The Miami Dolphins faced the gauntlet in their first two games of the season and are unsurprisingly 0-2, thanks to the Seattle Seahawks and New England Patriots.
Coming to town this week, for Miami’s home opener, is the Cleveland Browns—also 0-2.
After a close loss to Seattle in week 1, Miami’s defense looked promising. But after a week 2 bludgeoning from New England, that promise has turned to skepticism.
Since Miami needs a bit of a confidence boost, this Cleveland team comes to town right on time.
Like Miami, Cleveland has a first-year coach in Hue Jackson (not to be confused with that Wolverine guy). And like Miami, Cleveland is trying to find answers and quickly.
Jackson’s reclamation project on former phenom Robert Griffin III all but failed, as Griffin is expected to miss most of the season with an injury.
Veteran quarterback Josh McCown was ready to take on the burden but is also injured. Now it’ll be up to rookie Cody Kessler to help Cleveland take on a Miami team that is hungry (desperate) for a win.
The Running Concern
After two weeks, Miami’s leading rusher has 52 yards. Oh, and it’s quarterback Ryan Tannehill.
While the offensive line has held up relatively well in pass protection, it has been the opposite in run blocking.
Seattle’s run defense is one of the best in the league, so it’s understandable to see why Miami would struggle running the ball in that game. New England also built up a 31-3 lead, so running the ball in that situation was basically out of the question.
Arian Foster is nursing a groin injury that isn’t expected to be serious, but now Miami will be forced to use Jay Ajayi, Kenyan Drake, Isaiah Pead and/or Damien Williams.
Ajayi has not lived up to the hype this season. He has displayed neither the vision needed to run between the tackles nor the power expected from a 220-pound running back. Drake is a speed back who isn’t naturally a between-the-tackles runner. Pead enjoyed a solid preseason but hasn’t had a regular season carry since September of 2015, when he had two carries. He was also out of football in 2014. Williams has always been more of a threat in the passing game and has struggled at times running the ball.
If Miami can’t jumpstart the running game against a below-average Cleveland defense, expect Tannehill to have another year of 550+ passing attempts.
Defensive Calamity
Miami’s defense looked unwilling and unable against a New England team starting an inexperienced quarterback in Jimmy Garoppolo. He led New England on three consecutive scoring drives, and had he not been injured, it probably would have been way worse—it was 21-0 early in the second quarter.
At the end of the game, when Miami somehow came back within one score, the defense couldn’t stop the run when it mattered most. Miami failed to set the edge and allowed Patriots running back LeGarrette Blount to get free in space. The 250-pound running back also hurdled Dolphins cornerback Byron Maxwell.
Miami’s defensive game plan seemed flawed. New England came out in its usual quick-passing offense, and Miami’s corners were giving New England’s receivers way too much cushion. That allowed the receivers to get off the line of scrimmage with no resistance and resulted in many first downs and three early touchdowns.
When third-string quarterback Jacoby Brissett came in, it was more of the same. Brissett’s average passing distance was one yard, and with the cushion Miami’s corners gave, it allowed those receivers room to get yards after the catch, evident by Brissett’s 92 passing yards on six completions.
Miami also struggled to tackle anyone, as seen in the gifs below.
Tannehill Shows Promise
Tannehill, in his fifth season, is often a hot debate for Dolphins fans. After the offense scored one touchdown in week 1, and no touchdowns in the first half of week 2, the groans were getting louder. In the second half, Tannehill went 22-for-27 for 273 yards, two touchdowns and an interception. It helped to have receiver DeVante Parker back in the lineup, as well.
The real question is, can he duplicate similar prowess for an entire game, and for multiple games?
With Miami’s defense struggling from the start, and the offense putting together several three-and-out drives, it was a recipe for disaster against New England.
By the middle of the third quarter, the Patriots had a 31-3 lead. Miami didn’t start moving the ball on offense until it went into no-huddle mode in that third quarter.
With just over six minutes left, Miami was only down 31-24. All it needed was a defensive stop. However, Miami had to use its three timeouts after the Patriots were able to run 12 plays and get to the 21-yard line. The comeback attempt came up short after a fourth-and-five heave to the end zone from the Patriots’ 29-yard line was intercepted with just seconds left.
Prediction
Despite some of the early-season struggles for Miami, it’s hard to see Cleveland beating the Dolphins. If Miami does lose this game, the season would basically be finished. Only about 12 percent of teams that go 0-2 make the playoffs, and the odds are even slimmer if a team is 0-3.
Dolphins 28
Browns 9
Around Florida
Los Angeles Rams (1-1) at Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1-1)—Tampa had a rough go last week, losing to the Arizona Cardinals 40-7. The Rams beat Seattle 9-3 and held the ‘Hawks offense to just three points. The Bucs will be without running back Doug Martin, which means Tampa will likely have to win through the air.
Jacksonville Jaguars (0-2) at Baltimore Ravens (2-0)—Jacksonville is struggling on both sides of the ball and badly needs a win against an undefeated Baltimore team. The Ravens have certainly not won in exciting fashion, but wins are wins. Jacksonville got walloped by San Diego last week, 38-14, while the Ravens overcame a 20-2 deficit to win 25-20.
NFL Picks
Overall 2016 Record: 19-13
Houston Texans ✔ at New England Patriots
Arizona Cardinals ✔ at Buffalo Bills
Minnesota Vikings at Carolina Panthers ✔
Denver Broncos at Cincinnati Bengals ✔
Detroit Lions at Green Bay Packers ✔
Baltimore Ravens at Jacksonville Jaguars ✔
Cleveland Browns at Miami Dolphins ✔
Washington Redskins at New York Giants ✔
Oakland Raiders ✔ at Tennessee Titans
San Francisco 49ers at Seattle Seahawks ✔
Los Angeles Rams at Tampa Bay Buccaneers ✔
San Diego Chargers at Indianapolis Colts ✔
New York Jets at Kansas City Chiefs ✔
Pittsburgh Steelers ✔ at Philadelphia Eagles
Chicago Bears at Dallas Cowboys ✔
Atlanta Falcons at New Orleans Saints ✔
