The winless, woeful, tantalizingly intriguing Titans travel to South Beach to take on a wounded Dolphins squad out for revenge. Miami has significant injury problems, as it is missing its star passer and is hurting for options. The Dolphins have won a game but have struggled to start their 2024 campaign. They are tied for last in the AFC East with the expectedly bad New England Patriots, and their lower-point differential is disastrous. Can they right the ship against a similarly miserable Titans squad at home? Tennessee returns to the scene of the crime after last season’s dastardly crime sent Miami into a tizzy. Despite the needless talk about seeking revenge, it will be cathartic for the wounded Dolphins to get a win in circumstances similar to last season’s contest.
Week 4: Titans vs Dolphins – South Beach Revenge?
Dolphins Offense vs. Titans Defense
Who will start at the game’s most important position after nominal backup Skylar Thompson failed to impress and subsequently got hurt himself? It will also be a grudge match for several former Titans, namely center Aaron Brewer and tight end Jonnu Smith. Can the offensive mastermind Mike McDaniel find something to beguile the Titans’ defense, as he will likely start a Pro Bowl passer, or just Tim Boyle if Thompson cannot go? Will Tennessee’s stop unit rally with a few key pieces banged up or washed up? The duel between McDaniel and DC Dennard Wilson will be fascinating, that’s for sure.
OL vs. DL Matchups to Watch
Miami’s offensive line has been pretty up to the task so far into the season but deals with injuries at critical spots. It is unknown if star left tackle Terron Armstead will play on Monday due to a concussion suffered last week. If he cannot go, another former Titan will draw the start, Kendall Lamm. Right tackle Austin Jackson did not finish last week’s game due to injury, so rookie Patrick Paul had to step in. Jackson has been Miami’s worst-graded lineman, with an overall score of 50.4 by PFF. Brewer is an undersized center with difficulty dealing with bigger defensive linemen, as Jeffery Simmons astutely noted in a recent media session.
Tennessee could exploit Miami’s weakness on the interior with its bigger lineup of Sweat, Simmons, and Keondre Coburn. Depending on the health of its bookends, an advantage could also be had on the perimeter, but Arden Key hasn’t been a factor. Harold Landry has had a significant impact, leading the team in sacks. If the Titans win against the wounded and inconsistent line, a big day against a new signal caller could be on the horizon.
Skill-on-Skill Matchups to Watch
When the quarterback is upright and healthy, the Dolphins have arguably the most terrifying collection of skill position talent in the league for opposing defenses. Tyreek Hill is a top-three speed threat in the NFL and has boasted about racing Olympic champion-level speed merchants. On the other hand, his counterpart is no slouch in the speed and athleticism department himself. Jaylen Waddle hasn’t gotten off to the start that he nor the team wanted, posting a measly 13 receptions for 176 yards and no touchdowns. Hill, unabashedly, will draw most of the attention of the Titans’ cornerbacks, who aren’t known for their speed. They must attempt pressing him at the line, hoping the defensive front gets home quickly.
The running game will be vital for the Fins to get going, as De’Von Achane is their lead runner. Rookie Jaylen Wright could be in line for some critical snaps with Raheem Mostert on the injury report. Veteran Jeff Wilson Jr. could see some time as well. Tennessee’s aggressive linebackers and safeties must diagnose and attack the ball carrier quickly, as Miami’s rush attack is based on the Shanahan model of one cut and go.
Titans Offense vs. Dolphins Defense
Despite Will Levis’ antics, which occur weekly after disaster-ridden plays, there are encouraging signs of life for Tennessee’s offense. The problem is that the offensive line has been horrendously incapable of stringing together any consistency, which is music to Miami’s ears. Can Bill Callahan coax anything from his young charges and form a cohesive unit up front? Will defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver weave a defense that flummoxes young Levis into more costly mistakes?
OL vs. DL Matchups to Watch
To put it mildly, the Titans’ offensive line has been a collective sieve. Right tackle Nicholas Petit-Frere has been a walking turnstile, allowing nearly every defender free reign to his quarterback. Left guard Peter Skoronski hasn’t fared much better, posting an abysmal 59.0 offensive grade from PFF. NPF played so poorly that the team benched him in last week’s loss to the Packers. Much to GM Ran Carthon’s discredit, there are no credible options to fix the right tackle position. He neglected to address the weak link on the line, and the franchise is paying the price for his heinous and grievous error. Left tackle JC Latham has improved weekly since his rough week one debut, which is a good sign.
The fearsome front that awaits the maligned Titans’ blockers contains players returning from serious injury and a wily veteran still producing at an advanced age. Emmanuel Ogbah and Jaelen Phillips attempt to return from their respective late-season injuries and round back into form. Zach Sieler is a productive interior force alongside the versatile veteran Calais Campbell, who, at a spritely 38 years old, leads the team in sacks and is tied for the team lead in deflected passes. First-round selection Chop Robinson has been productive when called upon in limited reps.
