News and notes heading into Dolphins’ Week 8 matchup against Patriots
The Miami Dolphins face the New England Patriots in a Week 8 matchup at Hard Rock Stadium on Sunday after the Dolphins defeated the Patriots at Gillette Stadium 24- 17 back in Week 2 on Sunday Night Football.
Miami has won its last three home games against New England and five of their past six meetings overall. The Dolphins hold a 61-55 edge in the all-time series, including playoff games.
Jaylen Waddle has 359 yards and two touchdowns in six appearances this season. With 641 more yards, he’ll become the first player in franchise history to post three straight 1,000-yard receiving seasons.
Home cooking at the Rock
The Dolphins have lost just two home games since Nov. 7, 2021, posting a 15-2 mark in that span. It’s their best 17-game stretch at Hard Rock Stadium since it opened in 1987. The last time Miami won 15 of 17 home games was during a 23-2 stretch at the Orange Bowl from Nov. 30, 1983 to Jan. 4, 1986.
Miami’s .882 win pct. in their last 17 home games (15-2) is tied with Kansas City and San Francisco for the best in the NFL since the run began on Nov. 7, 2021.
In Miami’s three home games this season, they’ve outscored opponents 143-57. The 86-point margin is by far the best in the NFL.
In home games, the Dolphins lead the league in scoring offense (47.7 points), total offense (558.0 yards), passing offense (313.3 yards) and rushing offense (244.7 yards).
A win on Sunday would give Miami a 6-2 start for the first time since 2001. It would also give the Dolphins their fourth straight home win against the Patriots. The last time Miami won at least four straight home games against New England was a five-game streak from 1998-2002.
A top-ranked team in point differential
The Dolphins are 5-2 this season and have outscored their opponents 240-187. That’s a point differential of 53 points, which ranks sixth in the NFL entering Week 8.
Miami has gained 3,236 yards and allowed 2,417 yards in seven games this season. The 819-yard margin is the best in the league and ahead of second-place Kansas City by 715 yards.
The Dolphins lead the NFL in several explosive
play categories, including most plays of 10+ yards (118), 20+ yards (41), and 50+ yards (8).
They have totaled 3,236 yards in seven games this season, which is the fifth-most through seven games in NFL history.
Offensive line performing well despite injuries.
Through seven games, Miami has allowed only 22 quarterback hits and 10 sacks. Miami’s 10 sacks allowed are tied for the third-fewest in the NFL while the 17 quarterback hits allowed are tied for the fewest. The offensive line, despite it all, is getting it done.
Miami leads the NFL in rushing this season (162.3 yards per game) and recently had a streak of five consecutive games with 140+ rushing yards snapped. It was the third-longest such streak in team history and
longest since a nine-game run from Sept. 30,
1973 to Nov. 22, 1973.
Tua Tagovailoa continues MVP caliber campaign
Entering Week 8, Tua Tagovailoa leads the NFL in passing yards (2,092), passer rating (110.4) and yards per attempt (9.1) He’s also tied for second in the NFL in passing touchdowns (15). At this point, it’s getting irresponsible to not recognize this as an MVP type of season
Tagovailoa is the NFL’s highest-rated passer on third down since Mike McDaniel became the head coach and offensive play-caller in 2022. This is a mixture for a confidence cocktail.
After leading the league in passer rating (105.5) in 2022, Tagovailoa became the first Dolphins player in 30 years (since Scott Mitchell in 1993) to win AFC Offensive Player of the Month.
Tyreek Hill chasing history
Tyreek Hill is already historic. The Cheetah is the first player since 1961 to top 900 receiving yards in his team’s first seven games of a season. He has 902. He joins Charlie Hennigan (1961), Elroy Hirsch (1951) and Don Hutson (1942) in this professional football conversation.
During the Eagles game, Hill surpassed the 10,000 career scrimmage yard mark. He’s just the eighth active player to total over 10,000 career scrimmage yards.
His 9,242 career receiving yards moved past Davante Adams (9,236) for the most since 2016.
Hill leads the NFL with 902 receiving yards and seven receiving touchdowns this season and is just six shy of leading in receptions as well.
Right now, he has a chance at the wide receiver triple crown.
Credit where credit is due defensively.
We’re nearly halfway through the season, and the Dolphins have 24 sacks and 54 QB hits in seven games so far. The 54 quarterback hits are the most in the NFL.
Continuing his team defensive MVP candidacy, Andrew Van Ginkel is tied with Zach Sieler and Bradley Chubb for the team lead in sacks (4.0). Van Ginkel also leads the squad in tackles for loss with seven. His nine quarterback hits rank second on the team.
An eye for talent
Chris Grier has drafted eight players who’ve signed contracts valued among the top 10 at their positions, including four of the highest paid, either for Miami or elsewhere.
Xavien Howard, Laremy Tunsil, Minkah Fitzpatrick and Jakeem Grant were the highest. The other four are Jerome Baker, Blake Ferguson, Jason Sanders and Kenyan Drake (signed by the Raiders in 2021).
The roster he helped build has recorded Miami’s first 5-2 start since the 2003 season.
The Dolphins are one of just four NFL teams who’ve posted winning records in each of the past three years, joining Kansas City, Buffalo, and Pittsburgh.
Miami has posted four winning seasons in the seven full years since Grier took over as general manager in 2016 – 2016, 2020, 2021 and 2022. During that time, they’ve made the playoffs twice – 2016 and 2022.
