5 players the Dolphins need to play well to beat the Patriots in Week 1

4. LB Jerome Baker

Simply put, Baker has quickly become one of the best young linebackers in the league. Coming of his second straight 100-tackle season last year, as he also added seven sacks, the Dolphins rewarded him with a three-year, $39 million contract extension this offseason.

With Mac Jones under center, containing the Patriots run game while also muddying the passing games looks for the rookie signal caller will be important for Miami. Baker, who will likely have the green dot on his helmet along with having the versatility to make plays in the backfield and cover downfield a bit, might be the keyest cog in Miami’s defensive effort on Sunday.

Baker’s impact may be easy to see in his own raw numbers against the Patriots. But his impact will also be reflected in the Dolphins’ overall performance on the defensive side, which will best be seen via how may explosive plays they give up. The Patriots still don’t seem well-equipped to burn them that way, but the Dolphins still have to meet the task.