Week 8: Patriots vs. Dolphins

[Teach]

My mother used say: “It’s not the heat, it's the humidity.”

As the Patriots look to make it two-in-a-row after surprising Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills, 29-25, in a game in which Bill Belichick earned his 300th NFL regular-season win, in Week 8, they’re not only going to have to deal with the Dolphins, but the Miami weather.

The last I saw for Sunday’s 1 p.m. EDT tilt between the Patriots v. the Dolphins, temperatures in Miami are supposed to be in the mid-80s with a risk of thunder showers. As Dorothy might have said to Toto in the “Wizard of Oz” had she had lived in Foxborough instead of Kansas, “Toto, we’re not in New England anymore.”

Moreover, that Miami heat (not to be confused with the basketball team) and humidity can “wilt” the finest of conditioned teams. Sometimes, it’s not so apparent in the 1st half as it is in the 2nd. Keep that in mind you “prop-bettors.”

Looking back, I must admit that I had “egg on my face” after the Pats v. Bills game. I had suggested the score would stay under 41. Nada. Naught. Nihil (indeclinable). The last I looked, the Dolphins were - 9.5 and O/U was 47. I’ll have more to say on that later.

As I glance back at the Pats win over Buffalo, I believe that 4th quarter against the Bills was Mac Jones' best as a Patriot. His “finest hour.” I also give OC Bill O’Brien a lot of credit for the Patriots win.

As for Mac Jones, I believe I referred to him as “mediocre.” I believe his poised play in the final quarter of the Bills showed the potential this young man has. He’s certainly “learning his craft.” I don’t know if he was Phi Beta Kappa at University of Alabama, but I do declare, “Y’all have a good head on your shoulders.”

Yet, I must say, although it’s fall, “One robin does not make a spring.” We need to see more. Further evidence that Mac Jones can lead this team. In his favor, he definitely showed signs of improvement, particularly, again, in that 4th quarter.

However, in all candor, the Bills - they’ve had a raft of injuries - are no match, as matters stand, when comparing them to Miami. Miami is “the genuine article.”

Finally, at home, in the heat and humidity, I believe the Dolphins are going to be extremely tough to beat.

On “hump day,” I’m leaning toward both the Dolphins “covering" and that both teams will "go over."