Betting sites for NFL favor the New England Patriots over the Dolphins in their NFL 2022 season-opening game — or at least they should.
New England Patriots vs. Miami Dolphins NFL Odds by MyBookie.ag
| Team | SP/RL | TOTAL | ML | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Patriots | +2½ ( -110 ) | 45 ( -110 ) | +120 |  |
| Dolphins | -2½ ( -110 ) | 45 ( -110 ) | -140 | |
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Betting New England Patriots
The Pats are shockingly field-goal road dogs at the best online sportsbooks. The 2022 season is the New England Patriots’ 53rd in the NFL, 63rd overall, 21st playing home games at Gillette Stadium and 23rd under head coach Bill Belichick. They are looking to improve on their 10–7 record from last season and reach the playoffs for the 19th time since 2000.
After the team’s 7–9 finish in the 2020 season, their first losing season since 2000, the Patriots spent a record $163 million in guaranteed money to sign new free agents. Eleven free agents were added to the roster on March 19.
The largest contracts were awarded to linebacker Matthew Judon, tight ends Hunter Henry and Jonnu Smith, cornerback Jalen Mills, and wide receiver Nelson Agholor. In the 2021 NFL Draft, New England picked quarterback Mac Jones 15th overall.
That marked the first time the Patriots drafted a first-round QB since Drew Bledsoe in 1993. Jones became the first rookie QB to start for the Patriots since Bledsoe when he was named the starter ahead of the season-opening game.
The Patriots started the season 2–4 but won eight of their following 11 games. They finished with a 10–7 record to earn a wild card berth. In their first postseason appearance without QB Tom Brady since 1998 and they’re first as a wild card with Belichick, they lost 17–47 to division rivals the Buffalo Bills. That was the worst postseason loss for Belichick.
Betting Miami Dolphins
The Dolphins are incredibly slight home faves according to betting sites for NFL. The 2022 season is the Miami Dolphins’ 53rd in the National Football League (NFL), 57th overall, first under new head coach Mike McDaniel, and 7th under GM Chris Grier.
The Dolphins will try to make the playoffs for the first time since 2016. They will attempt to win the AFC East division for the first time since 2008, as well as finish with three straight winning seasons for the first time since 2001–2003.
DeVante Parker Departure
For the first time since 2014, DeVante Parker is not going to be on the roster. He was traded to the New England Patriots on April 2, 2022. Parker had previously been the longest-tenured player on the roster.
His departure rendered cornerback Xavien Howard, who had been with Miami since 2016, the team’s new longest-tenured player.
In spite of a 1–7 start to the 2021 season, Miami won the next seven games. They became the first team in league history to lose seven consecutive games and then win seven back-to-back games in the same season.
The seven-game winning streak was their first since the 1985 season. They also became the sixth franchise in NFL history to win four or more straight games after dropping seven in a row, after the 2009 Cleveland Browns, 1994 New York Giants, 1993 New England Patriots, 1984 Green Bay Packers, and the 1978 St. Louis Cardinals.
However, Miami was eliminated from the postseason for the fifth straight year after their winning streak came to an end in Week 17 to the Tennessee Titans, plus a win by the Los Angeles Chargers.
Some highlights from the season were head coach Brian Flores becoming the first Miami coach since Don Shula to defeat the Patriots more than one time in New England, the Dolphins’ first wins over the Panthers and the Saints since 2009 and 2005 respectively, and their first win over the Giants since 2003 (also Miami’s first home win over the Giants ever), and their first win at Caesars Superdome since 1986.
The Dolphins swept the New York Jets in back-to-back seasons for the first time since the 1996 and 1997 seasons. They swept the New England Patriots for the first time since 2000. They had consecutive winning seasons for the first time since 2002–2003.
However, in a shocking twist and as a result of alleged conflicts with the roster and the front office, owner Stephen M. Ross fired head coach Brian Flores on January 10, 2022.
New England Patriots vs. Miami Dolphins NFL Pick
I might have agreed with betting sites for NFL favoring the Dolphins if Flores were still on the sidelines. As it is, though, a Mac Jones with the benefit of experience, not to mention the benefit of Belichik, is sure to take this one home.
