If the Sunday Night Football games have left you feeling disappointed, we finally have a matchup that may live up to the hype.
The Miami Dolphins (5-1) vs. the Philadelphia Eagles (5-1) looks like a potential Super Bowl preview. The most exciting offensive team we’ve seen in years will visit the reigning NFC champs. This is must-see TV which could be a ratings bonanza.
Let’s face it. Many of these NBC games haven’t been great. We’ve had two blowouts (San Francisco 49ers 42, Dallas Cowboys 10; Cowboys 40, New York Giants 0). Two of the league’s most exciting quarterbacks — Patrick Mahomes and Josh Allen — combined to score a paltry 57 points in three games.
We can only hope Miami and Philadelphia will do better. Here is a meeting of the top two most explosive teams. The warp-speed Dolphins lead the NFL at an absurd 37.2 points per game and 498.7 total yards per game. The high-flying Eagles are second (395.0) and fifth (25.8) in those categories.
This probably won’t equal the greatest Monday Night Football game of all time. But considering the quality of football this year, we’ll take it.
Analytics expert Warren Sharp recently wrote, “This year, there are far fewer touchdowns (less excitement) and far fewer points scored (less excitement). Scoring output (43.4 ppg) is down to pre-2010 rule change levels.”
Whatever has infected NFL teams, the Dolphins seem to be immune. Not only are they scoring at a lightning-quick pace, but they’re also so much fun. We haven’t seen an offense that has captivated our imaginations like this since the 2018 Kansas City Chiefs in Mahomes’ first season as a starter.
NEW view of Tyreek Hill cell phone TD celebration
— Joe Schad (@schadjoe) October 17, 2023
pic.twitter.com/YH7hqn8c3q
The 2018 Chiefs and the 2023 Dolphins have something in common. Or rather, someone in common. It’s hard to believe the following, but it is true: Tyreek Hill has been better with Miami than he was in Kansas City. Last season, he enjoyed a career season (119 catches, 1,710 yards), and those numbers might have been better if not for Tua Tagovailoa’s concussions. This year, with Tagovailoa healthy, Hill (42 catches, 814 yards) is on pace to shatter the NFL record for receiving yards.
Hill’s success isn’t totally surprising. What is astounding is how much speed the Dolphins have. According to the NFL’s Next Gen Stats, seven of the top 10 fastest speeds reached by ball carriers in a game have been recorded by a Miami player: either Hill, De’Von Achane, or Raheem Mostert. Second-year head coach Mike McDaniel has utilized that speed to score over 30 points four times, including the shocking 70-20 destruction of the Denver Broncos.
Will the Eagles be able to keep up? Philadelphia’s offense isn’t quite as dominant as it was last season (29.1 points per game, 385.8 total yards per game in 2022), but it still has game-breakers like A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith, and it has just added future Hall of Famer Julio Jones to the mix. Jones, 34, might not have much left in the tank, but when he’s your No. 3 or No. 4 receiver, that’s pretty good.
A.J. BROWN MY GOODNESS
— B/R Gridiron (@brgridiron) October 1, 2023
59-YARD TD 😤
(via @NFL)pic.twitter.com/vdtF1bfHAv
Philadelphia is coming off its first defeat of the season, a 20-14 upset loss at the New York Jets. Jalen Hurts, the 2022 NFL MVP runner-up, was uncharacteristically lousy with three interceptions. He threw six picks all of last season.
The oddsmakers expect this to be a high-scoring and close matchup, with the Eagles being a slight betting favorite. Philadelphia is at home and has the superior defense. One interesting side note: Miami defensive coordinator Vic Fangio was briefly a consultant for the Eagles, helping them prepare for last season’s Super Bowl against the Chiefs.
This week, Fangio downplayed the idea of having insider information, saying: “Not a lot. I was giving them more information than they were giving me. That’s kind of the way it turned out. If there is any advantage to be had by me being there last year, it is in their favor.”
On paper, this looks like an exciting game. Hopefully, it will be.
