Dolphins vs. Colts Week 1 preview: Keys to the game and predictions
Photo Credit: Kevin M. Cox/UPI
The Miami Dolphins kick off the season with a road matchup against the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday, Sept. 7, at 1 p.m. EDT. Both teams are coming into this game with a lot to prove after making major moves in the offseason.
The Dolphins are looking to start out hot, as a slow start ultimately put a damper on their playoff aspirations last year. A revamped defense and a healthy Tua Tagovailoa hope to lead the Dolphins to their third straight 1-0 start.
The Colts had a quarterback battle between two former top 10 overall picks in the NFL draft, with the veteran Daniel Jones ultimately being named the starter over the much less experienced Anthony Richardson. Jones hopes to snap the Colts’ streak of 11 straight years without a win in Week 1, the longest in the NFL per StatMuse.
Keys to the Game
Slowing Down Jonathan Taylor
If you gave me a list of every starting QB in the NFL and told me to pick one that I would want to see against the Dolphins in Week 1, Daniel Jones would be in the top 3. He is not scaring any player on the Miami defense. Jonathan Taylor is a different story, though, coming off a season where he had 1400 yards, 4.7 yards per carry, and 11 touchdowns in just 14 games.
Per PFF, the Dolphins' defense gave up the 8th-lowest amount of rushing yards per game in the NFL in 2024. If the Dolphins can hold Taylor to around 100 yards and keep him out of the end zone, I see it as a very successful game for them.
Establish Offensive Identity
De’von Achane is expected to be available in Week 1, meaning the offense should be at full strength. As a team that loves to run the ball and utilize the short passing game, I really like the Dolphins' matchup against this Colts defense.
On paper, the Colts’ weakness is their linebackers, as their leading tackler, Zaire Franklin, missed most of training camp coming off of ankle surgery. Their other two starting LBs are Joe Bachie and Cameron McGrone per ESPN’s official depth chart, and they have a whopping 59 career total tackles between the two of them.
Star defensive tackle DeForest Buckner has also been dealing with a back injury throughout the preseason and is listed as questionable. If the Dolphins’ offense gets rolling and the run game and short passing game can play off of each other, the Dolphins should not have any problem scoring.
Prediction
Realistically, I see this being an easy win for the Dolphins. With it being a road game in Week 1, I won’t predict a blowout, but the Colts are going to have to wait until next year to get their first win in Week 1 since 2013.
Dolphins 23, Colts 17