Dolphin Day already?

Yes, the New England Patriots have made a fall trip to South Florida, which means heat, humidity, tropical downpours, etc.

And usually a loss.

Bad things happen to New England here. Miami’s quarterback, Tua Tagavailoa, has not lost to the Patriots. Ever.

But New England is trying to escape its recent past. Heck, on Saturday they rid themselves of another member of the fading 2024 Draft class, Ja’Lynn Polk.

Clearly, this is all Mike Vrabel’s team. He wants it to escape the past, and move forward. A win today would do that.

“I mean, coming off a loss or a win, I think we just have to make sure that we’re consistent in what we do,” Vrabel said. “The league doesn’t wait around for you, doesn’t feel sorry for you. There’s somebody there, there’s another hole waiting for you to hit it in the woods or hit it down the middle of the fairway. If you bogey the first hole, you have to be able to come back and answer, and those are the things that we try to talk about.”

The things we talk about: seven picks, no spread. Here’s a look:

PATRIOTS 27, DOLPHINS 24

Tough call. At first we felt that the Patriots certainly would improve from last week, and that the Dolphins are simply a bad football team, destined to finish last in the AFC East. That being said, there’s also the spectre of the Patriots long standing futility in Miami and that Tua is undefeated against them. But it hast to end sometime, right?

BILLS 30, JETS 17

Could we get a Buffalo letdown? Sure, it’s happened in the Meadowlands before. But this is our Super Bowl pick and we think they’ll be fine. Josh Allen vs. Justin Fields. C’mon, who would you pick?

DENVER 17, INDY 13

We’re not believers in the Colts or Daniel Jones. Nope. Can’t do it. This game may say more about the Broncos than it will about Indy, anyway. It’s the kind of game Denver needs to win to be a contender, and we think they will.

COWBOYS 33, GIANTS 13

Jaxson Dart comes in the second half, throws two picks and a TD pass, as the Russell Wilson experiment ends for the Giants. Dak Prescott owns the Giants anyway.

NINERS 17, SAINTS 10

Do we dare pick in favor of old friend Mac Jones on the road? Yes, because the Saints are not a good football team. San Francisco isn’t great with Jones as they’ll discover over the next few weeks, but they should be good enough to beat the Saints, who haven’t been the same since Sean Payton left.

EAGLES 31, CHIEFS 28

Kansas City reaches uncharted territory, 0-2. That’s because the Eagles are, well, wicked good, and can still dominate up front as long as they don’t spit at anyone. Philly’s secondary is week, so this will be closer than the Super Bowl, for sure.

STEELERS 30, SEAHAWKS 17

Aaron Rodgers did the job last week, didn’t he? And he’ll do it again, as strange as it is to see him in a Steelers uniform, because Seattle is mediocre. We think Pittsburgh can be one of the top four teams in the AFC.

LAST WEEK: 4-3

REGULAR SEASON: 4-3

Tom King may be reached at tking@nashuatelegraph.com. Also, follow King on X (@Telegraph_TomK).