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Patriots-Dolphins Week 1 Predictions

BOSTON (CBS) -- The Patriots kick off their 2014 quest for a Super Bowl Sunday in Miami. Here are the 98.5 The Sports Hub and WBZ-TV sports teams predictions for Sunday's showdown with the Dolphins.

Scott Zolak, 98.5 The Sports Hub

Patriots will win this one 34-13, and it won't even be as close as the score indicates. They'll be up 28-zip at the half.

Andy Gresh, 98.5 The Sports Hub

Week 1 gets a little out of control in terms of preparation. You don't know exactly what to prepare for. This is where coaching matters. The Patriots flat-out have a better team.

Patriots 31, Dolphins 20.

Steve Burton, WBZ-TV Sports

If Tom Brady were completely healthy I would normally say the Patriots win by two touchdowns. But Brady has a calf injury, and this game may be closer than you think. The Patriots are known to struggle in Miami, and the heat may be close to 100 degrees come game time.

Let's start with the defense. Vince Wilfork and Jerod Mayo are back, and by adding Darrelle Revis to the mix the Patriots' D may be tops in the league. Look for Chandler Jones to step up big -- his reach alone can give quarterbacks nightmares. The Patriots D should give up just 14 points, 17 at the most, this weekend in Miami.

On offense it starts with Brady and the offensive line. He may need more protection than ever on Sunday since he's nursing that bad calf muscle. The Pats secret weapon isn't a secret anymore; Shane Vereen out of the backfield, one-on-one with a linebacker, cannot be covered. Vereen can change the game.

In the run game, no one needs to tell Stevan Ridley that ball security will keep him on the field. If the Patriots have a balanced attack on the ground and through the air, they will once again start the season 1-0.

Patriots 21, Dolphins 14

Dan Roche, WBZ-TV Sports

My only wish is that the Patriots could open up the postseason with this team. Despite the fact that Tom Brady is only 6-6 vs the Dolphins in Miami, Tommy and his Pats should roll in this one. Too many weapons on both sides of the ball.

Patriots 41, Dolphins 14

Levan Reid, WBZ-TV Sports

It's the first game of the season, and this is the hardest one for every team in the NFL.  No one knows how good they are and if their game plan will work against the opponent. If ever a game came down to coaching, this is the one.

Adjustments will be the key and the Pats have been pretty good at that over the years. They will have to be ready for changes.

On paper, this is all about the Patriots. They have the better team, the better quarterback and the better coach.  They have a defensive player in Darrelle Revis that can change the game.  They have even higher goals but they always seem to have trouble with the Dolphins, in Miami.

I don't see that being the case this week. The Pats would love to show people what their defense can do and this is a coming out game for that.

Patriots 20, Dolphins 7

Tune in to Sunday's Patriots season opener against the Miami Dolphins on 98.5 The Sports Hub and WBZ-TV — the flagship stations of the New England Patriots. Pregame coverage begins on 98.5 at 10 am, with three full hours of postgame coverage following the game. WBZ-TV's pregame begins at 11:30 am with Patriots GameDay, and tune in to myTV38 following the game for Patriots 5th Quarter!

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