Five Biggest Reasons for Concern at the Bye

Because the Miami Dolphins sit and watch throughout Week 11 of the NFL season, we take inventory of the place the workforce stands.

Once they return to motion towards the Houston Texans on Nov. 27 driving a four-game profitable streak, the Dolphins may have seven video games remaining, with a three-game street journey towards the 49ers, Chargers and Payments coming after the Houston sport, adopted by residence video games towards the Packers and Jets sandwiched across the street finale towards the New England Patriots at Gillette Stadium on New 12 months’s Day.

After first inspecting the 5 largest causes for optimism right now, we now take have a look at the glass-half-empty strategy, rank and look at the 5 largest causes for concern for the Dolphins on the bye.

1. KEY INJURIES

That is form of apparent and applies to each workforce across the NFL, nevertheless it’s extra pronounced for sure groups which have top-end expertise. Whereas the Dolphins have had their share of accidents to date in 2022, they’ve additionally not been hit as arduous as another groups. This clearly is topic to good luck and the Dolphins’ fortunes may swing someway relying on which groups get hit with dangerous accidents down the stretch.

2. CAN THE PASSING GAME KEEP IT UP?

This would possibly sound ridiculous after the previous three video games when the Dolphins averaged greater than 300 passing yards per sport, however one has to suppose that defenses finally would possibly provide you with a option to decelerate Tua, Tyreek, Waddle and firm. The opposite issue in terms of the passing sport is how a lot it will likely be affected if the Dolphins need to cope with dangerous climate circumstances — wind and precipitation — of their late-season video games at Buffalo and New England. 

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3. SUB-PAR SPECIAL TEAMS

Outdoors of Jaelan Phillips’ punt block at Chicago, it has been a tough yr for the Dolphins particular groups. The Dolphins have not had a protracted return but and have given up a few vital ones, most notably the landing to open the sport at Baltimore. After which, in fact, we’ve to speak about Jason Sanders, who has but to make a discipline objective exterior of fifty yards and is coming off a sport the place he missed two extra-point makes an attempt. And whereas the Dolphins misplaced by 23 factors at MetLife Stadium towards the Jets in Week 5, let’s not overlook they needed to take the possibility to take a lead within the fourth quarter when Sanders missed a 54-yard try. This might turn out to be an issue in an in depth sport down the stretch.

4. CAN THE PASS DEFENSE HOLD UP?

It is within the secondary the place the Dolphins have been hardest hit by accidents in 2022, beginning with Byron Jones not enjoying a down but as he continues to get better from offseason leg surgical procedure. Whereas the chance definitely does exist he’ll be again in some unspecified time in the future this season, there isn’t any assure. Xavien Howard additionally hasn’t had a typical Xavien Howard season, although groin points definitely did not assist and he appears be previous these now. Rookie free agent Kader Kohou has been massively spectacular in his first NFL season, however the query is whether or not he can maintain up the remainder of the best way. That is the place getting an improved go rush would assist.

5. LEVEL OF COMPETITION GOING UP

There’s loads of pleasure across the Dolphins nowadays and it definitely is sensible given their four-game profitable streak heading into the bye, nevertheless it’s truthful to level out these 4 wins got here towards groups with a mixed 12-25 file. After the Nov. 27 sport towards Houston, the Dolphins’ closing six video games embrace 5 towards groups at present with a profitable file and the sixth towards Aaron Rodgers and the Inexperienced Bay Packers. Particularly, the three-game street journey at San Francisco, Los Angeles and Buffalo may present a powerful indication as as to whether the Dolphins certainly are legit.

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