It's week 3 and the Dolphins are finally back at home as they host the Denver Broncos in week 3
Last Week:
- Dolphins defeated the Patriots 24-17
- Broncos lost to the Commanders 35-33
Advantages:
QB: Dolphins
- Russell Wilson is off to a fine start this season but Tua Tagovailoa has been one of the best QBs in the NFL this year. If you look back at how each of them played last year and this is Tua in a landslide
RB: Dolphins
- You won't find a bigger Javonte Williams fan than me but he is still working his way back from injury Samaje Perine is a solid #2 back but Raheem Mostert lifts Miami over Denver (even though Miami looks to be without Salvon Ahmed and Jeff Wilson (IR))
WR: Dolphins
- Miami is going to win this no matter who they play this year. Even if Waddle doesn't progress through the protocol in time to play
TE: Dolphins
- I orignially thought this would be a push but with Greg Dulcich on IR and Denver's starting TE being Adam Trautman, who hasn't done much of anything so far in his career, I went with Miami and Durham Smythe/Alec Ingold who is our honorary do it all Y/H
OL: Dolphins
- You look at the names on the Broncos OL and assume this is a homer selection but the Denver OL has been awful this year in pass protection. Russell Wilson in two games has already been sacked 9 times, including 7 last week, while Miami's OL has only allowed 1 sack in two games
DL: Dolphins
- We are still living in a world where Zach Allen is making more than Zach Sieler. That is just insane. Anyway, Wilkins, Sieler, Davis > Allen, Harrison, Jones
EDGE: Dolphins
- Bradley Chubb revenge game? Randy Gregory and Frank Clark are fine as edge rushers but they aren't on the level of Chubb, who played his best game as a Dolphin, Phillips, who should return this week, and Van Ginkel who just keeps making play after play
LB: Dolphins
- Josey Jewell has developed into a nice player for the Broncos but Jerome Baker and David Long make up a better all around duo than Jewell and journeymen Singleton.
CB: Push
- The Broncos have the best overall player in Patrick Surtain who should see a lot of Tyreek Hill but the depth behind him is so unproven. I want to give Miami the edge but they depth right now behind Howard and Kohuo scares me so I am going to call this a push
S: Broncos
- This could easily flip to Miami depending on if Justin Simmons plays or not but Simmons and Kareem Jackson make one of the better safety duos in the league. Holland and Elliott have been good and fine to open up the season but Elliott keeps me from putting Miami above Denver
Key Injuries
Miami and Denver are both dealing with star players missing practice with injuries. Jaylen Waddle (concussion protocol) and Justin Simmons (hip) did not practice Wednesday and both of their status' are up in the air for Sunday. Miami should get Terron Armstead and Jaelen Phillips back this week.
Game Preview
Denver travels from mile high to hot and humid Miami for their first road game of the season while Miami will be playing at home for the first time all year. On paper this game looks like a great match up for the Dolphins. Denver opened the season vs two of the work rosters in the NFL and still lost. Now Sean Payton is talking about the changes he has to make offensively just to try to get the play in on time. Denver is also the worst team in the league when it comes to penalties, averaging 9.5 per game after two weeks.
After falling to the Raiders in week 1 by a score of 17-16, the Broncos lost on the last play vs the Commanders where after a hail mary completion, Washington got away with a DPI on the two point play that would have sent the game into overtime. Washington was able to run the ball effectively against the Broncos last week but the Raiders really struggled in week 1 (and really week 2) to get the ground going. Miami should be able to another strong performance from Raheem Mostert this week.
QBs are completing over 72% of passes against Denver through two games which bodes well for the Dolphins passing attack even if Jaylen Waddle doesn't play. Last week Sam Howell was able to take advantage of the Broncos lack of coverage from their line backers and work in the middle of the field with consistency. Miami proved last week they had counters against teams that want to take away the middle of the field but it might be open a lot more this week.
Russell Wilson is off to a much faster start to this season than last but he also has been sacked 9 times behind a bad Broncos offensive line. Last week was Wilson's best performance but he still threw a bad interception and his numbers were slightly inflated by the hail mary at the end of the game.
Miami's longest completion allowed last week was 12 yards and through two games has done a fine job against the pass. Vic Fangio gets a shot at revenge against the team that fired him as a head coach and Bradley Chubb gets a shot at revenge against the team that traded him less than a year ago. Miami should come away with a victory to move this team to 3-0 heading into Buffalo.
Prediction: Dolphins 30 Broncos 20