Dolphins (1-0) at Patriots (0-1), Sunday, 8:20 p.m., NBC

Latest line: Dolphins are favored by 3 points

Dave Hyde, Sports Columnist: Dolphins 24, Patriots 17

The Patriots are just good enough to wreck any team’s Sunday, but not good enough to contend for anything. After Chargers coach Brandon Staley got undressed by the Dolphins offense, it will be interesting to see how Bill Belichick handles everything with a Patriots defense that got faster over the offseason.

Chris Perkins, Dolphins Columnist: Dolphins 27, Patriots 20

Wide receiver Tyreek Hill figures to shine once again because he’s almost unstoppable, but I’m also thinking the defense gets its act together in this game and causes problems for Patriots quarterback Mac Jones. The defense won’t be a finished product until late November, but it’ll offer a tease at New England. As an aside, keep an eye on the turnover battle. The Dolphins, who were minus-7 last season, were minus-2 last week.

David Furones, Dolphins Writer: Dolphins 24, Patriots 23

A lot of people are down on the Patriots, but this should be a contested divisional road game. You always have to worry about what Bill Belichick has up his sleeves, although Tua Tagovailoa is 4-0 in his career against him. Mac Jones also didn’t look bad in the opener against the Eagles. But I still see the Dolphins as having enough to start 2-0. Belichick will try to take Tyreek Hill out of the game, but Hill will still get his while it opens up more chances for Jaylen Waddle.

Kathy Laughlin, Sports Editor: Patriots 24, Dolphins 21

The Dolphins showed against the Chargers last week that they are good enough to beat the Patriots this week. But will Miami take a W for granted? Not come out with the intensity needed? Patriots coach Bill Belichick is a tricky coach, and you can bet he’s put in overtime to try to figure out how to disrupt the Tua-to-Tyreek pipeline. If that’s not working, it’s hard to see the Dolphins winning, since Miami’s new defense is still coming together.

Keven Lerner, Assistant Sports Editor: Dolphins 23, Patriots 20

The Dolphins struggled mightily against the run against the Chargers last week in surrendering 234 yards, so you can bet Bill Belichick will try to exploit that. But Miami’s passing game with Tua Tagovailoa and Tyreek Hill has been unstoppable and should create havoc once again. The Patriots will certainly put up a fight like they did last week against the Eagles. But, simply put, the Dolphins are the better team.

Steve Svekis, Assistant Sports Editor: Dolphins 30, Patriots 16

The last time the Tua-quarterbacked Dolphins faced the Patriots, the offense scored 13 points, but Tyreek Hill was on the precipice of a massive game, streaking uncovered for a sure 72-yard touchdown on the season’s first offensive play, a pass that fell short and incomplete. As it is, Hill has a breathtaking 1,957 total yards in his 18 regular-season games (108.7 yards per game) with Miami. While the Dolphins are 4-0 against the Patriots when Tua Tagovailoa suits up, the Dolphins offense hasn’t scored more than 22 points in its past eight games against the Patriots, averaging 15.5 points a game. Meanwhile, the Dolphins haven’t allowed fewer than 23 points in their past 12 road games, since their 20-3 win in New Orleans in December of 2021, seeing their opponents average 31.4 points per game. Both streaks should end on Sunday night.