New England Patriots: 3 Bold predictions for Week 1 vs. Dolphins

Bold predictions for the New England Patriots in Week 1 against the Dolphins.

A new era of football for the New England Patriots will begin this weekend with the opening weekend of the 2020 NFL regular season. The Patriots, now led by quarterback Cam Newton under center after changing faces under center for the first time in two decades, will open the new year up by hosting an AFC East opponent when the Miami Dolphins come into Foxborough on Sunday afternoon.

New England hopes to kick off the 2020 campaign on the right foot after changing up personnel around the entire depth chart this offseason, and that journey will begin against a divisional opponent right out of the gate in Week 1.

It will be interesting to see how this Patriots team looks and how fast they will be able to acclimate with each other considering there were no preseason games leading into the regular season schedule this year.

For New England, it comes into the season after once again claiming the AFC East division in 2019 with an overall record of 12-4. The Patriots reached the playoffs as a result but were bounced early on in the AFC Wild Card Round against the Tennessee Titans.

On the other sideline on Sunday, New England plays host to a Dolphins team that compiled a record of 5-11 overall a year ago, finishing at the bottom of the division behind the New York Jets, Buffalo Bills and Patriots. Miami continues to go into a transitional and rebuilding year in 2020, so this game should be favorable for New England leading into the contest.

The game will feature a team in the Patriots who are a tough team to beat at Gillette Stadium, finishing the 2019 campaign with a home record of 6-2. The Dolphins were the opposite in road games a year ago, finishing the eight-game road schedule at 2-6 overall.

Before the Patriots and the Dolphins battle it out in the season opener on Sunday, let’s make three bold predictions that will take place for New England in the contest.