NFL Week 17, 2019: 20 Bold predictions to consider

By Dan Parzych | Dec 25, 2019

SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA - NOVEMBER 11: Quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo #10 of the San Francisco 49ers and quarterback Russell Wilson #3 of the Seattle Seahawks talk after the overtime game at Levi's Stadium on November 11, 2019 in Santa Clara, California. Seattle Seahawks wins 27-25 over the San Francisco 49ers (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) /

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(Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) /

5. Patriots defeat Dolphins by more than 30 points

Football fans can say whatever they want about the New England Patriots being far from the dominant team in previous years, but history shows this is the last approach anyone should take.

If anything, the Patriots will most likely figure out a way to overcome any previous struggles they have been dealing with once January rolls around to set the team up for another potential run at the Super Bowl.

But first, New England needs to make sure they defeat the Miami Dolphins in Week 17 to make sure they don’t slip in the playoff standings, and end up playing an extra game in the playoffs.

No one needs to explain the advantage of having a first-round bye in the playoffs, and the Patriots couldn’t have asked for a better opponent to close out the regular season since the Dolphins have been near the bottom of the standings all year.

Even if the argument can be made that Miami will make this game more challenging than expected since the Dolphins have been playing tough all year, the Patriots aren’t going to let this home contest slip away.

Knowing New England, this could be one of those games in which Tom Brady helps the Patriots jump out to an early lead, and never look back.

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