Miami Dolphins 2024 Week 4 Preview: Patriots Matchup, AFC East Lead Stakes, and Defensive Scheme Prep

Fresh off a statement win over the Bills, the Miami Dolphins are turning their attention to a familiar divisional foe: the New England Patriots. With both teams entering Week 4 at 2-1, Sunday’s game at Hard Rock Stadium isn’t just another AFC East clash—it’s a battle for early control of the division, a chance to extend momentum against elite competition, and a test of whether the Dolphins can maintain their newfound consistency. The Patriots, led by head coach Bill Belichick’s legendary defensive mind, present a unique challenge: a unit that thrives on confusion, physicality, and forcing turnovers. For the Dolphins, this game will require more than just talent—it will demand discipline, adaptability, and a refusal to let Belichick’s schemes disrupt their rhythm. Miami Dolphins 2024 Week 4 Preview: Patriots Matchup, AFC East Lead Stakes, and Defensive Scheme Prep breaks down the critical storylines, from key player matchups to tactical adjustments, and explores what the Dolphins need to do to move into sole possession of first place in the division.

The biggest challenge for the Dolphins’ offense this week will be solving Belichick’s defensive scheme—a unit that ranks 7th in the NFL in total defense (281 yards per game) and has already forced 5 turnovers this season. The Patriots don’t rely on star power; instead, they use constant pre-snap motion, mixed coverages, and blitzes from unexpected angles to confuse quarterbacks. For Tua Tagovailoa, this means facing a defense that will likely shift between man-to-man and zone coverage on every play, with linebackers and safeties dropping into passing lanes when the Dolphins least expect it. “Belichick’s defense is all about forcing you to make mistakes—they don’t give you easy reads, and they punish you for being impatient,” offensive coordinator Frank Smith said during a Wednesday press conference. The Dolphins have spent extra time in practice working on pre-snap adjustments, with Tagovailoa practicing identifying blitzes and checking into alternative plays. They’ll also need to protect Tagovailoa from the Patriots’ edge rushers, including Matthew Judon (who has 2 sacks this season) and Josh Uche (1 sack). The offensive line, which bounced back in Week 3, will need to maintain that consistency to keep Tagovailoa upright. Miami Dolphins 2024 Week 4 Preview: Patriots Matchup, AFC East Lead Stakes, and Defensive Scheme Prep emphasizes this offensive challenge because Belichick has a history of slowing down explosive offenses—if the Dolphins can solve his scheme, they’ll send a clear message that they’re no longer the Patriots’ divisional subordinates.

On the defensive side, the Dolphins are tasked with stopping a Patriots offense that has found its rhythm in recent weeks. Quarterback Mac Jones, who struggled early in the season, has settled into a game manager role: he’s completed 65.3% of his passes for 648 yards and 3 touchdowns, with just 1 interception, and he’s leaned heavily on running back Rhamondre Stevenson (232 rushing yards, 1 touchdown) to control the clock. The Patriots’ offense is built around physicality—they rank 8th in the NFL in rushing attempts (92) and 10th in time of possession (31:45 per game)—and they’ll look to wear down the Dolphins’ defense with long, methodical drives. For the Dolphins, this means maintaining gap discipline in the run game and avoiding the kind of lapses that let Travis Etienne rush for 112 yards in Week 2. Defensive tackle Christian Wilkins, who had a dominant Week 3 (6 tackles, 1 sack), will be key to clogging the middle, while linebackers Andrew Van Ginkel and Mohamed Kamara will need to contain Stevenson on the edges. “The Patriots want to control the game with their run offense—we can’t let them do that,” defensive coordinator Vic Fangio said. The Dolphins also plan to use more zone coverage to limit Patriots wide receiver DeVante Parker (15 catches, 189 yards), who has a history of making big plays against Miami. Miami Dolphins 2024 Week 4 Preview: Patriots Matchup, AFC East Lead Stakes, and Defensive Scheme Prep highlights this defensive focus because the Patriots’ ability to control the clock could limit the Dolphins’ offensive opportunities—if Miami can stop the run, they’ll force Jones into passing situations, where he’s more likely to make mistakes.

A key focus for the Dolphins’ offense this week is protecting the football and avoiding turnovers—a priority against a Patriots team that ranks 5th in the NFL in takeaways (5). The Patriots thrive on forcing interceptions and fumbles, and they’ll look to exploit any hesitation from Tagovailoa or carelessness from the running backs. In Week 3, the Dolphins didn’t commit a single turnover—a marked improvement from Week 2, when Tagovailoa threw his first interception of the season—and they plan to keep that streak alive. “Turnovers against the Patriots are a death sentence—they’ll take one and turn it into seven points in a heartbeat,” Tagovailoa said. The Dolphins have added extra ball-security drills to practice, with running backs Raheem Mostert and De’Von Achane working on holding onto the football while taking hits. Wide receivers Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle have also focused on clean catches, avoiding the kind of drops that could lead to interceptions. Miami Dolphins 2024 Week 4 Preview: Patriots Matchup, AFC East Lead Stakes, and Defensive Scheme Prep explores this turnover focus because it’s often the difference in games against Belichick—if the Dolphins can keep the ball, they’ll have a much better chance of winning.

Special teams will once again play a critical role, with the Dolphins looking to exploit the Patriots’ special teams weaknesses to gain an edge. The Patriots rank 25th in the NFL in punt return average (5.8 yards) and 22nd in kickoff return average (19.1 yards), and they’ve already allowed one kickoff return touchdown this season. The Dolphins plan to use Jaylen Waddle’s speed in the return game—Waddle averaged 10.5 yards per punt return in Week 3—to create big plays and set up the offense in good field position. Kicker Jason Sanders, who has made all 5 of his field goal attempts this season, will also be a factor: the Patriots’ kicker Chad Ryland has missed 2 of his 4 attempts, and Sanders’ accuracy could be crucial in a close game. Punter Jake Bailey, who bounced back in Week 3, will focus on pinning the Patriots inside their 20-yard line—something he did three times against the Bills—to limit New England’s offensive opportunities. “Special teams can give us a huge edge against the Patriots—we just need to execute,” special teams coordinator Danny Crossman said. Miami Dolphins 2024 Week 4 Preview: Patriots Matchup, AFC East Lead Stakes, and Defensive Scheme Prep highlights this special teams focus because Belichick’s teams usually excel in this phase, but the Patriots have shown vulnerabilities this season—if the Dolphins can capitalize, it could swing the game in their favor.

Finally, the Dolphins are focusing on maintaining their mental edge and avoiding complacency after their Week 3 win. Head coach Mike McDaniel has emphasized that beating the Bills was just one step—now, the team needs to prove they can win back-to-back divisional games against tough opponents. He’s changed the practice routine this week, adding more competitive drills and bringing in former Dolphins linebacker Zach Thomas to speak to the team about the importance of consistency in divisional races. “Winning one big game is easy—winning week in and week out against divisional rivals is hard,” McDaniel said. The players have embraced this mindset: veterans like Hill and Wilkins have led extra film sessions, and the team’s energy in meetings has been just as high as it was before the Bills game. The Dolphins also know that a win over the Patriots would put them in sole possession of first place in the AFC East—a position they haven’t held this late in the season since 2018. Miami Dolphins 2024 Week 4 Preview: Patriots Matchup, AFC East Lead Stakes, and Defensive Scheme Prep concludes with this mental focus because it’s what will separate the Dolphins from the Patriots on Sunday. With a chance to take control of the division and prove they’re the new power in the AFC East, all signs point to a team that’s ready to rise to the occasion— and keep their Super Bowl aspirations alive.