Connect with us

Miami, FL

Miami Dolphins vs. Carolina Panthers: Who has the edge?

Published

on

Miami Dolphins vs. Carolina Panthers: Who has the edge?


Here’s a look at how the Miami Dolphins (4-1) and Carolina Panthers (0-5) match up in six key areas ahead of Sunday’s Week 6 game at Hard Rock Stadium (1 p.m., CBS):

When the Dolphins run: We now know the Miami run game will be without rookie sensation De’Von Achane for at least the next four games because of his knee injury. That’s 12.1 yards per carry that are vacated and a big home run threat gone from the backfield. But fear not. Raheem Mostert is still averaging 5.4 yards per attempt in his own right. The Dolphins could also be working Jeff Wilson Jr. back to returning, and Salvon Ahmed was actually the No. 2 behind Mostert in Weeks 1 and 2 when Miami won at Los Angeles and New England.

The Dolphins’ top-ranked rushing offense has continued churning even with left tackle Terron Armstead out of the lineup. Center Connor Williams’ return in last Sunday’s 31-16 win over the Giants was huge. They go against a Panthers run defense that ranks 26th in the NFL. Derrick Brown usually gets a good push on the line. Middle linebacker Shaq Thompson is on injured reserve, but Frankie Luvu has done a sound job in the linebacker corps. Safety Vonn Bell, after coming over from the Cincinnati Bengals, has been strong in run support and leads Carolina in tackles. But the Panthers just surrendered a season-high 159 yards on the ground to the Detroit Lions. Edge: Dolphins

When the Panthers run: Carolina doesn’t run the ball too well offensively either, ranking 21st in the NFL. The team was off to a hot start with 154 rushing yards in its opener against the Atlanta Falcons but has had 100 or fewer in every game since. On top of that, tailback Miles Sanders missed practice early in the week with a shoulder injury. It could be Chuba Hubbard leading the ground game Sunday.

Advertisement

The Miami run defense has rebounded strongly from allowing 233 rushing yards to the Chargers in the opener, holding three of the next four opponents under 100 yards on the ground. It’s got the Dolphins run defense back up to No. 18. Zach Sieler has played a big role in that. Linebackers David Long Jr. and Jerome Baker combined for 17 tackles against the Giants. Edge: Dolphins

When the Dolphins pass: The Miami pass game also ranks tops in the league, and quarterback Tua Tagovailoa is actually on a record pace in passing yards if he maintains his current clip over 17 regular-season games. What Tagovailoa is trying to avoid against Carolina is careless interceptions, like the two that kept New York in last Sunday’s game longer than that team should have been. One of them was a 102-yard pick-six when the Dolphins were trying to go up 21-3 and instead had their lead shrunk to 14-10.

Star wide receiver Tyreek Hill has 651 yards through five games. That puts him on pace to eclipse 2,000 yards on the season if he keeps it up. He caught a long touchdown vs. the Giants, and Jaylen Waddle finally got into the end zone this season against New York. After Cedrick Wilson Jr. got his highest snap count of the season, it’ll be interesting to see if he continues to see an increased workload — or if newcomer Chase Claypool can get incorporated quickly into the offense.

The Panthers’ secondary has Bell off to a decent start to the season, and they start Miami Columbus High product C.J. Henderson at one cornerback spot. Donte Jackson could be coming back after missing the Lions game for what is the league’s fifth-ranked pass defense. Former American Heritage High standout Brian Burns leads Carolina with four sacks and is a premium pass rusher. Left tackle Kendall Lamm will have to hold it down in pass protection while Armstead remains out. Edge: Dolphins

When the Panthers pass: The No. 1 draft pick, Bryce Young, will be coming to town. The rookie quarterback, in four starts, has thrown five touchdowns to four interceptions, completing 63.9 percent of passes for 5.2 yards per attempt. He has not been as proficient as the No. 2 pick in Houston, C.J. Stroud, as the two will be compared for the rest of their careers after the Panthers traded up in the draft with the Bears for Young.

Advertisement

Veteran receiver Adam Thielen is in Carolina to ease the pro transition for Young, and he has 38 receptions for 394 yards and three touchdowns, leading the team in all categories. Tight end Hayden Hurst has not been used extensively, with just 13 catches for 100 yards, and Sanders is known as a receiving threat out of the backfield but has only collected 81 receiving yards through five games.

