3 bold predictions for Miami Dolphins Week 2 matchup versus the San Francisco 49ers
The Miami Dolphins are back at it on the West Coast on Sunday. How will the game play out? Here are three bold predictions.
The Miami Dolphins head into Week 2 with something to prove after a lackluster season opener against the Las Vegas Raiders. Miami faces the San Francisco 49ers this week — a tall task in any season, never mind with the 49ers having extra rest and are fresh off of waxing the Los Angeles Rams.
Yet despite the leap in competition, the Dolphins should have reason to believe they can improve upon the showing versus the Raiders. Here are three bold predictions for the Dolphins’ Week 2 contest against the 49ers.
3 bold predictions for Miami Dolphins versus the San Francisco 49ers
De’Von Achane eclipses 120 yards from scrimmage
After an unassuming first game against the Raiders, the Dolphins will probably go about their game plan this week with a renewed focus on ensuring that, even if the script doesn’t go their way, De’Von Achane gets the football. Achane is too dynamic a weapon to let disappear for stretches, and Miami’s coaching staff surely knows it.
The caveat? The Dolphins need to be a lot better on first down for that to happen. They need to start sustaining drives with more consistency than what they showed against Las Vegas. If they can do that, 120-plus yards from scrimmage for Achane feels attainable.
The Dolphins log multiple turnovers against Brock Purdy
Bold prediction No. 2: Miami will once again force multiple turnovers. After tagging Kirk Cousins for two interceptions, I think they get two against San Francisco and quarterback Brock Purdy. The 49ers, without several key players in their wide receiver room, still have Deebo Samuel and the perimeter presence of Mike Evans. But I do think Miami will prove under Jeff Hafley to continue to be an opportunistic team that finds ways to take the football away.
If the Dolphins’ defense can generate those takeaways, it shortens the game and gives the offense extra possessions to work with.
Miami covers the 13.5-point spread
There has been plenty made about just how bad it felt in Week 1 against Las Vegas. But I do think that Miami, upon watching the tape, has some easily fixable things. The Dolphins have some players who need to play better, too. But things certainly are not as far off as it felt last year when Miami started the season 0-1 with a demoralizing 33-8 loss to the Indianapolis Colts—in a season with expectations.
The 49ers are the better team on paper. That’s not in dispute. But 13.5 points is a lot of breathing room, and a Dolphins squad that cleans up its self-inflicted wounds should keep this one competitive enough to stay inside that number.
One thing is for certain: Week 2 will tell us a lot about where this Dolphins team really stands. The Raiders game raised questions. The 49ers game will hopefully start to answer them.
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