The Miami Dolphins are double-digit favorites as they prepare to play host to the Tennessee Titans on Monday night.
Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa is squarely in the MVP conversation, while counterpart Will Levis is making just his seventh career start for the Titans (4-8).
Miami (9-3) is also looking to move to 10-3 atop the AFC along with the Ravens with a New Year’s Eve clash looming in Baltimore.
QUICK PICK
Miami faces the Jets next week before a closing gauntlet that includes Dallas, Baltimore and Buffalo. The Dolphins can’t afford to let their foot off the gas as they chase home-field advantage in addition to the AFC East title. The Titans (4-8) are all but out of the playoff picture as Levis learns the NFL ropes.
Despite the point spread there are plenty of playmakers to keep it an interesting watch, although the outcome could be put out of doubt before halftime.
Prediction: Dolphins 37, Titans 20
TRENDING
The Dolphins opened as 13-point favorites at BetMGM, where the line has lengthened to 14 with Miami backed by 74 percent of the spread-line bets and 80 percent of the money. The shift has been event more dramatic at DraftKings, opening at Dolphins -7.0 and climbing as high as 14 points.
The Over/Under at both books is 46 points, with BetMGM reporting the Over garnering 70 percent of the bets and 76 percent of the money.
PROP PICK
Dolphins WR Tyreek Hill Anytime TD (-190 at BetMGM): Hill has 12 touchdowns on the season, and at least one in all but two games. He has reached the end zone four times in the past three weeks while racking up 24 catches for 405 yards. It’s little surprise this is the most popular player prop at the book.
THE NEWS
Miami leads the NFL in total offense at 428.4 yards per game and ranks second in scoring at 32 points per outing heading into the homestretch of the season.
“This offense is fun,” said Tagovailoa, who has passed for 3,457 yards and 24 touchdowns. “I think any offense is fun when you’re scoring a lot of points. It helps to go out there when you’re scoring points.
“Guys get into rhythm, guys get into the flow of the game. You know, you get the crowd going and everyone just enjoys the success that we all have because of it.”
Tagovailoa’s current career bests of 3,548 yards and 25 touchdowns were set last season.
The Titans will try to limit Miami’s big plays with a middle-of-the-pack unit in both scoring defense (21.3) and total defense (337.0).
With Tennessee tied for the second-worst record in the AFC, the rest of the season revolves around developing Levis. The rookie second-round pick has passed for 1,266 yards, seven touchdowns and two interceptions.
In the last meeting, the host Titans rolled to a 34-3 victory on Jan. 2, 2022.
INJURY REPORT
Tennessee sustained a big blow with the loss of star defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons, who sustained a knee injury in last Sunday’s 31-28 overtime loss to the Indianapolis Colts.
The Titans ruled out cornerback Kristian Fulton (hamstring) and tight end Josh Whyle (knee) on Saturday. Earlier in the week, the club placed punter Ryan Stonehouse (knee) on injured reserve. Ty Zentner is expected to handle the punting duties on Monday night.
The Titans will have star running back Derrick Henry on the field after he was removed against the Colts because the team’s medical staff determined he was displaying concussion symptoms.
Miami placed linebacker Jerome Baker (knee) on injured reserve on Saturday and also ruled out right guard Robert Hunt (hamstring). Left tackle Terron Armstead (knee/ankle) and safety Jevon Holland (both knees) are listed as questionable.
KEY STAT
Meanwhile, Hill is enjoying one of the top receiving seasons in NFL history.
Hill caught five passes for 157 yards and two touchdowns in last weekend’s 45-15 rout of the Washington Commanders. He leads the NFL with 1,481 receiving yards and 12 scoring receptions and stands second with 93 catches.
THEY SAID IT
Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel is impressed with how quickly the Tagovailoa-Hill partnership flourished.
“My thing is I think they’re tremendous players that can make plays on their own for sure,” McDaniel said. “Tyreek’s able to be super aggressive because he trusts Tua’s field vision and knows that if he is putting the ball up in the air a little bit over the middle to just track it and catch it because Tua’s not going to lead him in harm’s way. …
“They’re independently awesome but together they’re even better.”
–Field Level Media
