Ricky Dimon
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If Tua Tagovailoa can’t succeed with Tyreek Hull running routes for him, perhaps it will be the end of the road for the third-year quarterback with the Miami Dolphins. After all, Tagovailoa also has Jaylen Waddle in the receiving corps. With offensive weapons aplenty and a defense that was in the top half of the NFL both overall and in scoring last season, expectations are relatively high.
Unfortunately for the Dolphins, being in the same division as the Buffalo Bills may be a slight problem. Nonetheless, can Tagovailoa and company contend in the AFC East? Would a wild-card berth be a success? Let’s take a look at what could be in store down in South Beach.
Miami Dolphins breakdown
2021 record: 9-8
2021 ATS record: 9-7-1
2021 O/U record: 7-10
Key players in: Tyreek Hill (WR), Terron Armstead (OT), Teddy Bridgewater (QB), Sony Michel (RB)
Key players out: Will Fuller V (WR), DeVante Parker (WR), Jacoby Brissett (QB)
2022 NFL Draft class: Channing Tindall (LB), Erik Ezukanma (WR), Cameron Goode (LB), Skylar Thompson (QB)
Miami Dolphins 2022 NFL season odds
Odds provided by DraftKings Sportsbook
Miami Dolphins Super Bowl odds
The Dolphins are +4000 to win Super Bowl LVII, which pretty much has them in the middle of the pack.
Miami Dolphins NFC Championship odds
Miami is +2000 to capture the AFC title, tied with the Las Vegas Raiders and Tennessee Titans as the ninth choices in the conference. The Buffalo Bills are +300 favorites.
Miami Dolphins AFC South odds
At +450, the Dolphins are second favorites in the AFC South. Buffalo is a -225 favorite.
Miami Dolphins win total odds
The Dolphins’ win quota is 9 games. Under 9 is a -125 favorite, while the over comes with +105 odds. As for making the playoffs, Miami is a +140 underdog. It is -175 to miss the playoffs.
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Miami Dolphins Schedule 2022
vs New England Patriots, September 11
at Baltimore Ravens, September 18
vs Buffalo Bills, September 25
at Cincinnati Bengals, September 29
at New York Jets, October 9
vs Minnesota Vikings, October 16
vs Pittsburgh Steelers, October 23
at Detroit Lions, October 30
at Chicago Bears, November 6
vs Cleveland Browns, November 13
BYE
vs Houston Texans, November 27
at San Francisco 49ers, December 4
at Los Angeles Chargers, December 11
at Buffalo Bills, December 18
vs Green Bay Packers, December 25
at New England Patriots, January 1
vs New York Jets, January 8
We’ll have NFL picks for EVERY matchup of the 2022 season
Miami Dolphins 2021 season recap
The Dolphins finished just a half-game out of a wild-card spot in the AFC playoffs (9-8 to the Steelers’ 9-7-1). It may not have been quite as close as that difference would suggest since Miami was already eliminated heading into the final week of the regular season. Still, compiling a winning record and being in contention through 17 weeks of the year isn’t too bad for a team that began the 2021 campaign. That’s right; the Dolphins were 1-7 at one point and then went 8-1 the rest of the way.
Tagovailoa and Jacoby Brissett split time at quarterback, with the former tossing 16 touchdown passes and 10 interceptions. Waddle raised eyebrows to the tune of 1,015 yards and six TDs (also scored once on the ground) and TE Mike Gesicki hauled in 73 passes for 780 yards and two scores. They helped Miami soar down the stretch, giving this franchise heaps of momentum heading into 2022.
Read our Super Bowl 57 predictions and best bets, including a +4500 longshot
Miami Dolphins 2022 NFL season predictions
Miami’s major move in the offseason was bringing in Hill to rejuvenate the offense. He should be able to do just that. In four of the last five seasons Hill has amassed at least 1,183 receiving yards and in two of the last four years he has caught at least 12 touchdown passes. Obviously playing in the Kansas City Chiefs’ offense helps and expectations have to be measured with the change of scenery, but there is no doubt that Hill is talented enough to completely reshape what the Dolphins look like on that side of the football. If the defense simply remains as solid as it was in 2021, this team can improve. And, as mentioned above, the ‘Fins have to be armed with a ton of confidence following last season’s second-half hot streak.
Best bet: Miami Dolphins to make the playoffs (+140)
Having to face the Bills twice certainly isn’t ideal, but the Dolphins also get two games with the Jets. The Patriots are decent, but they aren’t the Patriots of the Tom Brady era. The middle portion of the schedule is soft, so if this team can get to the bye week at 6-4 (or better yet 7-3) then it should be on its way. There is no reason to dive headlong off the Tagovailoa quite yet; he deserves one more shot. With Hill and Waddle at his disposal, he should be able to capitalize.
Miami Dolphins season record predictions
A 10-7 record should be good enough to make the playoffs. I think the Dolphins will be slightly better than expected, surpassing the over/under on their win total and cashing my best bet.
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