Though the Dolphins arrive to the region on a four-gameslide, they also bring with them some of the most explosive players in the AFC, including the receiving trio of Jarvis Landry, Kenny Stills, and DeVante Parker.
Miami’s offense is very heavy on the 11 personnel grouping (three receivers, one tight end, one running back), so all three get plenty of snaps and all have big-play capability.
Landry (67 receptions) might be the most dangerous of the bunch considering his combination of speed, strength, and stamina. Landry has strong hands and is excellent after the catch.
“He’s a great player, no doubt about that. Very competitive,’’ Patriots cornerback Malcolm Butler said after Friday’s practice. “He can catch the ball and he can run the ball. Once he gets the ball he’s like Marshawn Lynch. Sometimes he goes down, sometimes he doesn’t.’’
Butler said Landry, whose 355 catches are the most in the NFL for a player in his first four seasons, also is an active and effective blocker on pass plays and runs.
In addition to his duties on offense, Landry is also anexceptional return man, displaying great open-field vision and toughness.
“The guy can do a lot, man, and he’s going to compete his tail off, so you have to be ready for whatever,’’ said Butler. “You’ve got to play hard and you have to compete hard because that’s what he’s going to do. You have to match his intensity.’’
Landry, who boldly predicted this summer the Dolphins would sweep the Patriots, reiterated last week his stance hasn’t changed.
“Honestly, it’s a pride thing and also, it’s something for us, a mind-set,’’ he told the Miami Herald. “They’re a team that I have great respect for always. I know guys over there, Tom [Brady]. It’s nothing against them. It’s just something that, as a competitor, you want to win. Just like every game, I approach it the same, and that’s the mind-set.’’
Worth the wait
Lost in the celebration of New England’s win over the Raiders last week was the NFL debut of offensive lineman Cole Croston, who had been inactive for the first nine weeks.
An undrafted free agent out of Iowa, where he played tackle, the 6-foot-5-inch, 315-pounder played the final three snaps at left guard.
“It’s an extremely gratifying feeling,’’ said Croston, who said he had an inkling he might get the nod when center David Andrews fell ill in Colorado. “It’s been something I’ve been working toward my whole life and the people around here set me up for that situation and I’m just happy to be part of a big team win.’’
With Andrews down again Sunday, Croston likely will be active against Miami with top backup Ted Karras sliding into Andrews’s role. Croston said he did have a bunch of congratulatory text messages after the Raiders game, and was able to give his family a heads-up that he’d be making his debut.
“I just kind of told them, ‘I think I’m going to be out there this week, who knows, so be looking just in case, you never know,’ ’’ he said.
Taking a stand
Ndamukong Suh said this summer it would take a perfect game to beat the Patriots. Speaking with the New England media this week, the big Dolphins defensive tackle backed off those comments. Well, somewhat backed off. “I think you want to play a perfect game at all times, but understanding the reality is that nothing is going to be perfect,’’ he said. “So you do what you can to control and combat opportunities to not allow them to score points and different things of that nature, and go from there.’’ . . . In Miami quarterback Matt Moore’s last 14 starts, he has completed 248 of 394 passes (62 percent) for 2,930 yards with 24touchdowns and 11 interceptions. He’s 0-3 vs. the Patriots . . . Since 2013, Rob Gronkowski and Miami’sJulius Thomas have 35 TD catches, tied for second behind Seattle’s Jimmy Graham (41) among tight ends . . . Miami’s Cameron Wake has 88½ career sacks, second most for an undrafted player (John Randle, 137½) . . . Here’s your chance to be a Secret Santa: Fans attending Sunday’s game are asked to bring new, unwrapped toys to the bins around Gillette Stadium or the Patriots Pro Shop. The toys will be delivered to children in need by Patriots players at upcoming holiday events.
Jim McBride can be reached at james.mcbride@globe.com. Follow him on Twitter @globejimmcbride.
