MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — If Tommy DeVito can torch the Washington Commanders for three touchdowns, one shudders to think what Tua Tagovailoa and the Miami Dolphins will do to them this weekend.
Over the past month, the Commanders are one of — if not the — worst defenses in football.
Over that stretch, they’re 29th in defensive EPA (.101), 26th in EPA per dropback (.158), and 28th in EPA per rush (-.025). Certainly, the Commanders didn’t just now get bad at defense.
Head coach Ron Rivera fired coordinator Jack Del Rio last week in no small part because Washington’s D had allowed an average of 33.5 points in their eight losses.
But the bottom has fallen out in the month since the Commanders dealt pass rushers Chase Young and Montez Sweat at the trade deadline. (Their replacements in the starting lineup — Casey Toohill and James Smith-Williams, have a combined six sacks on the year.)
Miami Dolphins Should Feast on Washington Commanders Defense
In their last four games, the Commanders have given up 6.4 yards per play (league average is 5.2), 5.1 yards per carry (4.2), 7.8 yards per pass attempt (6.5), and an opposing passer rating of 107.4 (90).
The Commanders do have 10 sacks in that span, but that stat is hollow. Nine of those 10 came against the dreadful Giants offensive line — a game that Washington still somehow lost.
Up next: A Dolphins offense that just scored 27 points against a very sound Jets defense. That same Dolphins offense has absolutely shredded bad defenses in 2023.
Washington, on the year, ranks last in defensive EPA (.076). They will become the fourth bottom-six EPA opponent the Dolphins have faced in 2023.
MORE: Will Terron Armstead Play vs. the Commanders?
Against the other three, Miami has averaged 49.3 points, 562 yards per game, and 8.4 yards per play.
Those numbers are absolutely astounding.
But even if the Dolphins fall short of those averages, 40 points, 400+ yards, and 7+ yards per play are absolutely obtainable — particularly if running back De’Von Achane returns from a knee injury that’s bothered him for the better part of two months.
“You obviously want to be playing your best football at this time,” said Dolphins running back Jeff Wilson Jr. “Everything really has to be on point.”
“… As we keep going, it’s not going to get easier, especially when we get into the postseason, the playoffs,” he added. “Those games are going to be the teams we’re facing, and it’s going to be win or go home. So to get in that mindset already right now, still with stuff that we have to accomplish and can accomplish through this season, we’re just getting ready for it.”
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