Barring some kind of harm, the Miami Dolphins nearly actually may have the hype prepare rolling through the 2024 NFL season.
Mike McDaniel’s crew will enter the brand new marketing campaign with sky-high expectations. The Dolphins boast one of many NFL’s most gifted rosters, particularly on the supposedly premium positions (together with the offseason signing of Odell Beckham Jr.). Maybe no crew can match their total crew velocity, particularly on offense, and the protection ought to be improved in 2024, too. Miami used two of its first 4 draft picks, together with a first-rounder, on edge rushers for a unit that will probably be led by new defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver who has had a lot success with game-changing rushers in Baltimore and Houston.
Beneath McDaniel, the Dolphins have usually been quick starters. Miami received eight of its first 11 video games in his debut season, they usually began the season 9-3 a 12 months in the past.
On this week’s episode of “The Unfold” podcast, NESN.com’s Mike Cole and Ricky Doyle kicked round some “final undefeated crew” odds, and Doyle wonders whether or not the Dolphins might have some worth.
Story continues under commercial
“One crew I suppose that instantly jumped out to me was Miami at 14-1, however I’m not — I’ve questions on Miami for the lengthy haul,” he mentioned. “They begin scorching, favored in each recreation till Week 9 after they go to Buffalo. … These first eight weeks, all very winnable video games. Once more, that Thursday night time recreation in opposition to Buffalo (in Week 2) is the coin-flip recreation, however they’re favored in every considered one of them and at 14-1, such as you mentioned, they often begin scorching.”
Final remaining undefeated crew (by way of FanDuel Sportsbook, as of Could 24)
San Francisco 49ers +800
Detroit Lions +850
Kansas Metropolis Chiefs +1000
Cincinnati Bengals +1200
Philadelphia Eagles +1300
Miami Dolphins +1400
Inexperienced Bay Packers +1500
Houston Texans +1500
In fact, the Dolphins’ largest query just isn’t whether or not they can win in September and October, however it’s whether or not they can do it because the season winds down. Regardless of the mixed 17-6 begin to the final two seasons, the Fins additionally went a mixed 3-8 within the remaining video games over these seasons earlier than dropping within the wild-card spherical of the playoffs every year.
“It’s consistent with the pattern,” Cole mentioned of the Dolphins’ potential for a scorching begin. “They begin scorching and fall off both due to harm or the climate.”
Story continues under commercial
One crew that’s unlikely to get within the Dolphins’ approach is the Patriots. Miami is 3-1 in opposition to New England with McDaniel as head coach, and that one loss got here with quarterback Tua Tagovailoa out with an harm. The Alabama product has received all six of his begins in opposition to the Patriots. New-look New England will get its first crack at Miami at house in Week 5, which means climate in all probability received’t be a lot of a bonus for the Patriots. The Dolphins are 4.5-point favorites for that recreation and are 7.5-point chalk for the Week 12 rematch on South Seashore.
As for Cole’s choose, he thinks the Houston Texans might be the belle of the NFL ball this fall, which might make the Texans-Dolphins matchup in Week 15 particularly vital if each of “The Unfold” fellas are particularly clairvoyant.
