We continue through our 2021 NFL season previews in the AFC East.
Second up is the Miami Dolphins.
Dolphins fans are excited for the future of this team. They are set to be a perennial playoff contender with how they did last season. And I'm starting to get convinced that the Dolphins, the Atlanta Hawks, and the New York Islanders all have something in common: The ability to do more with less. They are all well-coached teams: the Hawks with Nate McMillan, the Islanders with Barry Trotz, and the Dolphins with Brian Flores.
All eyes are on Tua Tagovailoa. While there were some rumors on Deshaun Watson being brought in via a potential trade, those rumors were shut down following the controversy surrounding the Texans QB. The Dolphins are now focused on their 5th overall pick from the 2020 Draft.
The Dolphins now have a better supporting cast, with the additions of Will Fuller and Jaylen Waddle on offense and Benardrick McKinney, Jaelan Phillips, and Jevon Holland on defense. Offensively, DeVante Parker, Mike Gesicki, and Jakeem Grant are still part of the receiving core. Defensively, Xavien Howard and Byron Jones highlight the secondary, and Jerome Baker, Christian Wilkins, and Emmanuel Ogbah still highlight the front seven.
However, there is the contract dispute between the Dolphins and Howard. What initially was a minor dispute with management has turned into a slugfest. If no contract is settled, then it's likely that he could be on his way out of Miami. If he's gone, then there's Jason McCourty to fill in the hole.
Schedule
Week 1: @ New England Patriots
Sunday, September 12, 4:25 PM on CBS
The Dolphins don't really have a lot of luck when it comes to playing the Patriots at Gillette Stadium. Even last season's trip to Foxborough left the Fins feeling disappointed after a 21-11 loss. The Pats are arguably the champions of the offseason and the additions they made should result in them snagging a Week 1 win.
Week 1 score: Patriots 20, Dolphins 17
Week 2: vs. Buffalo Bills
Sunday, September 19, 1:00 PM on FOX
Based on how the Dolphins' schedule looks early in the season, they can't be feeling great. Returning home is usually a good sign, but when you have to face Josh Allen and Stefon Diggs, that would get your heart rate rising. Although Buffalo has the better QB, this game would be a competitive one given that the Dolphins are a well-coached team and still have a solid defense. Don't be surprised if this goes either way, but I personally think that the Dolphins take this game in a close victory at home.
Week 2 score: Dolphins 31, Bills 27
Week 3: @ Las Vegas Raiders
Sunday, September 26, 4:05 PM on CBS
The Raiders are one of the most confusing teams to decipher. So, if you're trying to find out what their strategy is this offseason, don't. Their offensive line is going to take a step back after losing Trent Brown, Rodney Hudson, and Gabe Jackson. The selection of Alex Leatherwood to fill in the hole left behind by Brown is not enough, and Derek Carr and his supporting cast can only do so much. The Dolphins should have no problem containing them, which should result in a convincing win.
Week 3 score: Dolphins 27, Raiders 10
Week 4: vs. Indianapolis Colts
Sunday, October 3, 1:00 PM on CBS
When you take away the things that makes Carson Wentz comfortable, he will start to struggle. The Dolphins not only have the guys that can accomplish exactly that, but Brian Flores is also the man that can get the job done from the sideline. Although the Colts have a strong defense, the question is if they can generate pressure. If they can't, that means that Tua will be able to find Will Fuller and Jaylen Waddle deep easily.
Week 4 score: Dolphins 23, Colts 13
Week 5: @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Sunday, October 10, 1:00 PM on CBS
There are very few teams that can keep pace with the Buccaneers. The Dolphins are almost at that point. If Tua breaks out in his second year and rookies Jaylen Waddle and Jaelan Phillips make an instant impact, an upset is possible. This is not the case here. Remember, it takes time for rookies to grow.
Week 5 score: Buccaneers 27, Dolphins 17
Week 6: @ Jacksonville Jaguars (at London)
Sunday, October 17, 9:30 AM on CBS
Trevor Lawrence adjusting to how the NFL works is going to be a long process for him. He has the tools to be a star in the NFL, but he benefitted from a Clemson offense that got his receivers open mostly on screens and quick passes. Against the Dolphins' secondary, passing won't be that easy for him. Some key mistakes will likely decide this game.
Week 6 score: Dolphins 23, Jaguars 17
Week 7: vs. Atlanta Falcons
Sunday, October 24, 1:00 PM on CBS
With Julio Jones gone, this game becomes even easier for the Dolphins. Either one of Xavien Howard or Byron Jones can cover Calvin Ridley, Flores can shadow coverage towards Kyle Pitts and that's everything the Falcons have on the offensive side of the ball skill position-wise. They really don't have any talent on defense to rush Tua nor to match Fuller and Waddle's top speed.
Week 7 score: Dolphins 33, Falcons 20
Week 8: @ Buffalo Bills
Sunday, October 31, 1:00 PM on CBS
We have another early-season clash between the Dolphins and the Bills, whom the latter are, at best, the 2nd-best team in the AFC. It's going to be another competitive game as in Week 2, but this time in Buffalo. And because the game is in Buffalo, this gives the Bills a boost. Combine that factor with the fact that the Bills have a superior offense that is one of the best in the league. End result? Bills victory.
