Steve Starr
- Miami is a 2-point road favorite over the New England Patriots in Week 2 of the NFL season
- Tua Tagovailoa passed for 466 yards and three touchdowns in a season-opening win over the Chargers
- Sunday Night Football on NBC kicks off from Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, MA at 8:20pm ET
With Tom Brady in the lineup, the Patriots seemed to win every close matchup. However, even with the seven-time Super Bowl champion in attendance in Foxborough last Sunday, New England couldn’t complete what would’ve been a spectacular comeback against the Philadelphia Eagles.
Bill Belichick’s club now has to prepare for a Miami team that racked up 36 points in their Week 1 victory over the Chargers. Before we check the odds on the AFC East rivalry game, here’s where you can find the best Super Bowl betting tips and the top betting sites for NFL football in 2023.
Patriots vs Dolphins
 | Spread | Money Line | Total Points |
| Miami Dolphins | -2.0 (-117) | -140 | Ov 47.5 (-110) |
| New England Patriots | +2.0 (-103) | +120 | Un 47.5 (-110) |
New England falls up short
New England is a 2-point underdog in on Sunday night after playing Philadelphia tough in a 25-20 home loss in Week 1. The Patriots’ defense contained Jalen Hurts throughout the afternoon, holding the Eagles offense to just one score. Unfortunately, a costly interception by Mac Jones and fumble by Ezekiel Elliott put Bill Belichick’s club in a 16-0 hole to start the game.
After making no headway in the game’s first five drives, Jones started to get in a rhythm in Bill O’Brien’s new-look offense. The third-year QB finished with 316 yards, three TDs and an INT, giving Foxborough faithful hope that the team will be able to generate points with Matt Patricia mercifully out the door.
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Tua’s statement win
While nowhere near as mobile as Hurts, Tua Tagovailoa’s precision accuracy will present the Pats’ defense with an entirely different set of problems on Sunday. The 25-year-old passed for 466 yards with three TDs and a pick in a 36-34 win over Los Angeles, connecting with Tyreek Hill 11 times for 215 yards and two scores.
Mike McDaniel and Belichick split last year’s season series. With Tua in the lineup, the Dolphins scored a 20-7 home victory in Week 1. They then lost to New England 23-21 in Week 17 with backups Teddy Bridgewater and Skylar Thompson splitting snaps.
Miami’s ugly defense
Mike McDaniel brought in legendary defensive coach Vic Fangio in the offseason. It didn’t exactly work out as planned in Week 1 as the Dolphins gave up 433 yards and 34 points to the Chargers. However, when the chips were down, Miami sealed the game by sacking Justin Herbert twice in the final minutes.
Fangio’s defense should improve as the season wears along and his players feel more comfortable in his scheme. Cornerback Jalen Ramsey’s mid-year return should also provide a much-needed boost.
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Best Bet
In the post-Brady era, the Patriots are developing a knack for losing close games. While their offense won’t be as dynamic as last week (take the UNDER 47.5), we like Tua and the Dolphins cover the -2 on Sunday Night Football.
See below the top sportsbooks where you can wager online and choose the best one for you:
