Game Preview: Dolphins-Jaguars Week 1

The Dolphins face in-state rivals, the Jaguars, in Miami at 1:00 p.m. on Sunday, September 9, for their week one matchup. Following their offseason, which consisted of recovering from last season's injuries, the Dolphins look to start the season hot against a middle-of-the-pack defense.Heading into the matchup, the Dolphins are a slim 3.5-point favorite to win. Miami will be missing receiver Odell Beckham Jr, Edge rusher Bradley Chubb, and potentially superstar Cornerback Jalen Ramsey. Head Coach Mike McDaniel will have to scheme around key missing talent. How will this game unfold?

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Dolphins Keys To Success

The Miami Dolphins offense was potent in their 2023-24 campaign. To succeed against the Jags, they must tap into that firepower early in the NFL season. Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle are slated to appear in this game, so the Dolphins offense should have more than enough weapons to thrive against the lackluster Jaguars' defense.

The Jacksonville Jaguars roster holds a diverse set of strong pass rushers. The Jags acquired Defensive Tackle Arik Armstead in free agency to bolster their defensive line. Josh Hines-Allen, Travon Walker, and Foyesade Olukun also remain on the roster and combined for 30 sacks in 2023. The South Beach offensive line will need to hold long enough for Tua Tagovailoa's conveniently quick release.

Miami's defense struggled against the pass last season, meaning it will be a likely target for Trevor Lawrence and the Jags. If Cornerback Jalen Ramsey is unable to play (listed as questionable), preseason UDFA rookie standout Storm Duck will be sprung into high-volume snaps in his NFL debut.

The Jacksonville offense capitalized on only 50% of their red zone drives with touchdowns, meaning the Dolphins should look to limit touchdowns and outpace the Jaguars offense.

Jaguars Keys To Success

Jacksonville faces a tough challenge in trying to contain Miami's speedy playmakers—a task easier said than done. To stand a chance, the Jags will likely need to adopt an aggressive defensive strategy, pressing receivers at the line of scrimmage and consistently blitzing Tagovailoa. While winning the turnover battle is always critical, creating additional scoring opportunities will be especially crucial against a high-powered offense like Miami's.

Jacksonville's offense will lie completely in the hands of former No.1 overall pick Trevor Lawrence. Following a contract signing earning him $55 million per year, Lawrence will be given the chance to prove those dollars against a short-handed Miami offense.

Final Thoughts and Prediction

It is hard to envision the Miami Dolphins offense being considerably worse than in 2023. Given the Mike McDaniel system has improved in the offseason with time, expect the Dolphins offense to get up to speed quickly. The Jacksonville defense struggled to find cohesion with the offense last season, leading to their 9-8 absence from the postseason in 2023. Unless their newly hired Defensive Coordinator Ryan Nielsen has unlocked hidden talent in the Jags' secondary, a double-digit win can be in store for the Dolphins to kick off the season.

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Article originally written by Tye Ellison