Ronnie Brown, out-running the Browns’ Kamerion Wimbley earlier this year, has been the lone bright spot for the Dolphins.

AP / Tom Puskar

WHEN THE PATRIOTS HAVE THE BALL

Who will be carrying it? Sammy Morris is out with a chest injury, and Laurence Maroney hasn’t played in three weeks. … Maroney was a game-time decision last week against Dallas, and said this week he’s feeling good, but the decision is up to the coaching staff. … Whether it’s Maroney, Kevin Faulk or Heath Evans, New England will likely have more success on the ground than it did against the Cowboys: Miami’s run defense is 31st in the league, allowing 168.5 yards per game. … The Dolphins’ defense fares better against the pass, giving up around 184 yards. … But few teams offer so many dangerous receivers to cover, as the Pats do with Randy Moss, Donte Stallworth, Wes Welker and Jabar Gaffney. … Tight end Benjamin Watson was on pace for a career year before suffering an ankle injury in Dallas and likely won’t be available. … Tom Brady has thrown three or more touchdown passes in every game this season, a league record. Keeping him upright has been critical to the offenses’s success.

Key matchup: LT Matt Light vs. DE Jason Taylor — Brady was sacked three times last week, as many times as he had been taken down in the previous five games total. Taylor has always had a knack for getting to his friend, with at least one sack in six of Miami’s last seven games against the Patriots.

Edge: New England

WHEN THE DOLPHINS HAVE THE BALL

In his conference call with the Miami media, Bill Belichick called Dolphins running back Ronnie Brown the best offensive player he’s seen this season. … Brown, the number two pick in 2005, has run for over 100 yards in each of the last four games, and is averaging over five yards per carry this year. … Brown is also a receiving threat, with 34 catches for 356 yards. … New England is giving up just 78 yards rushing per game, fifth in the league. … Unfortunately for Miami, Brown is about the team’s only offensive threat, as veteran receiver Chris Chambers was traded to San Diego on Tuesday. … Quarterback Cleo Lemon will be making his second start of the season. Last week against Cleveland, he was 24-for-43 for 256 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions. … The Pats’ defense has 16 sacks and nine interceptions; the team’s giveaway-takeaway mark of plus-7 is tops in the NFL.

Key matchup: Brown vs. Patriots’ front three — Ty Warren, Vince Wilfork and Jarvis Green. The Pats trio take stopping the run personally, and will be charged with ending Brown’s streak of 100-yard games at four.

Edge: New England

SPECIAL TEAMS

It now appears that Wes Welker has joined Ellis Hobbs as the Patriots’ kick returner, and the production hasn’t fallen off since Welker joined the mix. … New England’s average return is 28.6 yards, and Miami has been allowing 27.5 yards per return. … The Dolphins are struggling on punt and kick returns as well. … Kicker Jay Feely is 12-for-12 on field goals, with a long of 48 yards. … The Pats’ Stephen Gostkowski hit a season-long 45-yard field goal last week against Dallas.

Edge: New England

COACHING

From the moment it was time to turn the page from the Cowboys to the Dolphins, Bill Belichick has been reminding his 6-0 team that the last time it was in Miami, it suffered a 21-0 loss. … Belichick’s strength as a coach is to take away teams’ favored options, and will try to make Miami one-dimensional by shutting down Ronnie Brown. … Cam Cameron is in his first season as Miami’s head coach after spending the last five years as the Chargers’ offensive coordinator. … His scheme with Miami is the same as he ran in San Diego, but with dramatically different talent.

Edge: New England

INTANGIBLES

New England is looking to go 7-0 for the first time in team history. … Miami has never been 0-7; the team lost its first six games in 2004, but won Game Seven against St. Louis. … This is the 84th meeting between the clubs, with Miami holding a 48-35 lead all-time, including three postseason meetings. … Today’s game is the Pats’ only regular-season contest on natural grass. … The game-day forecast: 87 degrees with scattered thunderstorms.

smanza@projo.com