Skill-on-Skill Matchups to Watch
As a result of Levis’s glaring ineptitude, Tennessee’s receivers have struggled to gain traction. He frequently targets big-ticket signing Calvin Ridley to little avail, as both are still working on the chemistry. Tyler Boyd has acted as the safety valve, garnering the second-most targets on the team. DeAndre Hopkins had a breakout game last week as he made his way back into shape from a training camp injury. The running backs are a significant part of the passing attack. Treylon Burks gets praise from his coaches despite being one of the worst receivers in organized football. It is abundantly clear that the young man needs a change of scenery to revitalize his floundering career. There isn’t much the receivers can do with an ill-tuned offensive line surrendering pressure on their franchise passer at an alarming rate.
In theory, Miami’s secondary poses a formidable task for Tennessee’s skill group as they rely on a veteran star-laden bunch. A group led by the highly compensated and skilled Jalen Ramsey, who has consistently seen a drop in form. Kendall Fuller is battling a concussion, so it remains to be seen if he will be cleared in time to play Monday night. If Fuller cannot go, rookie undrafted free agent Storm Duck will play a more prominent role. Safety/Big Nickel Jevon Holland is also a looming presence in the backfield. The veteran Jordan Poyer has struggled to acclimate to his new surroundings.
Former Titans linebacker David Long, Jr will be out to greet his former employers with a cold shoulder. Big-money signing Jordyn Brooks came over from the Seahawks after a solid career with the Seahawks. Perhaps he can commiserate with former Seattle friends Jamal Adams and Quandre Diggs about the good times out West.
Weather Report
There will be minimal to no impact on the weather in Miami on Monday night due to midweek Hurricane Helene, which is projected to proceed up the panhandle of Florida and touch parts of the South. The Titans could be impacted on Friday as they gear up to practice and make travel plans. The forecast calls for a high of 88 degrees; temperatures should be a toasty 80 degrees at kickoff. Humidity will be through the roof, typical for South Florida, so the Titans must hydrate plenty. The wind is projected to blow east-by-southeast at six miles per hour.
Odds and Ends
The Dolphins lead the all-time series by 21-19. They have played each other fairly regularly, with the largest gap between games being four seasons since the 1966 season. The 1999 contest marked the first time that Miami played the rebranded Titans; since that time, Tennessee is 7-8 against the AFC East franchise. In that time frame, the average scoring margin has been 21.3 to 20.2 in favor of Miami.
Uniforms
Titans
🚨BRITCHES REPORT 🚨: The @Titans will be decked out in white jerseys with light blue britches and all white socks in Monday night’s game at the @MiamiDolphins. 👖 pic.twitter.com/mTaNRLd2wb
— Jim Wyatt (@jwyattsports) September 25, 2024
Referee Crew
.@Titans at @MiamiDolphins
When: Monday night, 6:30 CDT
Where: @HardRockStadium
P-b-P: @cbfowler
TV: @espn, @WSMV in Nashville.
Analysts: @danorlovsky7, @LRiddickESPN
Reporter: @LauraRutledge
Radio: @TitansRadio
Ref: Clete Blakeman.
Line: Titans minus-1— Jim Wyatt (@jwyattsports) September 24, 2024
Clete Blakeman has been an NFL referee for 15 seasons and called Super Bowl 50 between the Panthers and Broncos. The referee oversees a veteran crew with four of six members having at least ten years of experience. His staff has two women on it, with Karina Tovar as a rookie field judge and replay assistant Amber Cornell. Both women came up from the Power 4 ranks in their respective roles. Four of the six on-field roles on his staff return from last season, so familiarity isn’t an issue.
Blakeman’s crew has called 68 flags and 56 accepted penalties through three games this season. Both figures lead the league significantly, so it would be wise for both teams to avoid his crew’s glare. His crew had the Dolphins and Titans once each last season. Both games resulted in double-digit penalties. To be fair to Blakeman, he calls it even between the home and away teams, with 28 accepted flags. Tennessee’s beleaguered offensive line must be wary of his crew, as ten of the 16 holding flags called have been for the away team.
Betting
According to Caesar’s Palace, the Miami Dolphins are favored by a single point, with their money line set at -110, while Tennessee is +1 dogs with the same money line. It’s as close as a pick’em that one game can get with Miami’s quarterback issues and the Titans’ multitude of mental lapses.
The total is exceedingly low, almost Iowa Hawkeye-like, at 36.5 points. Tennessee still hasn’t cleared 17 points this season, and Miami has scored 20 points just once. The Dolphins have gone under and are winless ATS in all three contests. Tennessee has also lost ATS in all of its games. They have gone 1-1 in the over/under bets with one push. That being said, it wouldn’t be out of the realm of funny karmic possibility that both teams outscore the total despite the defense being good on both sides. Will Miami claim revenge after losing such a heartbreaker against these Titans last season in the same stadium?
Main Photo: Jasen Vinlove – USA Today Sports
