Patriots vs. Dolphins at Gillette Stadium: NFL Week 2

Originally published Sept. 17, 2016

The New England Patriots will face the first AFC East foe of the 2016 season when they play the Miami Dolphins in the home opener. Since Gillette Stadium opened in 2002, the Patriots are 13-1 in home-openers.

The Patriots have played Miami in the home-opener six previous times and have a 4-2 record. The last time the Patriots played Miami in the home opener was on Sept. 9, 1990, a 27-24 loss.

The Patriots are off to a 1-0 start after a taking a 23-21 victory last week in Sunday Night Football game against the Arizona Cardinals at University of Phoenix Stadium.

Here's what you need to know about Sunday's game:

Kickoff

Gametime is scheduled for Sept. 17, 1 p.m.

Broadcast Information

TELEVISION: This week’s game will be broadcast by CBS and can be seen locally on WBZ-TV Channel 4 in Boston. Greg Gumbel will handle play-by-play duties with Trent Green as the color analyst. Jamie Erdahl will work the sidelines. The game will be produced by Jim Rikhoff and directed by Suzanne Smith.

NATIONAL RADIO: This week’s game will be broadcast to a national audience on ESPN Radio. Mark Kestecher and Bill Polian will call the game and Sal Paolantonio will be the sideline reporter.

LOCAL RADIO: 98.5 FM, The Sports Hub, is the flagship station for the Patriots Radio Network. Play-by-play broadcaster Bob Socci will call the action along with former Patriots quarterback Scott Zolak, who will provide color analysis. Produced by Marc Cappello.

Parking and Transportation
Parking lots at Gillette Stadium open at 9 a.m. Parking is $40 for cars and motorcycles and $150 for buses, RVs, and limos. The MBTA will be running trains from Boston and Providence., here's the full train schedule.

Boston Train

• South Station - 10:15 a.m.
• Back Bay - 10:20 a.m.
• Dedham Corp - 10:35 a.m.
• Gillette Stadium - 11:20 a.m.

Rhode Island Train

• TF Green Airport - 10:00 a.m.
• Providence - 10:30 a.m.
• South Attleboro - 10:40 a.m.
• Attleboro - 10:50 a.m.
• Mansfield - 11:00 a.m.
• Gillette Stadium - 11:35 a.m.

Both trains will leave Foxborough 30 minutes after the end of the game. Train tickets are $20 roundtrip.

Arrive Early

With a capacity crowd expected, stadium officials encourage fans to allow themselves plenty of time when traveling near the stadium. Traffic restrictions will be in place on local roads before and after the game. Fans must use I-95 or I-495 to access Route 1 and Gillette Stadium.

Clear Bag Policy and Prohibited Items

Only gallon sized clear freezer bags, clear bags measuring 12" x 12" x 6", women's wristlets or handheld wallets not to exceed 8" x 5" x 2" (approximately the size of a hand), and clear plastic bags carrying only purchases made at the stadium ProShop are allowed in Gillette Stadium.

Please note that bags larger than the permitted size, including purses, shoulder bags, diaper bags and backpacks, will not be allowed inside Gillette Stadium on event days. Further, bags exceeding the permitted size will not be held or stored by the venue and must be returned to a vehicle before entering the stadium. For more information, see the stadium's clear bag policy.

Prohibited items at Gillette Stadium include, but are not limited to: selfie sticks, GoPro cameras, camera bags, umbrellas, coolers, fanny packs, outside food and beverage, balloons or beach balls, noisemakers, signs larger than 11 x 17 and any other items deemed dangerous and/or inappropriate by stadium management. For more information on prohibited items, see the Gillette Stadium prohibited items policy.

Series History

The New England Patriots and Miami Dolphins will square off for the 102nd time, including three playoff games, in their 51st year as division foes and for the for the first of two meetings in 2016. The Patriots will travel to Miami to play at Hard Rock Stadium in the final game of the regular season on Jan. 1, 2017.

New England and Miami will be meeting in the Patriots’ home-opener for the seventh time in team history and for the first time since the 1990 season. The Patriots are 4-2 against the Dolphins in those home-openers.

The Patriots and Dolphins have split the annual series for the last two seasons with both teams winning their home contests and losing on the road. Last season, the Patriots beat Miami, 26-7, at Gillette Stadium on Oct. 29, 2015 and then lost at Miami, 20-10, on Jan. 3, 2016.

The Patriots have had the upper hand at home against Miami, holding a 32-17 record in games played in New England in the regular-season, including a 12-2 record at Gillette Stadium. But the Patriots are only 15-36 all-time in Miami, including two postseason games. Miami beat the Patriots at Gillette Stadium for the first time in the final game of the 2005 season, 28-26, when Patriots starting QB Tom Brady was pulled out of action after the first quarter. Miami also beat the Patriots, 38-13, at Gillette Stadium, on Sept. 21, 2008

The Dolphins and Patriots met for the first time in 1966 and began playing twice a year during the regular season in 1967, except in 1982 during the strike year. The Patriots swept the series nine times. The two have played three times in the postseason with New England holding a 2-1 advantage.

Betting Lines

As of Saturday, here are the betting line from the major oddsmakers, via ESPN.com

• Westgate: Patriots +6.5
• PinnacleSports.com: n/a
• BOVADA.lv: Even
• BETONLINE.ag: Patriots +6.5
• SportsBetting.ag: Patriots +6.5
• 5Dimes.eu: Patriots +7

Expert Picks

• Benjamin Hoffman, New York Times: Patriots
• Kevin Clark, The Ringer: Patriots 21, Dolphins 9
• Chris Burke, Sports Illustrated: Patriots 21, Dolphins 17
• CBS Sports: All eight experts pick Patriots
• ESPN: All nine experts pick Patriots

Information in this article was provided by Patriots Media Relations.