Does Miami remain sovereign in the first game of the new season?
On Sunday, September 8, 2024, the Miami Dolphins will face the Jacksonville Jaguars on the first matchday of the new NFL season. The roles seem to be pretty clear in advance, because while the home side are among the extended circle of title favorites, the visitors will be struggling to make the playoffs. For this reason, the Miami Dolphins vs. Jacksonville Jaguars betting tip on a win for the home team seems very obvious
However, this does not mean that the visiting team is without a chance in this duel. The Jaguars also have plenty of quality and have largely been able to retain their superstars. Calvin Ridley, last season’s best pass receiver, is the only serious loss for the visitors. You can find out whether and how the Jags have made up for this loss in the detailed analysis of our Miami Dolphins vs Jacksonville Jaguars prediction
It only took a few seconds to find value in this game. We recommend the odds for a Raheem Mostert touchdown between the Miami Dolphins and Jacksonville Jaguars. The Dolphins’ running back was the NFL’s top scorer last season and scored a total of 21 touchdowns. This figure is impressive, as he even missed two games due to injury.
Kickoff for this AFC game is at 7:00 pm on Sunday at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami. The game can be watched live and in full on DAZN.
Miami Dolphins – Statistics & current form
Miami can look back positively on the past season overall, as Mike McDaniel’s team was virtually unstoppable in the regular season with eleven wins from 17 games. However, the season did not end well after the team was eliminated in the first round of the playoffs. However, we have to give the Phins credit for the fact that their opponents were the eventual Super Bowl winners from Kansas City. With a slightly easier program, the home side could have gone much further. Will they succeed this year?
We answer the question with a maybe. In terms of quality, Miami is definitely one of the candidates to play for the Vince Lombardi Trophy this year. With the signing of Odell Beckham Jr. in particular, the hosts have been able to strengthen their squad. On the other hand, the Dolphins have lacked the necessary consistency, especially in the games against their biggest rivals. If the Phins get this problem under control, we see no reason why the Super Bowl should not be a realistic goal
Tua Tagovailoa at a crossroads
Statistically speaking, the Hawaiian quarterback is one of the best players at his position. In the past season, he totaled 4,634 passing yards, leading the league. With 29 touchdowns in 17 games, he was also one of the best scorers (5th place). Nevertheless, the Dolphins’ starting quarterback lacks the necessary esprit, as his style of play is rarely spectacular. Especially in the big games, players like Patrick Mahomes or Jalen Hurts clearly stand out from him
Miami’s offensive machinery
With the Dolphins’ O-Line, it’s hard to know where to start, because the quality is at the highest level. Raheem Mostert was the running back with the most rushing yards last season and also the NFL’s top scorer. As a second option at this position, the Dolphins have another superstar in their ranks in Devon Achane. It should not go unmentioned that the running back was not drafted until 2023.
In addition to the running game, Miami also has an outstanding passing game. This is primarily down to Tyreek Hill, who caught passes for 1,799 yards last season, making him the all-time leader. With Jaylen Waddle, Tua also has another above-average pass receiver in the team. The wide receiver also cracked the 1,000-yard mark last year and even missed three games. Last but not least, Odell Beckham Jr. now brings even more quality to the O-Line.
Key players for the Miami Dolphins:
- QB: Tua Tagovailoa
- RB: Raheem Mostert
- RB: Devon Achane
- WR: Tyreek Hill
- WR: Jaylen Waddle
Jacksonville Jaguars – stats & current form
Jacksonville will look back on last season with disappointment as they looked certain to make the playoffs after winning eight of their first eleven games. However, nothing is really certain in the NFL and so the Jaguars’ hoped-for success slipped from their grasp after all. However, with just one win from the last six games, participation in the knockout round would not have been deserved. The question now, of course, is whether Doug Pederson’s team has progressed or stagnated.
We tend to lean towards the latter, as the Jaguars have lost a lot of quality with the departure of Calvin Ridley (Tennessee Titans). Jacksonville has now presented Gabriel Davis (Buffalo Bills) as a replacement. The wide receiver certainly has the potential to make up for his departure, but that’s about it. It could therefore be difficult for the visiting team to reach the playoffs again this season
Trevor Lawrence gets support
Sunshine, as he is affectionately called by his teammates, remains the undisputed number one this season. With 21 touchdowns and 4,016 passing yards in 16 games, the Jaguars’ quarterback got quite a lot out of his own O-line. Physically, however, Trevor Lawrence went beyond his limits at times and even continued to play injured. With Mac Jones, however, he now has a good back-up who can also take over a play from time to time.
Jacksonville is missing its high-flyer
Travis Etienne is not a bad running back, but his strengths lie more in scoring than in rushing. Of course, this also has something to do with his teammates, who don’t give him enough space. As a result, the running game is quite limited overall. The Jaguars can make up for this deficit somewhat in the passing game, but Doug Pederson’s team lacks a high-flyer here. The team desperately needs a player in the O-line who can lead the way and pull his teammates along with him.
In addition, their own defense can rarely provide relief. On average, the D-line allows opposing teams to gain 342.8 yards and is therefore only ranked 22nd in the league. The visiting team’s defense has major problems against the passing game in particular. Of course, that could be the deciding factor in a loss against the Miami Dolphins.
Key players for the Jacksonville Jaguars:
- QB: Trevor Lawrence
- RB: Travis Etienne
- WR: Gabe Davis
- TE: Evan Engram
- K: Cam Little
Miami Dolphins – Jacksonville Jaguars head-to-head comparison / H2H record
In a head-to-head comparison of the two teams, the Dolphins have the edge. The home side has won twelve of the 23 duels and thus one game more than the Jaguars. However, the last competitive match, which was played on October 17, 2021, went to the visiting team. However, since this meeting was almost three years ago, the H2H comparison seems to have little effect on the Miami Dolphins vs Jacksonville Jaguars betting odds
Miami Dolphins – Jacksonville Jaguars betting tip
In summary, everything speaks in favor of an opening win for the home team. The Dolphins are better individually and should therefore dominate the game. In addition, Mike McDaniel’s team is playing in its own stadium and is difficult to beat there. The Jaguars would have to really outdo themselves to win here. We therefore recommend betting on a win for the home side between the Miami Dolphins and Jacksonville Jaguars:
Alternatively, we recommend the odds for over 44.5 points between the Miami Dolphins and Jacksonville Jaguars. The offense of the home side is perhaps even the best in the league and has five superstars who are good for a touchdown at any time. On the other hand, the Dolphins’ defense doesn’t always look quite solid, which is why the Jaguars should get on the scoreboard a few times. You can find the best odds for this betting tip at Bwin
