Dolphins-Jags
Time: 1 PM ET
Spread: MIA -6
Total: 42.5
Betting odds courtesy of Bovada
The Miami Dolphins have been handling matters on the defensive end as well as any unit in the NFL, but to move beyond a mediocre .500 record it is going to require some scoring. The Dolphins enter this road matchup against Jacksonville as 6-point favorites according to NFL oddsmakers at Bovada. The Dolphins may be a favored pick for bettors to cover the spread given that the Dolphins held Jay Cutler to a 74.4 passing rating while only surrendering 224 total yards of offense.
Ryan Tannehill, however, has finally been progressing as the Dolphins hoped he might. He’s thrown 72.3 percent for 799 yards and six TDs in the Dolphins last three contests, two of which were wins. His first three games were sub-par, but he’s rebounded into the prospect Miami had in mind when he was drafted. Offensive coordinator Bill Lazor said “I saw anticipation more. I saw some good pocket presence. I think the guy is getting better (and) I’m excited about where he can go.”
Where Tannehill goes may be where the Dolphins go. Over Tannehill’s hot streak, Miami has averaged 392 yards per game and Jarvis Landry has 10 catches for 121 yards and a TD in his last two games.
Even so, this game will be won defensively for Miami. Dion Jordan will be available after serving his substance abuse policy for the second time, and he said he “made a mistake.” If he learns from that mistake, this Miami defense only stands to get better from the 2013 first rounder’s presence.
Jacksonville won 24-6 over Cleveland last week, much like Miami’s M.O., with strong defense. Cleveland only had 266 yards against the Jags, and the Browns gave up six sacks.
Jacksonville’s offense is second-to-last in the NFL, but the team had 185 rushing yards in last week’s win and Denard Robinson is showing himself to be an effective ball carrier after starring as a QB (sort of, we guess) at Michigan. Robinson had 127 yards and a TD on 22 carries last week, and he’s just doing what he did in the NCAA, using his speed to beat defenders with change of pace footwork. With his continued emergence, Blake Bortles will have more options. He’s thrown three TDs to eight INTs in four games since becoming the starter.
Jacksonville is young and Bortles is looking like he was worth every bit of his high draft selection. He threw 32-of-46 for 336 yards with one TD and one INT in the 16-14 loss to the Titans, and given Bortles ability to QB sneak and carry it on his own (143 yards on 6.8 yards per carry), the Jags could turn it around soon. It’s just that all these things that work great against other NFL defenses likely won’t fly against the Dolphins’ stingy unit.
