The NFL game of the year (so far) is Sunday night on Broad Street. The 5-1 Miami Dolphins visit the 5-1 Philadelphia Eagles on national television.
It’ll be a playoff atmosphere in late October. Here’s everything you need to know to get ready.
From the current NFL standings to team depth charts to coverage of every game in the 18-week NFL schedule, we have all the news from around the league to keep you up to speed!
Miami Dolphins vs. Philadelphia Eagles Game Preview
The host Eagles were, as of Friday, 2.5-point and -145 moneyline favorites. Mike McDaniel’s Dolphins were +122.
Miami is in search of its first 6-1 start since 1999. The Dolphins lead the all-time series with the Eagles 9-6. Miami’s all-time Sunday Night Football winning percentage (.677) is the best in the NFL.
Here are seven more key stats from Inside Edge that will likely go a long way in determining who ends up on top Sunday night.
Seven Dolphins-Eagles Stats From Inside Edge
Stat: Jalen Hurts (Eagles) has a 96.3 passer rating since the 2022 season — seventh-best of qualified quarterbacks. The Dolphins have allowed a passer rating of 96.3 since the 2022 season — fourth-worst in NFL.
Analysis: The Dolphins’ biggest issue on defense this year has been in coverage, and that’s been with a healthy Xavien Howard — who has been limited this week with a groin injury. Jalen Ramsey won’t be back this week, so it’ll be up to the likes of Kader Kohou and Eli Apple to pick up the slack.
Stat: Tyreek Hill (Dolphins) has 42 receptions in six games (seven per game) this season — tied for eighth-best of qualified wide receivers. The Eagles have allowed 15.3 receptions per game to WRs this season — fifth-worst in the NFL.
Analysis: We spent the week debating whether Hill or Tua Tagovailoa is the Dolphins’ (and, by extension, the NFL’s) MVP. Here’s what is not debatable: Hill is the most dynamic player in football, regardless of position.
#Dolphins WR Tyreek Hill has had enough of the hate directed at Tua Tagovailoa 🗣🗣
More: https://t.co/osXboyU6M6 pic.twitter.com/howHjFclNN
— Pro Football Network (@PFN365) October 20, 2023
Stat: Tagovailoa has 2.8 touchdowns per interception this season — 10th-best of qualified quarterbacks. The Eagles have allowed 5.5 touchdowns per interception to QBs this season — worst in NFL.
Analysis: If the Dolphins’ pass protection can hold up, there will be plays to be made for a Miami offense that leads the NFL in yardage differential (930) by nearly 100 yards per game.
Stat: A.J. Brown (Eagles) has 42 receptions in six games (seven per game) this season — tied for eighth-best of qualified wide receivers. The Dolphins have allowed 15.5 receptions per game to WRs this season — fourth-worst in the NFL.
Analysis: This is the third time in seven weeks that the Dolphins will face a top-10 offense. The previous two times (at the Los Angeles Chargers and at the Buffalo Bills), they surrendered 82 points and 847 yards. The Dolphins haven’t forced a turnover in their last 206 defensive snaps.
Stat: D’Andre Swift (Eagles) is averaging 3.1 yards per carry in the red zone this season — tied for ninth-best among qualified running backs. The Dolphins have allowed 3.5 yards per carry when defending in the red zone this season — fifth-worst in the NFL.
Analysis: Swift’s efficiency is great, but it hasn’t translated into red zone productivity. The Eagles are in the bottom 10 in red-zone offense (45.5%). That should improve against a Dolphins defense that has allowed touchdowns on two-thirds of their opponent’s red zone chances.
MORE: NFL Offense Rankings
Stat: The Eagles have scored on 50% of their drives in the first quarter this season — tied for third-best in the NFL. The Dolphins defense has allowed scores on 46.2% of opponent drives in the first quarter this season — tied for fourth-worst in NFL.
Analysis: The Dolphins are never out of games due to their dynamic offense, but they could sure make it easier on themselves by starting fast. Despite outscoring their opponents by 67 points on the season, they’re -4 in the first quarter.
Stat: The Eagles have run successful plays on 52% of rush attempts this season — best in the NFL. Dolphins have allowed successful plays on 47.2% of rush attempts this season — fourth-worst in the NFL.
Analysis: It’s this simple: If the Eagles are in third-and-long for most of the night Sunday, the Dolphins will win. If the Eagles are constantly in third-and-short, the Dolphins will lose.
Dolphins vs. Eagles Predictions
- Adam Beasley: Eagles
- David Bearman: Dolphins
- Dalton Miller: Dolphins
- Jay Morrison: Dolphins
- Dallas Robinson: Dolphins
For all of PFN’s Week 7 predictions, click here.