Expect Dolphins defensive coordinator Vic Fangio to play his standard zone coverages but also mix in some exotic blitzes that could stun the inexperienced passer. The Dolphins secondary should be looking for an interception after it didn’t come up with one against the Giants and Daniel Jones. The pass rush can expand on seven sacks against the Giants, with Sieler, Emmanuel Ogbah, Andrew Van Ginkel and Baker among those getting in on the act, along with Bradley Chubb with some pressures. Jaelan Phillips could also be returning from his oblique injury. Edge: Dolphins

Special teams: The Dolphins have strung together a pair of decent games on special teams, Jake Bailey’s shanked punt notwithstanding. Bailey barely has to punt, though, so there’s that. Jason Sanders hasn’t missed since Week 2 in New England, and Braxton Berrios has had some decent returns.

The Panthers have Miami Sunset High grad Eddy Pineiro 9 of 10 on field goals. Johnny Hekker has a net punt average of 43.1. Carolina hasn’t been too dangerous in the return game between Laviska Shenault Jr. on kick returns and Ihmir Smith-Marsette on punt returns. Edge: Even

Intangibles: The Dolphins know they should cruise but had enough things go wrong in an otherwise-dominant outing against the Giants that they’ll look to correct. Coach Mike McDaniel has the turnover margin, losing 3-0, that he can point, and he is not one to take any opponent lightly, noting this past week how eager a team on a five-game losing streak — like the Dolphins were toward the end of last year — can be. Miami can also play inspired with Hall of Fame linebacker Zach Thomas an honorary captain. Edge: Dolphins

Advertisement

PREDICTION: Dolphins 38, Panthers 10



Source link

Continue Reading
Advertisement
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Miami, FL

Miami Heat’s Star-Hunting Tendencies Drawing Them To Donovan Mitchell?

Published

on

Miami Heat’s Star-Hunting Tendencies Drawing Them To Donovan Mitchell?


The Miami Heat may do everything in their power to acquire Cleveland Cavaliers star Donovan Mitchell after missing out on Damian Lillard and Bradley Beal in recent years.

Mitchell and the Cavs were eliminated from the postseason on Wednesday, marking a second straight early playoff exit. Most believe Mitchell, 27, is the sole reason Cleveland made it past the first round. The lack of support when it matters most could lead to him refusing to extend his contract past the 2026 season.

“I think if Donovan chose not to extend, he would be able to kind of direct the trade a little bit because of the one year on his contract,” analyst Brian Windhorst said on an episode of ESPN’s Get Up. “The Miami Heat have been star hunting for a year now. They’re always star hunting. They have some players on their roster who would potentially be interesting to Cleveland, but not as deep in draft picks as others.”

Mitchell’s player option for the 2026 season is likely insignificant because he will either switch teams or extend his contract prior. The Heat should think twice before going all-in for the five-time All-Star due to the lack of success of front-loaded rosters. The Phoenix Suns Big Three had championship expectations this season but were swept in the first round, leaving their future in jeopardy.

Advertisement

There’s no doubt Mitchell is one of the league’s top shooting guards, averaging 26.6 points, 6.1 assists, and 5.1 rebounds on 46.2 percent shooting in 55 games last season. Tyler Herro, a young player (Jaime Jaquez Jr. or Nikola Jovic), and draft capital are a sufficient package, but holding onto depth is arguably more important for a team that has reached the NBA Finals twice since 2020.

Anthony Pasciolla works as a contributing writer to Inside the Heat. He can be reached at ampasciolla@gmail.com or follow him on Instagram @anthony.pasciolla.

Follow all of our Miami Heat coverage on Facebook HERE

Subscribe to our YouTube channel HERE





Source link

Advertisement
Continue Reading

Miami, FL

The Miami Dolphins’ 2024 Regular Season Schedule

Published

on

The Miami Dolphins’ 2024 Regular Season Schedule


The Miami Dolphins’ 2024 NFL regular season schedule was officially released Wednesday. Fans already knew who the opponents were — now they know the dates and times of the contests.

