Patriots Seek Road Win Without Key Receivers

The New England Patriots face the Miami Dolphins in South Florida on Sunday, seeking a win to extend their road streak against the divisional rival. The Patriots are favored to score touchdowns in the matchup, despite a significant absence of key offensive players.

New England enters the game with a 4-3 record. A victory would mark the team's second consecutive road win in this rivalry, a feat they have not achieved since 2012. The Dolphins hold a 1-5 record and play under head coach Jeff Hafley, a former Boston College coach.

The Patriots have ruled out wide receiver A.J. Brown and running back TreVeyon Henderson on Saturday. Romeo Doubs and offensive lineman Alijah Vera-Tucker are also out with injuries. This leaves Boston with one of the most injured rosters in the league heading into the weekend.

Running back Rhamondre Stevenson is expected to handle the bulk of the rushing workload. Stevenson accounts for 53 percent of all broken tackles forced by the Patriots this season. Corey Kiner averages 4.3 yards per carry, while Lan Larison joined the 53-man roster on Saturday.

The passing game will likely rely on tight ends Hunter Henry and Eli Raridon. Miami’s defense ranks in the bottom five of the league at covering running backs and tight ends. Raridon recorded his second 50-yard receiving game last week against Chicago and caught a touchdown pass.

Wide receiver DeMario Douglas leads the Patriots in receptions with 23. Efton Chism III and Kyle Williams provide additional depth at the position. Ryan Miller was elevated from the practice squad to support the secondary.

Quarterback Malik Willis presents a dual threat for Miami. He averages 4.7 yards per carry on the ground and has rushed for three touchdowns. Willis has also completed 57.6 percent of his passes for 1,057 yards, four touchdowns, and four interceptions.

Cornerback Carlton Davis is listed as questionable but expects to play. Davis missed the last three weeks with a neck injury. His return would give the Patriots a healthy secondary for the first time since Week 1.

The Dolphins will target wide receiver Malik Washington and tight end Greg Dulcich in the passing game. Washington has 26 catches for 289 yards, while Dulcich has 18 catches for 213 yards. They are the only two players on Miami's roster with double-digit receptions this season.

The Patriots are projected to win the game 23-10.