.Underdogs?When the New England Patriots open the 2022 NFL season on Sept. 11, they'll encounter a . But unlike their season openers against the AFC rival in 2020 and 2021, this time the Pats will be the team experts expect to lose.It'll be a familiar foe for the Dayo Odeyingbo Jersey Pats, but in an unfamiliar position.It's the first time the Patriots haven't been favored to win a season opener since 2016, when they beat the Arizona Cardinals as six-point road underdogs.The tables have turned. In harmony with a from last year's 10-7 playoff season, Las Vegas oddsmakers have established New England as a 3-point underdog against Miami at Hard Rock Stadium.Scroll to ContinueIn 2020 the Patriots were favored by Shon Coleman Jersey seven points before beating the Dolphins, 21-11. And in 2021 they were favored by 3.5 points at Gillette Stadium in a game they lost 17-16 on a costly fumble by running back Damien Harris at Miami's 11-yard line with 3:35 remaining.Playing in south Florida has always been a tricky proposition for the Pats, from Tom Brady admitting the Dolphins in Miami "always seemed to have my number" to the infamous double-lateral, 69 Yannick Ngakoue Jersey -yard kick-return touchdown on the game's final play in 2018. After a seven-game winning steak against Miami from 2010-13, New England is only 8-9 in its last 17 games against the Dolphins including lo ses in the last three games.Despite finishing a game behind the Patriots in the standings last year and debuting rookie head coach Mike McDaniel against veteran Bill Belichick - who will coach his 28th NFL season opener - the Dolphins find themselves favored.While , their cornerbacks will be tested by McDaniel's Nyheim Hines Jersey controlled pa sing offense led by former first-round quarterback Tua Tagovailoa (3-0 all-time Alec Pierce Jersey against New England) and newly acquired All-Pro receiver Tyreek Hill. A year ago the Pats had Pro Bowl-caliber cornerbacks J.C. Jackson and Stephon Gilmore. This year's job of covering Hill and Jaylen Waddell could fall on cornerback Jalen Mills and perhaps fourth-round rookie Jack Jones.Second-year Pats quarterback Mac Jones will be throwing to , who in two games against New England last season had six catches for 93 yards.
