The Miami Dolphins are staring at another brutal test in Week 9, and this one comes with the NFL’s top offense rolling into Hard Rock Stadium.
Detroit arrives as a 6.5-point favorite, according to Fan Duel Sportsbook, and Dan Campbell’s return adds another layer to the matchup. It will be Campbell’s first game in Miami since he served as the Dolphins’ interim head coach for the final 12 games of the 2015 season.
From the outside, the pick is easy. The national view is that Miami is headed for its seventh loss in eight games, and on paper that makes sense. The Dolphins have not shown enough firepower to suggest they can trade punches with the Lions for four quarters.
Still, the idea here is that at some point this season, Miami is going to land the kind of upset nobody sees coming.
That’s the nature of the NFL, and the Dolphins have been here before. The 2019 season is the reminder everyone reaches for: after an 0-7 start, Miami knocked off not one but two eventual playoff teams late in the year, capped by the huge shocker at Gillette Stadium in the finale.
There are still chances ahead for a result like that. The remaining schedule includes the Buffalo Bills twice, the Denver Broncos, the Chicago Bears, the Green Bay Packers and a rematch with the Patriots.
So yes, book it: the Dolphins will pull off a major upset this season.
Just not many people are expecting it to happen Sunday. Detroit’s offense has been too sharp, and it’s hard to see how Miami slows it down. But football doesn’t care much about logic, and one Sunday this year the Dolphins will get a game where Malik Willis has a big day throwing the ball or the defense comes up with a couple of turnovers.
For now, though, the experts are leaning hard toward Detroit. Michael Middlehurst-Schwartz picked the Lions 34-17, noting that Miami has been improving under first-year coach Jeff Hafley and has covered as an underdog in each of the last four weeks.
He pointed to the Dolphins’ first-half scoring bursts against the Jets and Patriots, while also saying Detroit could be in a let-down spot after NFC North wins over the Packers and Vikings. Jared Goff, with 1,964 yards, 15 touchdowns and one interception, was singled out for another strong outing, and Jahmyr Gibbs was projected to make it four straight 100-yard games.
Other analysts were even more direct. They all took the Lions, with the view that Miami should not be overlooked but still faces a steep challenge against a team capable of scoring in bunches.
That’s the reality of this matchup: the Lions are expected to win, and most observers don’t think the Dolphins are ready for this one. But the bigger story is still out there somewhere on the schedule. One of these Sundays, Miami is going to make somebody look foolish.
In Other News...
Austin Jackson Just Put His Dolphins Future Back In Doubt
Austin Jacksons future in Miami already felt uncertain, and his latest comments only added to the noise around it. The Dolphins offensive lineman was asked about trade speculation and made it clear he is open to playing for any team that wants him, a notable stance for a player whose time with the organization has already been marked by inconsistency and questions about availability.
For Miami, the timing makes the situation even trickier. Jackson is nearing the end of his career, which naturally puts a different lens on his place with the team, but the Dolphins also have to weigh what kind of market there really is for him. With limited perceived value around the league, moving him would not be simple, and the front office may be left deciding whether to hold onto a veteran lineman with an uncertain future or see if another team is willing to take a chance. [Read more 🡒]
Dolphins Offensive Line Has A New Concern After Patriots Game
Miamis offensive line has been trying to find its rhythm all season, and the latest stretch only added to the uncertainty. Kadyn Proctors time in concussion protocol already forced the Dolphins to adjust up front, and any absence there matters because cohesion is such a big part of how the interior line functions. When one guard is out, the ripple effects show up quickly in communication, timing and how cleanly the unit handles pressure.
Jonah Savaiinaeas recent play has now become part of the conversation too. Against New England, he had his first penalty of the season and drew a poor evaluation from the grading side, which is not the kind of trend Miami wants to see from a young lineman still trying to settle in. The Dolphins have reason to keep a close eye on how the group responds next, because the margin for error on the offensive line gets thinner when one spot is already in flux. [Read more 🡒]
Dolphins Suddenly Have A Week 9 Edge Fans Didnt Expect
The Dolphins head into their Week 9 matchup with Detroit in a far better spot on the injury front than they have for much of the season, carrying only three players as questionable on the report. Miami also gets a boost up front with rookie guard Kadyn Proctor back after clearing concussion protocol, giving the offensive line a healthier look at a time when every bit of stability matters.
Detroit, meanwhile, is dealing with a much longer list of absences and uncertainty heading into the game. The Lions have already ruled out five starters, and several more players are either questionable or still working through injury protocols, which gives Miami an opening it did not necessarily expect when the week began. [Read more 🡒]