Jaguars (9-8) at Miami Dolphins (11-7)
Sunday, 1 p.m. EDT, CBS
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BetMGM NFL Odds: Dolphins by 3.
Series record: Jaguars lead 6-5
Last meeting: Jaguars beat Dolphins 23-20 on Oct. 17, 2021, at London.
Jaguars offense: overall (13), rush (24), pass (9), scoring (13t)
Jaguars defense: overall (22), rush (9), pass (26), scoring (17)
Dolphins offense: overall (1), rush (6), pass (1), scoring (2)
Dolphins defense: overall (10), rush (7), pass (15), scoring (22)
Turnover differential: Jaguars minus-3, Dolphins plus-2.
Jaguars player to watch
QB Trevor Lawrence became one of the highest-paid quarterbacks in the NFL when he signed a five-year, $275 million contract extension in June. The 24-year-old is 21-31 as a three-year starter, including 1-1 in the playoffs and looks to build on a solid 2023 season. His 4,016 passing yards in 2023 gave him 11,770 in his career, making him the only quarterback from his 2021 draft class to eclipse 11,000 passing yards.
Dolphins players to watch
WR Tyreek Hill and QB Tua Tagovailoa. The Dolphins signed Tagovailoa to a franchise-record $212.4 million, four-year contract extension in the offseason after he had a league-best 4,624 passing yards and 29 touchdown passes in 2023. Tagovailoa has had the best two statistical seasons of his career under coach Mike McDaniel, who has indicated he expects the quarterback to take another leap in Year 3 together — that could include winning a playoff game, which would be a first for the Dolphins in 24 years. Tagovailoa’s No. 1 receiving target Hill will be a key in the team’s offensive success. The All-Pro receiver led the NFL with 1,799 receiving yards in 2023 after 1,710 in 2022. Hill is the first player in NFL history to have 1,700-plus receiving yards in multiple years.
Key matchup
Tagovailoa vs Jaguars defense. Tagovailoa had the best Week 1 performance of his career last season, throwing for three touchdowns and completing more than 60% of his passes for 466 yards against the Los Angeles Chargers. He figures to face a much better defense Sunday when he goes up against a Jaguars unit featuring standout pass rusher Josh Hines-Allen, who signed a five-year, $150 million contract in the offseason. Allen set a single-season franchise record with 17 1/2 sacks in 2023 and is 10 shy of the franchise record.
Key injuries
Jaguars S Daniel Thomas (Achilles) was limited in practice Wednesday. ... Dolphins LB Jaelan Phillips is expected to start after suffering a torn Achilles tendon in Week 12 last season. McDaniel noted that Phillips would likely be on a snap limitation, especially with a Thursday night game coming up against Buffalo next week. CB Jalen Ramsey (hamstring) is questionable. Ramsey was a limited practice participant Friday after missing Wednesday and Thursday. Rookie receiver Malik Washington will not play because of a quad injury.
Series notes
The Jaguars have won three of the past four games in the series. ... Tagovailoa was in his second season and Lawrence was a rookie when their teams faced each other at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in 2021 in a game that drew 60,784 people. ... Jacksonville blew out Miami 62-7 in their only postseason meeting in the AFC divisional round on Jan. 15, 2000.
Stats and stuff
Jaguars head coach Doug Pederson signed with the Dolphins as an undrafted rookie quarterback in 1991 out of Northeast Louisiana. ... Lawrence completed 370 passes in 2023, making him the second quarterback in franchise history to have at least 300 completions in three straight seasons, and the only quarterback in franchise history to start his career with three seasons of at least 300 completions. ... TE Evan Engram had 114 catches last season, which was first among tight ends. ... RB Travis Etienne has had 13 games with at least 100 scrimmage yards since 2022, which is second among AFC running backs over than span. ... In 2023, DE Josh Hines-Allen had 17 1/2 sacks, breaking the single-season franchise record previously set by Calais Campbell. ... Ryan Nielsen is Jacksonville’s new defensive coordinator. He was hired in January to replace Mike Caldwell, who was fired after two seasons. ... The Dolphins are 32-25-1 in season openers. ... The Dolphins are coming off a playoff berth in 2023, making the postseason in back-to-back years for the first time since 1997-2001. ... The Dolphins have had five winning seasons and made the playoffs three times in the eight years that Chris Grier has been general manager. The next goal is winning a playoff game. Miami hasn’t won a playoff game since the 2000 season. The Dolphins’ 24-year playoff drought is the longest drought among all NFL teams. ... The Dolphins open the season with two games in five days. After hosting Jacksonville, the Dolphins welcome AFC East rival Buffalo on Thursday. ... The Dolphins finished last season with the most productive offense in franchise history with 401 total yards and 266 passing yards per game, and 5.1 yards per rush. ... Tagovailoa completed 388 of 560 passes in 2023 with a 69.3 percent completion rate, which was the best in Dolphins history by nearly a full percentage point. ... Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle combined for more yards (2,813) than any other receiving duo in the NFL in 2023. ... Miami will begin the season with a new defensive coordinator for the second straight season. Anthony Weaver, previously with Baltimore, signed with the Dolphins in February. The Dolphins finished 2023 ranked 10th in total defense, allowing 318.3 yards per game. That was the first time Miami finished a season with a top-10 defense since 2010. ... Jalen Ramsey and Calais Campbell are former Jaguars who were key pieces in Jacksonville’s 2017 run to securing their first AFC South division title.
Fantasy tip
Tyreek Hill opened last season with once of his best games of 2023, with 11 catches for a season-best 215 yards and two touchdowns against the Chargers. The five-time All-Pro agreed to a restructured contract in the offseason worth $90 million and is expected to again be Tagovailoa’s top option.
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