The New England Patriots clinched the AFC East championship final week and have an opportunity to lock up the convention’s prime seed — and with it a first-round bye and home-field benefit till the Tremendous Bowl — if it could possibly beat division rival Miami on Sunday afternoon in Foxborough, Mass.
The Patriots (13-3), who can win 14 video games in a season for the primary time since 2016 once they gained Tremendous Bowl LI, can clinch the highest seed with a win over the Dolphins (7-9) and a loss or tie by the Denver Broncos in opposition to the L.A. Chargers.
Whereas New England would love this pursuit to be its sole focus this week, the crew is coping with authorized points surrounding two key gamers — receiver Stefon Diggs and defensive deal with Christian Barmore.
The Patriots have been recent off celebrating their first division title since 2019 when experiences surfaced of Diggs going through costs of felony strangulation or suffocation, and misdemeanor assault and battery stemming from an incident that befell on Dec. 2. Diggs is scheduled to be arraigned on Jan. 23.
In an unrelated incident, Barmore faces a misdemeanor cost of 1 depend of assault and battery on a household/family member alleged to have occurred on Aug. 8.
New England coach Mike Vrabel mentioned earlier than the crew’s apply Wednesday he hadn’t heard something that will hold both participant from being accessible to play in opposition to Miami, although Diggs’ standing for the postseason stays unclear.
“It signifies that everyone that we care about and that we’ve got been near for some time … signifies that we help, and we do,” Vrabel mentioned. “We perceive that there is allegations, however we additionally wish to help every participant, and every coach, and every workers member.”
The Patriots’ tumultuous week comes after a stress-free 42-10 victory over the New York Jets throughout which quarterback Drake Maye threw a career-high 5 landing passes. Maye threw a pair of landing passes and ran for an additional in Week 2 when the Patriots beat the Dolphins 33-27 in Miami.
Since being eradicated from postseason consideration, the Dolphins have turned their focus towards their future over the previous two weeks. That has included benching beginning quarterback Tua Tagovailoa.
Rookie Quinn Ewers is anticipated to make his third profession begin — and first on the street — on Sunday. After struggling throughout a 45-21 loss to Cincinnati by which he threw two interceptions, Ewers bounced again final week and led Miami to a 20-17 win over Tampa Bay. Ewers tossed his first two landing passes, dedicated no turnovers and accomplished 14 of twenty-two passes for 172 yards.
“It is what I at all times dreamed of is taking part in on this league on the highest degree on this place, and it is particular everytime you’ve received a bunch of fellows like we do that yr,” Ewers mentioned. “We’re not taking part in for a Tremendous Bowl, so I believed we did a extremely good job of popping out right here and taking part in for one another and taking part in for our final names and taking part in for the group.”
The Dolphins took the stress off Ewers by once more operating the soccer successfully, led by Professional Bowler De’Von Achane. The third-year professional has rushed for 1,350 yards and caught a team-high 67 passes for 488 yards. Achane’s speeding yardage is the third-most in a single season in Dolphins historical past behind Ricky Williams, who rushed for a league-high 1,853 yards in 2002 and 1,372 yards in 2003.
The Patriots had a number of gamers who did not apply on Wednesday, together with Barmore on account of an sickness. The others have been tight ends Hunter Henry (knee) and Jack Westover (ankle), linebackers Harold Landry III (knee) and Robert Spillane (ankle), defensive deal with Khyiris Tonga (foot) and guard Jared Wilson (concussion). Cornerback Alex Austin (wrist), receiver Kayshon Boutte (concussion), linebacker Okay’Lavon Chaisson (sickness) and offensive tackles Morgan Moses (relaxation) and Thayer Munford Jr. (sickness) have been restricted.
For the Dolphins, Achane (shoulder), linebacker Jordyn Brooks (hamstring), security Minkah Fitzpatrick (calf), tight finish Darren Waller (groin), receiver Jaylen Waddle (ribs) and linebacker Chop Robinson (concussion) didn’t apply Wednesday. Heart Aaron Brewer (neck) and kicker Jason Sanders (proper hip) have been restricted.
–Discipline Stage Media
