NFL picks: Cards Wire staff predicts outcome of Cardinals-Dolphins

The Arizona Cardinals take on the Miami Dolphins Sunday morning at 10 a.m. Arizona time. They are underdogs on the road against a 2-5 team. But the Dolphins get quarterback Tua Tagovailoa back, who was activated from injured reserve on Saturday.

The Cardinals have not won consecutive games since 2021 and could take over the NFC West lead with a win.

How will this game play out?

Below are the predictions of the Cards Wire staff.

Cardinals at Dolphins Week 8 predictions

Jess Root

While I am afraid it could be a big comeback for Tua and a blowout Miami win, I think the Cardinals learn from past games after a good performance and maintain the focus. They run the ball well and do enough defensively to keep the Dolphins from looking like last season. They get another late game-winning field goal from Chad Ryland for a Cardinals win.

Cardinals 23, Dolphins 20

Howard Balzer

For the third time this season, the Cardinals are hoping to win a second consecutive game. However, let’s tap the breaks on the oft-repeated stat that they haven’t won two straight since the 2021 season as if that’s a long, long time. It’s only two seasons, plus seven games of this one in which they’ve won 11 total games. That’s the issue. Having said that, a win in 82-degree south Florida with relatively low humidity but windy would get the Cardinals to .500. To do that, it will take another gutsy defensive effort with the return of quarterback Tua Tagovailoa and running back James Conner doing his thing for the second game in a row.

Cardinals 23, Dolphins 17