Dolphins-Eagles predictions: After soft part of schedule, will Miami finally beat a top-tier team?
Dolphins (5-1) at Eagles (5-1), Sunday, 8:20 p.m., NBC
Latest line: Eagles are favored by 2 points.
Dave Hyde, Sports Columnist (Season record 4-2): Eagles 27, Dolphins 24
On the big stage, in a tough place to play, the Dolphins go toe-to-toe with the Eagles in Philadelphia. They prove they can play with the big boys. They also have some things to work on before January. Philadelphia, which will be determined to bounce back from its first loss of the season, needs no national introduction in the way the Dolphins do. It played in last season’s Super Bowl. It looks intent on returning this February.
Chris Perkins, Dolphins Columnist (Season record 4-2): Dolphins 24, Eagles 20
I think the Dolphins break through and start to make believers of some of their doubters, the ones (such as me) who say they need to see more before putting this team among the NFL’s elite. Miami will have to improve on its minus-4 turnover margin, which is 25th in the league. But the Dolphins’ high-powered offense should be effective against Philadelphia’s standout defense.
David Furones, Dolphins Writer (Season record 5-1): Eagles 34, Dolphins 31
The Dolphins are better prepared to go on the road and take on a contender than they were in Week 4 at Buffalo. They’ll play a tight shootout and move the ball through the air against a banged-up Philly secondary, but it also concerns me that Xavien Howard is dealing with a groin injury as the Dolphins try to limit quarterback Jalen Hurts and receivers A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith. I don’t see the Eagles losing back-to-back games — especially not in front of a rowdy crowd at Lincoln Financial Field.
Kathy Laughlin, Sports Editor (Season record 4-2): Eagles 38, Dolphins 31
It just seems highly unlikely that Philadelphia will lose two in a row, after last week’s loss to the not-great Jets. The Eagles will have extra incentive to prove the Jets game was a fluke — plus the Eagles have home-field advantage. As much as the Dolphins have been fun to watch and showed a sometimes-dominating offense, the loss to the Bills showed that a very strong team can still overpower them without too much difficulty.
Keven Lerner, Assistant Sports Editor (Season record 5-1): Eagles 27, Dolphins 24
After back-to-back homes games against two of the NFL’s worst teams, the Dolphins get another crack at one of the league’s best. The Dolphins are coming off blowout wins over the Giants (1-5) and Panthers (0-6). The combined records of teams Miami has beaten this season is 5-24. It lost its only game against a quality opponent 48-20 at Buffalo. Two of Miami’s next three games are against last year’s Super Bowl teams, starting with the Eagles (5-1) before facing the Chiefs (5-1) in Germany on Nov. 5. The Eagles should continue their home dominance.
Steve Svekis, Assistant Sports Editor (Season record 4-2): Dolphins 26, Eagles 24
Philadelphia is a dominant run-defending team and with a defensive tackle rotation of man-child rookie Jalen Carter, Jordan Davis and Fletcher Cox, there will be something the Dolphins haven’t seen much of this year: a significant interior pass rush. In clean-pocket situations, according to Pro Football Focus, Tua Tagovailoa has an NFL-best 128.6 passer rating, but is 26th while pressured at 48.9. On the majority of his passes, the ball is released before any pressure gets to him, and that is where the Dolphins have a big advantage. The Eagles defensive backfield is in shambles, with James Bradberry the lone Philly heavy-use DB from opening day to have emerged unscathed from the Jets loss. Make no mistake, a mobile quarterback like Jalen Hurts has repeatedly gouged the Dolphins in recent years.
