The Miami Dolphins (2-3, 1-4 ATS, 1-4 O/U) are set to clash with the Indianapolis Colts (3-3, 5-1 ATS, 3-3 O/U) in an AFC showdown on Sunday afternoon. The Dolphins recently secured a win against the Patriots and enjoyed a bye week, while the Colts notched a road victory against the Titans last week. The last encounter between these teams took place in 2021, resulting in a Colts win.
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Dolphins Bounce Back with Narrow Victory
The Miami Dolphins head into this matchup with renewed confidence. Following a promising start against the Jaguars, they faced a tough stretch, losing three consecutive games primarily due to injuries. Tua Tagovailoa remains sidelined with a concussion, impacting the team’s performance. However, they showed resilience with a gritty 15-10 win over the Patriots before their bye week, managing to cover the spread in two of their five games.
Tyler Huntley has been taking snaps in place of Tagovailoa. Initially, Skylar Thompson was given the chance, but he struggled. Huntley threw for 96 yards against the Titans and 194 yards in the victory over the Patriots, totaling 290 passing yards this season with no touchdowns and one interception.
De’Von Arcane, who suffered a concussion in the last game, is expected to return. Veteran Raheem Mostert, back from injury, was pivotal against the Patriots, rushing for 80 yards. He has a total of 89 yards in two games. Star receiver Tyreek Hill contributed 69 yards in that game, leading the team with 286 receiving yards. Jaylen Waddle added 46 yards and has 258 receiving yards overall. However, the Dolphins’ offense has struggled, averaging only 302 yards per game.
Defensively, the Dolphins have been inconsistent. They allowed 31 points in losses to the Bills and Titans but managed to contain the Patriots’ offense effectively, giving up just 299 total yards. Cornerback Jalen Ramsey has strengthened their pass defense, which ranks third in the league, although the rush defense sits at 18th.
Miami’s offense averages a mere 12 points per game, placing them last in the league, while their defense restricts opponents to 22.6 points, ranking 18th in the NFL.
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Colts Build Momentum with Back-to-Back Wins
The Indianapolis Colts return home, where they hold a 2-1 record this season. They have recently found their rhythm, winning two consecutive games against the Bears and Steelers. After a narrow loss to the Jaguars, they bounced back with a 20-17 victory over the Titans, even as underdogs by 2.5 points. The Colts have managed to cover the spread in three of their last four games.
Young quarterback Anthony Richardson has missed the last two games due to an oblique injury. His performance has been inconsistent, with only one game exceeding 204 passing yards. Overall, he has accumulated 654 passing yards with a 3:6 touchdown to interception ratio. Joe Flacco stepped in last week, passing for 189 yards. Following Thursday’s practice, it appears Richardson will reclaim his starting role.
Running back Jonathan Taylor has also been absent due to an ankle injury but is having a strong season with 349 rushing yards. His practice status remains uncertain, leading to reliance on Trey Sermon, who has only 91 rushing yards this season. Receiver Alex Pierce has emerged as a standout, leading the team with 400 receiving yards, while Michael Pittman Jr. has reached the century mark just once, totaling 273 receiving yards. The Colts’ offense has been fairly reliable, scoring at least 20 points in five of their six games, averaging 336 yards.
However, the Colts’ defense has faced challenges. They managed to limit the Packers and Bears to under 20 points but struggled against the Steelers and Jaguars. Last week, they restricted their opponent to 241 total yards and just 95 passing yards. Currently, their pass defense ranks 26th, and their rush defense is 30th in the league.
Indianapolis averages 23.2 points per game, placing them 15th in the league, while allowing 23.2 points, which ranks 19th.
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Best Bets for Miami Dolphins vs. Indianapolis Colts
The Miami Dolphins are facing significant injury challenges and have struggled recently, losing three of their last four games. Their only victory during this stretch was a narrow 15-10 win against a lackluster Patriots offense. In contrast, the Indianapolis Colts are riding a wave of success, having won three of their last four games.
Moreover, the Dolphins’ offense ranks among the league’s worst as they continue to cope without Tagovailoa. They have failed to score more than 15 points in four consecutive games. The Colts, with a 2-1 home record, have only lost to a formidable Texans team. With Richardson back at quarterback, his ability as a runner poses a significant threat, especially against a Dolphins defense that ranks 19th against the run. Notably, all three of Miami’s losses have been by double digits.
