MIAMI DOLPHINS 2021 WIN PREDICTION

BY ADAM GREENE

Ignoring talk radio and ridiculous punditry, the Miami Dolphins rightly stuck to their guns, and their 2020 first round draft pick, and are going all in with quarterback Tua Tagovailoa this season. It was a smart move for a team that was a win away from making the playoffs last year.

Now is the time to build and get over the hump. While many a team would have given its mascot’s right arm (or fin, as it were) to finish with double digit wins last season, the Dolphins must have their sights set higher. They have their head coach, Brian Flores, and the team talent to make the postseason. The only question remaining is Tagovailoa, who was behind the eight ball last season coming off a serious shoulder injury and battling Ryan Fitzpatrick in camp.

MIAMI DOPHINS

Last season: 10-6, 2^nd place AFC East

2021 odds: over 9 wins -120, under 9 wins -110

2021 NFL Draft: Jaylen Waddle, WR, Alabama – Round 1, Jaelan Phillips, DE, Miami – Round 1, Jevon Holland, Safety, Oregon – Round 2, Liam Eichenberg, OT, Notre Dame – Round 2, Hunter Long, TE, Boston College – Round 3, Larnel Coleman, OT, Umass – Round 7, Gerrid Doaks, RB, Cincinnati – Round 7

UDFAs: Robert Jones, RB – MTSU, Jerome Johnson, DT – Indiana, Carl Tucker, TE/FB – Alabama, Jaytlin Askew, CB – Georgia Tech

Acquisitions: Jacoby Brissett, QB – Free Agent, Benardrick McKinney, LB – Trade, Justin Coleman, CB – Free Agent, Jason McCourty, CB – Free Agent, Brennan Scarlett, LB – Free Agent, Adam Butler, DL – Free Agent, Will Fuller, WR – Free Agent, Matt Skura, C – Free Agent, Jermaine Eluemunor, RG – Free Agent, Cechan Carter, TE – Free Agent, Michael Palardy, P – Free Agent, Malcolm Brown, RB – Free Agent, John Jenkins, DL – Free Agent, D.J. Fluker, RG – Free Agent, Duke Riley, LB – Free Agent, Robert Foster, WR – Free Agent

Key Losses: Kyle Van Noy – Edge, Shaq Lawson – Edge, Ereck Flowers – LG, Ryan Fitzpatrick – QB, Matt Breida – RB, Matt Haack – P, Kavon Frazier – Safety, De’Andre Washington – RB, Jake Rudock – QB, Julie’n Davenport – LT, Davon Godchaux – DL

PRESUMED STARTERS

QB: Tua Tagovailoa

RB: Myles Gaskin

WR: DeVante Parker

WR: Will Fuller

WR: Jaylen Waddle

TE: Mike Gesicki

LT: Austin Jackson

LG: Solomon Kindley

C: Matt Skura

RG: Robert Hunt

RT: Jesse Davis

LDE: Christian Wilkins

NT: Raekwon Davis

RDE: Zach Sieler

OLB: Jaelan Phillips

LILB: Bernardrick McKinney

RILB: Jerome Baker

OLB: Emmanuel Ogbah

CB: Xavien Howard

CB: Byron Jones

SS: Eric Rowe

FS: Jevon Holland

K: Jason Sanders

P: Michael Palardy

FORECAST

There could be some shock in South Beach as the Dolphins open up with a brutal first five games. Miami begins at New England, which won’t be a gimme regardless of what happened last season, then the Buffalo Bills, at the Las Vegas Raiders, the Indianapolis Colts and then at the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. This is a team that could be superior to last year’s squad, with a growing quarterback and still open 1-4.

Luckily, the schedule eases up after that, with a nice two-month stretch from Oct. 17 through Dec. 19 where they play just two teams that finished last year with a winning record (the Bills and Baltimore Ravens). I think Flores can shut down Baltimore’s middle school offense, so that game doesn’t look scary at all.

Final Record Prediction: 10-7, possible AFC Wild Card

The NFL season begins on Thursday, Sep. 9 and the Week 1 Schedule is already up and taking bets at BetOnline.AG.

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