New England Patriots at Miami Dolphins: Week 8 Preview
The New England Patriots will travel to Miami to face the Miami Dolphins on Sunday, Nov. 1, 2026, with kickoff set for 4:25 p.m. EST at Hard Rock Stadium, the team announced in a game release published Oct. 27, 2026. This meeting is the first of two between the clubs in 2026, with the return game at Gillette Stadium scheduled for the regular-season finale on a date and time that have not been announced. The Patriots swept the Dolphins last season, winning 33-27 in Miami on Sept. 14 and 38-10 at Gillette Stadium on Jan. 4, 2026.
CBS will televise the game locally on WBZ-TV Channel 4, with Andrew Catalon handling play-by-play duties, former Patriots cornerback Logan Ryan serving as color analyst and AJ Ross reporting from the sideline, according to the team release. Compass Media Networks will carry the national radio broadcast with Jerry Recco and Brian Baldinger. The Patriots Radio Network flagship is 98.5 The Sports Hub, where Bob Socci will call play-by-play and former Patriots quarterback Scott Zolak will provide color analysis. The team’s game materials include a game release, roster, depth chart and statistics for both clubs.
The series has deep history, and last season marked the Patriots’ 11th season sweep of the Dolphins and the first since 2016. The team release lists the overall series with Miami leading 64-57, including three postseason meetings in which New England holds a 2-1 advantage. New England has the edge at home in the rivalry, leading 39-21 overall and 18-6 at Gillette Stadium, while posting an 18-43 record when playing on the road in Miami. The clubs have met in the final game of the season 19 times; last year was the second straight season the Patriots hosted that finale.
The Patriots enter the game with a more productive offense on paper, averaging 375.0 yards per game (7th in the NFL) compared with Miami’s 293.5 yards per game (27th). New England’s pass offense ranks ninth at 253.0 yards per game while Miami ranks 30th at 162.0, and the Patriots average 22.8 points per game (19th) to Miami’s 16.3 (30th). Defensively, New England allows 315.7 total yards per game (10th) and Miami allows 337.7 (16th), and the Patriots have a minus-7 turnover differential to Miami’s minus-3. Those team statistical comparisons are included in the Patriots’ week-of-game materials.
Several individual storylines are highlighted in the team release. Tight end Hunter Henry is tied with Russ Francis at 28 career touchdowns and needs one to move into sole possession of third place on the franchise list for tight ends. Running back Rhamondre Stevenson has reached 30 career rushing touchdowns and needs two more to tie Curtis Martin and Tony Collins for sixth on the Patriots’ all-time rushing touchdown list; he also needs 46 yards to reach 4,000 career rushing yards. Quarterback Drake Maye has produced a notable deep-pass element, registering 12 touchdown passes of at least 30 yards over the last two seasons, the most in the NFL during that span, and he has thrown multiple 30-yard touchdown passes in several recent games. Linebacker Christian Elliss tied a career high with 13 tackles last week, and special teams contributor Darius Muasau leads the team with eight special teams tackles, needing two more to reach 10.
A Patriots victory in Miami would extend New England’s streak to three straight wins over the Dolphins and would give the club a 3-0 record against AFC East opponents if they follow earlier division wins at Buffalo (Oct. 4) and against the New York Jets (Oct. 18). The Patriots also scored more than 30 points in both meetings with Miami last season, and the club has produced 30-or-more-point outings in this rivalry in six seasons historically. The week’s game preview materials from New England include rosters, depth charts and statistical breakdowns intended to prepare media and fans for the matchup.
NFL Sports Blog Take
The statistical gap between the Patriots’ offensive production and Miami’s league-low passing output is one of the clearest edges in this matchup, and New England will look to exploit that disparity with Drake Maye’s big-play passing and Rhamondre Stevenson’s dual-threat ability. Miami’s defense ranks middle of the pack in total yards allowed but has surrendered fewer points than last year, so New England’s ability to convert big plays into sustained drives will be key. Special teams play and turnovers could swing field position in a game where the Patriots have a minus-7 turnover differential; limiting giveaways will be essential for the visitors. If the Patriots can sustain their recent offensive balance and protect the football, the metrics in the team release suggest they will control the tempo and stand a strong chance to extend their recent success against Miami.