Eleven-straight AFC East division championships, and 17 of the last 19. Six Super Bowl championships since 2001, plus three more appearances. The New England Patriots have been the class of the AFC East over the past two decades, and the Miami Dolphins will start their 2020 regular season visiting them.

Except, this season is different than any other in New England since the turn of the century. Quarterback Tom Brady, a three-time NFL MVP, 14-time Pro Bowl selection. three-time First-Team All-Pro, two-time Second-Team All-Pro, two-time Offensive Player of the Year, and four-time Super Bowl MVP, is no longer on the roster for the Patriots. He has signed as a free agent with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, leaving the Patriots with a presumed starting quarterback battle between Brian Hoyer and Jarrett Stidham.

Not exactly the fear-inducing name that was Brady.

The Patriots offense will likely take a step back this year, but their defense should still be among the league’s best. New England had the top-ranked defense in terms of yards allowed last year, giving up 275.9 yards a game, nearly six-yards fewer per game than the second place San Francisco 49ers. They were second in passing defense, behind the 49ers, with a 180.4 yards per game average, while being sixth in rushing defense, allowing 95.5 yards per game on the ground. In scoring defense, the Patriots led the league, giving up just 14.1 points per game.

The Dolphins will head into this game looking to prove they are ready to compete for the AFC East title, while the Patriots will want to prove their success was not all Brady, but they can continue to be the class of the division without him.

Game Information

Week 1
Dolphins at Patriots
Sunday, September 13, 1pm ET
Gillette Stadium, Foxboro, Massachusetts
TV Coverage: CBS

2020 New England Patriots Free Agency

Signed

• Beau Allen, DT (2-years, $7 million) - From Tampa Bay Buccaneers
• Damiere Byrd, WR (1-year, $1.4 million) - From Arizona Cardinals
• Brandon Copeland, LB (1-year, $1.1 million) - From New York Jets
• Cody Davis, FS (1-year, $1.5 million) - From Jacksonville Jaguars
• Brian Hoyer, QB (1-year, $1.1 million) - From Indianapolis Colts
• Marquise Lee, WR (1-year, $1.1 million) - From Jacksonville Jaguars
• Adrian Phillips, S (2-years, $6 million) - From Los Angeles Chargers
• Danny Vitale, FB (1-year, $1.3 million) - From Green Bay Packers

Re-Signed

• Adam Butler, DT (1-year, $3.3 million - RFA Tender)
• Shilique Calhoun, DE (1-year, $1.5 million)
• Jermaine Eluemunor, G (1-year, $2.1 million - RFA Tender)
• Devin McCourty, CB (2-years, $23 million)
• Matthew Slater, WR/ST (2-years, $5.3 million)

Franchise Tag

• Joe Thuney, G (1-year, $14.8 million)

Lost

• Tom Brady, QB (2-years, $50 million) - Tampa Bay Buccaneers
• Jamie Collins, LB (3-years, $30 million) - Detroit Lions
• Phillip Dorsett, WR (1-year, $1 million) - Seattle Seahawks
• Nate Ebner, S (1-year, $2 million) - New York Giants
• Ted Karras, C (1-year, $4 million) - Miami Dolphins
• Elandon Roberts, LB (1-year, $2 million) - Miami Dolphins
• Danny Shelton, DT (2-years, $8 million) - Detroit Lions
• Kyle Van Noy, LB (4-years, $51 million) - Miami Dolphins

Un-Signed FAs

• Keionta Davis, DE (Originally signed ERFA tender, then released)
• James Ferentz, C
• Nick Folk, K
• Stephen Gostkowski, K (Released)
• Cody Kessler, QB (Released)
• Obi Melifonwu, S (Released)
• Marshall Newhouse, T

2020 New England Patriots Trades

• Rob Gronkowski, TE, and 2020 seventh-round pick to Tampa Bay Buccaneers for a 2020 fourth-round pick (traded to Las Vegas Raiders to move up to select Devin Asiasi)
• Duron Harmon, S, and 2020 seventh-round pick to Detroit Lions for 2020 fifth-round pick (traded to Las Vegas Raiders to move up to select Devin Asiasi)

2020 New England Patriots Draft

• Pick 37 (Rd 2) - Kyle Dugger, S, Lenoir-Rhyne
• Pick 60 (Rd 2) - Josh Uche, OLB, Michigan
• Pick 87 (Rd 3) - Anfernee Jennings, OLB, Alabama
• Pick 91 (Rd 3) - Devin Asiasi, TE, UCLA
• Pick 101 (Rd 3) - Dalton Keene, TE, Virginia Tech
• Pick 159 (Rd 5) - Justin Rohrwasser, K, Marshall
• Pick 182 (Rd 6) - Michael Onwenu, G, Michigan
• Pick 195 (Rd 6) - Justin Herron, T, Wake Forest
• Pick 204 (Rd 6) - Cassh Maluia, LB, Wyoming
• Pick 230 (Rd 7) - Dustin Woodard, C, Memphis

Undrafted Free Agents

• Rashod Berry, TE, Ohio State
• Myles Bryant, CB, Washington
• Jake Burt, TE, Boston College
• Nick Coe, DE, Auburn
• De’Jon Harris, LB, Arkansas
• Will Hastings, WR, Auburn
• Brian Lewerke, QB, Michigan State
• Bill Murray, DT, William & Mary
• Sean Riley, WR, Syracuse
• J’Mar Smith, QB, Louisana Tech
• J.J. Taylor, RB, Arizona
• Kyahva Tezino, LB, San Diego State
• Jeff Thomas, WR, Miami
• Courtney Wallace, DT, Louisiana Tech
• Isaiah Zuber, WR, Mississippi State

Dolphins-Patriots History

All-time record: Dolphins 55-51 (regular season)

Last meeting: Dolphins 27 - Patriots 24 @ New England, Week 17, 2019

More Patriots Information

Team site: Pats Pulpit

Twitter: @PatsPulpit