Week 8 score: Bills 35, Dolphins 23
Week 9: vs. Houston Texans
Sunday, November 7, 1:00 PM on FOX
This game for the Dolphins should be taken as a "Thank you, Bill O'Brien" game, even when O'Brien has long been gone from the Texans. The Laremy Tunsil trade has changed the Dolphins and has put them in a position to build one of the deepest and youngest rosters in the league. Both teams are heading towards opposite directions since that trade, with the Dolphins now becoming a perennial playoff team and the Texans going even deeper than the basement
Week 9 score: Dolphins 34, Texans 10
Week 10: vs. Baltimore Ravens (TNF)
Thursday, November 11, 8:20 PM on FOX & NFLN
This is another matchup where the Dolphins could run into some trouble. With the Ravens boasting one of the deadliest secondaries in the league, this matchup should be a big test for Tua. Plus, Ravens defensive coordinator Don Martindale will throw all kinds of blitzes to disrupt the flow of the Dolphins' offense. This game should be a defensive battle between both teams, but what decides this game is that the Ravens are better on both sides of the ball.
Week 10 score: Ravens 20, Dolphins 17
Week 11: @ New York Jets
Sunday, November 21, 1:00 PM on CBS
It is at this point where the Dolphins' schedule starts to go towards their favor. The Jets will look like a solid division opponent in the future, so it makes sense if they aren't at the point of winning yet. Zach Wilson will have his ups and downs in his rookie year, just like Tua. However, the game is at MetLife. Robert Saleh would implement unusual schemes that Tua would not be ready for. This game might as well end up being a trap game for the Fins.
Week 11 score: Jets 24, Dolphins 21
Week 12: vs. Carolina Panthers
Sunday, November 28, 1:00 PM on FOX
Sam Darnold is 1-4 in his career against the Dolphins, with a 59.9% completion percentage, 10 picks, and 14 sacks. Despite the fact that he is now in a better situation under Matt Rhule and Joe Brady in Carolina than he was under Adam Gase with the Jets, there is still no sign that he can be a good quarterback. It doesn't help that the Dolphins already have his number and are more than ready for him.
Week 12 score: Dolphins 31, Panthers 20
Week 13: vs. New York Giants
Sunday, December 5, 1:00 PM on FOX
If you put Daniel Jones on the Dolphins and Tua on the Giants, the projections for both teams would be swapped. The Giants have a top 10 defense and the skill players around Jones are superior to what the Dolphins have. This will likely be another defensive battle similar to the Dolphins' match against the Ravens three weeks prior to this one, but Jones is a huge question mark for the Giants, and with him facing a defense that is the best at generating takeaways, this should be a win for the Dolphins.
Week 13 score: Dolphins 14, Giants 9
Week 14: BYE WEEK
Week 15: vs. New York Jets
Either Saturday, December 18 or Sunday, December 19, time and network TBD
After a narrow and close victory against the Jets in their previous meeting, the Dolphins return home looking to have different results this time around. Coming off a bye week and playing at Hard Rock Stadium? Check and check. With the offense being more explosive and efficient than it was in the last meeting, look for this to be a victory by two scores.
Week 15 score: Dolphins 34, Jets 20
Week 16: @ New Orleans Saints (MNF)
Monday, December 27, 8:15 PM on ESPN
The Saints' starter in this game doesn't really matter here. Jameis Winston is a better passer, and he can test the Dolphins secondary more than Drew Brees did in the final years of his career. But with Xavien Howard and Byron Jones at the secondary, it's guaranteed that Jameis will turn the ball over at least once. When dealing with Alvin Kamara and Taysom Hill, Brian Flores will implement schemes to crowd the box to stuff the Saints' rushing attack and RPO. Jameis will keep it a close game however, but in the end, the Dolphins defense will deliver.
Week 16 score: Dolphins 23, Saints 21
Week 17: @ Tennessee Titans
Sunday, January 2, 1:00 PM on CBS
Can the Dolphins shut down Derrick Henry? Last season, teams facing the Dolphins' front seven averaged 4.5 yards per carry, but with Henry matching up against them, there are questions on if this unit will stand up to the challenge. The Titans' secondary now has Janoris Jenkins and Caleb Farley, which increases the difficulty just a tad. There is a 50/50 chance that either team will win this game, but the deciding factor is that this game is played in Nashville, plus the Titans now have Julio Jones to go with AJ Brown on the receiving core.
Week 17 score: Titans 23, Dolphins 17
Week 18: vs. New England Patriots
Sunday, January 9, 1:00 PM on CBS
This can be the perfect opportunity for Tua to prove that he is a legitimate starting quarterback. It's not going to be an easy task against the Patriots defense. However, the Dolphins have the guys to pull it off. Some late game heroics may be involved here, but the Dolphins can snag no higher than the 6 seed as they get involved in a tiebreaker with the Steelers.
Week 18 score: Dolphins 26, Patriots 24
Final Record Prediction: 11-6
Projected Starters
Offense
QB: Tua Tagovailoa
RB: Myles Gaskin
WR: Will Fuller, DeVante Parker, Jaylen Waddle
TE: Mike Gesicki
OL: Austin Jackson (LT), Solomon Kindley (LG), Matt Skura (C), Robert Hunt (RG), Jesse Davis (RT)
Defense
DL: Christian Wilkins (LE), Raekwon Davis (NT), Zach Sieler (RE)
EDGE: Jaelan Phillips (WLB), Emmanuel Ogbah (SLB)
ILB: Benardrick McKinney (LILB), Jerome Baker (RILB)
CB: Xavien Howard/Jason McCourty (LCB), Byron Jones (RCB)
S: Eric Rowe (SS), Jevon Holland (FS)
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