The Miami Dolphins are coming off a Week 8 loss to the New England Patriots and now draw a far stiffer challenge in Week 9, with the Detroit Lions heading to town. Miami’s season has been about steadying the ship one week at a time and building toward something bigger down the line. At 1-6, the record is rough, but the effort has been there every week, with a roster that includes 14 rookies and a franchise in the middle of a full rebuild.
Detroit arrives at 5-2 and looking every bit like a team built for a serious NFC playoff push. That’s a sharp turn from its disappointing 9-8 finish in 2025, when the Lions dropped to fourth in the NFC North after winning the division in back-to-back seasons in 2023 and 2024. This year’s division race is crowded again, with all four NFC North teams above .500 and each already owning at least five wins.
Even with those records pointing in different directions, FanDuel Sportsbook has kept the number from getting out of hand. The Lions are listed as 6.5-point favorites, and the matchup has enough uncertainty to keep it interesting from a betting standpoint.
I’ve been right the last two weeks on Miami beating the Jets straight-up and then losing to New England while covering. This time, I’m not as high on the Dolphins.
Detroit is the better team here, and even with the injuries it’s dealing with, I expect the Lions to cover. Miami should make it competitive for stretches, but I still see Detroit pulling away.
One place to look for Miami is Ollie Gordon II in the anytime touchdown market at +100. The Dolphins’ run game hit a wall against the Patriots after averaging 125 rushing yards over its previous five games, then managing only 74 in Week 8.
That has to get back on track, and it won’t be simple against a Detroit defense that ranks ninth against the run at 96.6 yards allowed per game. Miami needs to stay patient with Gordon and keep feeding him even if the early returns are ugly.
If the Dolphins are going to make this a physical game, he has to be part of it, and I think he finds the end zone at least once.
Sam LaPorta’s receiving yards line sits at 48.5, and Miami’s issues against tight ends make that number stand out. The Dolphins have already allowed four tight ends to clear that mark: T.J.
Hockenson with 119 yards, George Kittle with 80, Mason Taylor with 62 and Travis Kelce with 59. Hunter Henry would have joined that list if he had not left the Patriots game in the second quarter after posting 3 catches for 30 yards.
Unless Miami changes how it handles tight ends, LaPorta getting to 49 yards feels very possible.
Another prop worth watching is Chris Bell’s longest reception at 13.5 yards. Bell is averaging 12.3 yards per catch, but he hasn’t been the main focus in the passing game.
Malik Washington has nearly twice as many targets, almost three times as many receptions and more than double the yards. Bell has seen more targets than fellow rookie Caleb Douglas, though Douglas missed three games with injury and still has one more catch and nearly 80 more receiving yards.
Miami has been careful with Bell after his ACL tear less than a year ago, and that has kept some of his numbers down. Still, the talent has shown up in flashes, and the Dolphins will need that in this game if they’re going to have a shot at the upset.
His longest catch this season went for 44 yards, so a 14-yard grab is well within reach.
In Other News...
Dolphins Fans Are Sending A Clear Message Despite Another Loss
The losses keep piling up for Miami, but the mood around the franchise has not turned nearly as sour as the standings suggest. After falling to the New England Patriots and slipping to 1-6, the Dolphins are still drawing a surprising amount of support from their fan base, with 86 percent of fans backing the teams direction after Week 9.
That belief will get another test soon enough, because the next opponent brings a much tougher measuring stick. Miami is set to face the Detroit Lions, who arrive with a strong record and the kind of expectation that usually exposes where a team really stands, leaving the Dolphins with both a chance to steady things and a reminder of how far they still have to go. [Read more 🡒]
Dolphins Keep Finding New Ways To Waste Strong Defensive Efforts
The Dolphins defense did enough Sunday to keep the game within reach for a long stretch, even as Miamis offense again had trouble turning possessions into touchdowns. In a 19-9 loss to the Lions, the home team dropped its fourth straight at Hard Rock Stadium, with the offense bogged down by penalties and the special teams unable to provide much help.
Miami had limited Jahmyr Gibbs in the first half and still had a chance to hang around, but Detroit found the one drive it needed after the break and never really let the Dolphins back in. For a team trying to build something around a defense that keeps showing up, the frustration is becoming familiar: another solid effort on one side of the ball, and another afternoon where too many self-inflicted problems made it hard to cash in. [Read more 🡒]
Dolphins Veterans Suddenly Face A Deadline Reality Fans Feared
The loss to the Lions left Miami at 1-7 and only added more urgency to a week already shaped by the NFL trade deadline. With the Dolphins sliding deeper into a roster reset, the conversation around the locker room has shifted from fixing the present to wondering which veterans might still be around once the deadline passes.
Austin Jackson and Josh Uche have both acknowledged the uncertainty hanging over the team, even as they keep their focus on the next game. For players trying to balance the day-to-day work of a lost season with the business side of the league, this is the part where every practice and every phone call can feel a little heavier than usual. [Read more 🡒]