The Indianapolis Colts have a good opportunity to get themselves closer to a playoff push, and it begins with their Week 7 matchup against the Miami Dolphins. After the Dolphins started off the season with a win against the Jaguars, they have since lost three out of their last four games. That being said, though, they are coming off a much-needed win against the struggling New England Patriots and need a spark if they are going to keep their season alive. The Colts do not want to be the spark that a struggling team needs. Last week, they were able to overcome the struggling Tennessee Titans, but now they must overcome the struggling Dolphins.
The Colts are favored to win in Week 7 against the Dolphins. However, this matchup will not be an easy one, especially considering the Dolphins weapons on offense and the Colts struggles on defense.
Why the Colts Shouldn’t Underestimate the Dolphins
The Dolphins have two of the biggest offensive weapons in the league
After the Dolphins franchise quarterback, Tua Tagovailoa, suffered the third concussion of his career, he was placed on injured reserve which essentially sucked the life out of the team. With no word on whether he will ever play again, the Dolphins have been leaning on quarterbacks, Skylar Thompson and Tyler Huntley. However, Thompson was injured in Week 3 and it has been Huntley at the helm the last two weeks. By all accounts, Huntley will be the starter in Week 7.
While the Dolphins struggles are at the hand of their inconsistent quarterback play, they still have two of the league’s best receivers in Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle. Hill is an eight time pro bowler and a five time first-team all-pro. Waddle led the league in 2022 in yards per catch. Over the last two seasons, he has averaged at least 12 yards per catch as well as having three consecutive 1,000 yard seasons.
Naturally, these receivers are having slow starts to their season due to inconsistent quarterback play. Nonetheless, these two receivers are still some of the best. Thus, it can be an only a matter of time before they have a breakout. The Colts defense must be weary of this and not let their guard down.
The Dolphins have one of the better defenses in the league
The one bright spot for the Dolphins this season has been their defense. While their offense struggles with inconsistent quarterback play, their defense has been very solid. Through their first five games, the Dolphins are the best on third down defense. They are fifth in the league in yards per game, allowing only 285.4 total yards. Their passing defense is top ten in almost every major category, including being third in pass yards allowed per game with 159.6.
Anthony Richardson is expected to start in week 7 against this defense. After missing the last two games with a hip injury, Richardson will face a top defense cold. He is tied for second in the league in interceptions and has only played in four games. The Dolphins are 24th in the league in terms of takeaway. Richardson has been a quarterback who has been reckless with the football. Therefore, the Colts will need him to play a clean game if they want to win this game.
The Dolphins are desperate
Lastly, the Dolphins are a desperate team needing to get back to winning. Under the leadership of head coach, Mike McDaniel, Miami has been to the playoffs the last two seasons. They will look to do that again in 2024. There is hope around the Dolphins that Tua will be back to play this season. Therefore, this team still has something to play for. Desperate teams are often some of the toughest teams to beat.
Main Image: Paul Rutherford – USA Today Sports