Miami will open the season at home against the Jacksonville Jaguars. The matchup pits quarterbacks Tua Tagovailoa and Trevor Lawrence against each other for the second time since they first met in the 2019 CFB National Championship game between Alabama and Clemson. Lawrence’s Tigers won the contest.

The last time the two met was in 2021 when Lawrence helped Jacksonville pull out a 23-20 last-second victory.

Miami plays division rival Buffalo in the comfort of Hard Rock Stadium in a Week 2 Thursday Night Football matchup on Sept. 12. It will be the first of five prime-time games that include a home Monday Night Football matchup against Tennessee on Sept. 30, a trip to Los Angeles for Monday Night Football against the Rams on Nov. 11, a Thanksgiving Thursday Night Football matchup in Green Bay Nov. 28, and Sunday Night Football in Cleveland on Dec. 29.

Advertisement

The Dolphins will be well-traveled in 2024 — with nine road games and trips out west to Los Angeles and Seattle, the Dolphins will cover 25,869 miles. Miami will travel to Indianapolis, Houston, Cleveland, and Green Bay as well, among others.

A notable game on the schedule is the return game for former defensive tackle Christian Wilkins, who will be coming to Miami with the Las Vegas Raiders on No. 17.

Overall, the Dolphins will play seven games against six different playoff teams from the 2023 season, including four against division champions from a year ago. Five of those seven contests will be played on the road as the AFC plays nine road games in even years.

The Dolphins have a Week 6 bye week and seven road trip afterward, including right out of the bye, when they go to Indianapolis Week 7.

The Dolphins will face the New York Jets twice in the final five weeks, including the season finale at MetLife Stadium on either Jan. 4 or 5.

Advertisement

Sept. 8, Jacksonville at Miami, 1 p.m.

Sept. 12, Buffalo at Miami, 8:15 p.m. (Thursday night)

Sept. 22, Miami at Seattle, 4:05 p.m.

Sept. 30, Tennessee at Miami, 7:30 p.m. (Monday night)

Oct. 6, Miami at New England, 1 p.m.

Advertisement

Oct. 13, Bye week

Oct. 20, Miami at Indianapolis, 1 p.m.

Oct. 27, Arizona at Miami, 1 p.m.

Nov. 3, Miami at Buffalo, 1 p.m.

Nov. 11, Miami at L.A. Rams, 8:15 p.m. (Monday night)

Advertisement

Nov. 17, Las Vegas at Miami, 1 p.m.

Nov. 24, New England at Miami, 1 p.m.

Nov. 28, Miami at Green Bay, 8:20 p.m. (Thursday night, Thanksgiving)

Dec. 8, N.Y. Jets at Miami, 1 p.m.

Dec. 15, Miami at Houston, 1 p.m.

Advertisement

Dec. 22, San Fransisco at Miami, 4:25 p.m.

Dec. 29, Miami at Cleveland, 8:20 p.m. (Sunday night)

Jan. 4 or 5, Miami at N.Y. Jets, TBD



Source link

Advertisement
Continue Reading

Miami, FL

Green Bay Packers to host Miami Dolphins on Thanksgiving night on TMJ4, report says

Published

on

Green Bay Packers to host Miami Dolphins on Thanksgiving night on TMJ4, report says


GREEN BAY — The Green Bay Packers will host the Miami Dolphins at Lambeau Field on Thanksgiving night on TMJ4, according to reports.

The Athletic’s Matt Schneidman reported the news on X.

Last season, the Dolphins finished 11-6 and lost in the Wild Card Round against the Kansas City Chiefs.

Advertisement

The Packers finished 9-8, defeating the Dallas Cowboys in the Wild Card Round before narrowly losing to the San Francisco 49ers in the Divisional Round.

The full 2024-2025 NFL schedule will be revealed at 7 p.m. CT Wednesday on NFL Network and ESPN 2.


Talk to us:

At TMJ4 News, we make every effort to listen to you and follow up on the issues that matter to you personally. If you have a story idea, tip, or comment about this story, let us know using the form below. Visit tmj4.com/tips for more ways to reach out to us and make your voice heard.


It’s about time to watch on your time. Stream local news and weather 24/7 by searching for “TMJ4” on your device.

Advertisement

Available for download on Roku, Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV, and more.


Report a typo or error





Source link

Continue Reading

Trending