Here's this week's scouting report on the Miami Dolphins (4-6), who have lost four straight games and allowed an average of 42.5 points in their past two road contests.
OFFENSE
Scheme
Clyde Christensen is the offensive coordinator, but this is Adam Gase's offense and he calls the plays. Gase masterfully got the most out of Ryan Tannehill last season, creating an offense that accentuated Tannehill's strengths but minimized his weaknesses with a lot of half-field reads and designed deep shots. That has not worked as well this season with Tannehill out for the entire year. The Dolphins rank 30th in total offense (292.3 yards), 29th in rushing (80.4), 20th in passing (211.9) and 31st in points scored (15.7). They are only converting 35.2 percent of third downs, and the team passer rating is 79.6.
Quarterbacks
Jay Cutler is still in concussion protocol and is out for this game, which is probably a blessing in disguise for Miami. ... Matt Moore will start and David Fales, a former sixth-round pick of the Bears in 2015, will be the backup. ... Moore, 33, is a journeyman gunslinger who owns a 59.3 career completion percentage. He'll take a lot of chances throwing deep and in the face of pressure. He'll make some wow completions throwing with anticipation, but he'll usually turn the ball over at some point. Moore has lost all three of his starts against the Patriots but has played well for stretches (6 TDs, 2 INTs, 91.6 rating).
Receivers
Jarvis Landry (5-11, 208, 4.61 in 40): Leads team with 108 targets. Long strider with solid hands who will threaten the deep part of the field. Has become more of a technician.
Kenny Stills (6-1, 196, 4.35): A burner from the slot but has inconsistent hands and doesn't react well to physical play. Has 63 targets on the season.
DeVante Parker (6-3, 212, 4.42): Terrific athlete who was recruited by Kentucky to play basketball. Definitely flashes on the field but injuries and inconsistency have plagued him -- 54 targets.
Leonte Caroo (6-0, 215, 4.49): Great hands but isn't utilized much. Doesn't play to timed speed -- just 14 targets.
Julius Thomas (6-5, 262, 4.68): Has never lived up to his vast potential. Dangerous receiver but is injured a lot and soft -- 45 targets.
Anthony Fasano (6-4, 258): Veteran will sneak a goal line target here and there, but he's largely a blocker at this point -- nine targets.
Offensive line
This group has been ravaged by injuries and the firing of coach Chris Forester.
LT Laremy Tunsil: Former first-round pick moved back to his college position after Branden Albert was traded, and he's not ready for prime time yet. Has good skills but not sure if he has the feet for the position.
LG Ted Larsen: Former Patriots draft pick has bounced around but he's still very beatable on the inside.
C Mike Pouncey: Thanks to nearly annual injuries, is nowhere near the future All-Pro he appeared to be. Doesn't anchor well and can be pushed around.
RG Jesse Davis: Didn't make it to the end of training camp with Seattle and the Jets previously. Very tall for a guard (6-6) so expect the Patriots to get under his pads.
RT Sam Young: Huge OT (6-6, 332) but is very slow and is repeatedly beaten by speed.
Running backs
Kenyan Drake (6-1, 210, 4.38): Receives more playing time than Williams since the trade of Jay Ajayi, but he's seen his touches dwindle with each week. Speedy back runs with good balance but lacks veteran vision. Home-run hitter.
Damien Williams (5-11, 222, 4.53): Plays faster than his timed speed and will cut back, but as a third-down back he can't block at all. Has 23 targets.
DEFENSE
Scheme
Matt Burke, a Hudson native who played safety at Dartmouth, is in his first year as a coordinator with the Dolphins after Vance Joseph left to coach the Broncos. Coached linebackers with Bengals and Lions previously. Not an overly complex scheme. Doesn't blitz a lot, and alternates between man and three-deep zones. Miami ranks 17th in total defense (339.2), 14th in rushing (109.9), 17th in pass defense (229.3) and allowed 39.5 percent on third downs.
Defensive line
LE Cameron Wake: Has lost a step and isn't the force he once was (seven sacks), but still knows how to setup a blocker.
LDT Ndamukong Suh: Has been nursing a knee injury so his snaps are down, but he can still ruin a game-plan, despite having just three sacks.
RDT Jordan Phillips: Does not hold the point of attack well. One of the big reasons why the Dolphins can be run on.
RDE Andre Branch: Has three sacks on the season, and it's difficult to see what he does well. Doesn't hold the edge vs. run, doesn't rush well.
Sub DT Davon Godchaux: Decent player. Shows a little something in the rush.
Sub DE Charles Harris: Shows good potential as a pass rusher. Can be targeted with sub runs.
Linebackers
MLB Chase Allen: In a theme for the Dolphins' linebackers, he's slow and can't cover, but he can defend the run if tackles are taking up blockers.
WLB/MLB Kiko Alonso: Absolutely can't cover anyone, but he's smart and will snuff out a running lane and developing screen.
SLB Lawrence Timmons: Has been so bad in coverage of late that Stephone Anthony replaced him last week. Does not fit this defense. Needs to be back in a 3-4.
Sub LB Stephone Anthony: Dealing with a quad injury but was active and physical last week vs. Buccaneers. Should be playing more.
Secondary
LCB Cordrea Tankersley: The best coverage player of Miami's corners, which isn't saying a whole lot. Competes hard and has some length.
RCB Xavien Howard: Having a brutal season. Expect the Patriots to target him with Brandin Cooks several times. Dolphins really miss Tony Lippett (IR).
SCB Bobby McCain: Tough-nosed competitor but lacks top-end quickness.
FS T.J. McDonald: Slow of foot and is targeted by opposing offenses for deep shots.
SS Reshad Jones: One of the best player at the position in the league and he's being ruined with the Dolphins. Great at coming up vs. the run and jumping into passing lanes. Tom Brady will be watching him.
SPECIAL TEAMS
P Matt Haack has been solid this season with a 45.3 average and only three touchbacks (17 inside the 20). ... K Cody Parkey has missed once this season, and it came from over 50. ... Jakeem Grant and Jarvis Landry combined don't have a punt return longer than 16 yards. ... Grant returns most of the kickoffs (23.8), but Kenyan Drake has the team's longest at 34 yards.
PATRIOTS OFFENSIVE GAME-PLAN POINTS
Go fast: Dolphins are thin along the defensive line and bulky, so it would make sense (like last week vs. Oakland) to put them on the defensive from the get-go. Plus, with an inexperienced coordinator and a young defense in spots, there's no way they would get lined up right.
Throw to the backs: The Dolphins only have one linebacker (Stephone Anthony) who can cover running backs, so they'll have a field day.
Execute the plan for Suh and Wake: This isn't the Patriots' first rodeo vs. these guys so they'll have a solid plan on the right side of the line, but the players, especially LaAdrian Waddle, need to execute.
PATRIOTS DEFENSIVE GAMEPLAN POINTS
Bracket Landry in the slot: The most dangerous part of the Dolphins is when Landry is in the slot, because of the two-way (inside-outside) he has. Expect the Patriots to have a plan for him inside (Marquis Flowers) and deep (Duron Harmon) with Jonathan Jones in man coverage.
Pound the right side of the Dolphins line: Both the RT and RG have no business playing in an NFL game, so it's time for the Patriots to generate some real pressure.
Make Damien Williams pass block: If he gets into the flat, it will take a team effort to corral him. Don't let him. The Patriots have been green dogging (sending linebacker into the line on a faux blitz to keep the back in) a lot lately and that should work here.
PICK
Line: Patriots by 16.5. O/U: 47.5. Season: 8-2, 4-6 ATS.