolphins 17

The Dolphins haven’t swept the Patriots since 2000, and it won’t hap this year. One would deliberation the champion accidental for it to hap would beryllium a play similar this wherever Miami took roadworthy crippled successful New England archetypal and past conscionable has to triumph astatine home. But aft the bummer of getting eliminated past Sunday, rendering this finale meaningless from a playoff perspective, I find it hard for the Dolphins to triumph this one. On the flip side, the Patriots, who person already clinched a playoff berth, person overmuch connected the enactment arsenic they tin decorativeness arsenic debased arsenic No. 7 successful the AFC and arsenic precocious arsenic No. 1. However, getting the apical spot involves excessively galore large upsets to look realistic.

Kathy Laughlin, Sports Editor (Season record: 10-6): Patriots 21, Dolphins 20

The Dolphins are seeking their 3rd consecutive triumph implicit the Patriots, but New England has excessively overmuch connected the enactment to autumn abbreviated similar they did successful a Week 1 loss. The Patriots could gain the No. 1 effect successful the AFC. A nonaccomplishment to the Dolphins would unit the Patriots to unfastened the postseason connected the roadworthy arsenic the 5th-7th seed. I conscionable don’t spot that happening.

Keven Lerner, Assistant Sports Editor (Season record: 10-6): Patriots 24, Dolphins 20

While legendary Patriots manager Bill Belichick has a losing grounds connected the roadworthy against the Dolphins (9-12), helium undoubtedly volition travel up with a crippled program to bolster his team’s playoff position. The Patriots person allowed the fewest points successful the NFL and should stymie Tua Tagovailoa. The Dolphins person missed the playoffs successful 18 of the past 20 years. They haven’t won a postseason crippled successful 22 years, dating backmost to a 23-17 overtime triumph implicit the Colts connected Dec. 30, 2000.

Steve Svekis, Assistant Sports Editor (Season record: 10-6): Dolphins 23, Patriots 14

The Dolphins’ defence is acceptable to befuddle and lb Patriots rookie backmost Mac Jones, who has a substandard 84.5 passer standing successful roadworthy games. If Tua Tagovailoa tin cleanable up his spate of sloppiness from the past 3 weeks, the Dolphins should person consecutive winning seasons for the archetypal clip since 2003.