The Miami Dolphins are heading into Week 2 with more unease than momentum, and the numbers from their fan base tell the story. After a rough opening loss to the Las Vegas Raiders, confidence has already slipped, though not completely fallen apart, as the team prepares to face the San Francisco 49ers as 13.5-point underdogs according to the latest FanDuel Sportsbook odds.
Last week was messy in every phase. Miami sputtered on offense, had trouble holding up on defense, and got burned by long special-teams returns.
It was the kind of game that leaves little to feel good about, even if the broader point of the season is different from the usual win-now push. This year is about developing younger players, reshaping the roster, and letting a new front office and coaching staff put their imprint on the franchise.
The biggest worry among fans is clear: the pass rush. In this week’s SB Nation Reacts poll, 42 percent of responses pointed to that area as the main concern moving forward.
That came before Chop Robinson, the team’s top rusher, was ruled out of today’s game with a concussion. Miami could not get near Kirk Cousins last week, and the pressure never really showed up.
Fans also gave the offensive line 20 percent of the vote, special teams 13 percent, cornerbacks 4 percent, and “other” 22 percent. The conversation around the poll also touched on offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik, penalties, and whether some fans are already losing patience with the rebuild.
The team’s direction is still getting some backing, even after the loss. In the weekly fan confidence poll, 63 percent of fans said they remain supportive of where Miami is headed. That’s down from 79 percent last week and 80 percent in the preseason, but it still suggests the Raiders loss hasn’t completely shaken the base.
There was also a broader national question in the SB Nation Reacts survey about the worst quarterback situations in the league, and Miami was included, though not near the top. The Dolphins got six percent of the vote, ahead of the Minnesota Vikings at five percent and the New England Patriots at two percent.
The Cleveland Browns were far and away first with 67 percent, while the Atlanta Falcons landed second with 19 percent. That group includes former Dolphins starting quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, along with Michael Penix, Jr., Cooper Rush, and Nick Muse.
Tagovailoa was expected to open the season at the top of the depth chart, but he missed the opener with an oblique injury and is doubtful for today.
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For Miami, the bigger picture is hard to ignore anytime Tagovailoas health comes up, even if there is no official discussion about his future with the team right now. These are the kinds of injury questions that linger around a quarterback's career and make every new setback feel like more than a short-term roster note, especially when the depth chart is already forcing changes behind him. [Read more 🡒]
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Dolphins Just Got A Small Opening Against McCaffrey And The 49ers
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For Miami, the timing matters. Facing a 49ers attack built around Christian McCaffrey, the Dolphins can at least take some comfort in knowing one piece of the opponents multi-tight-end structure is gone, which could make life a little more straightforward for Miamis linebackers when it comes to keying on the run game. It is a small opening, but against San Francisco, small openings are worth noticing. [Read more 🡒]