The start of the Mike Vrabel era with the Patriots did not go to plan in a Week 1 loss to the Raiders . In fact, the team looked reminiscent of last year’s dysfunctional group for a lot of the 20-13 defeat.

The disappointing performance sets up a fascinating backdrop for a Week 2 matchup against the Miami Dolphins, a team that looked overmatched themselves in a 33-8 drubbing to the Colts in their road opener.

Every week, a MassLive sportswriter will pick the result of the upcoming Patriots game and I get the honors for this intriguing Week 2 divisional battle.

Follow along with our picks for every pro football all season long in MassLive’s “Pro Football U Pick ‘Em Challenge” sponsored by MGM Springfield . You can test your football knowledge against our experts and win weekly

See Full Page