Dolphins Week Two: A Chance to Reset Against the Patriots
The Miami Dolphins enter Week Two with one clear objective: make everyone forget what happened last Sunday. Their opener was nothing short of a disaster, as they fell 33-8 to the Daniel Jones-led Indianapolis Colts. The loss didn’t just raise questions about the talent on Miami’s roster; it also put head coach Mike McDaniel and general manager Chris Grier under the microscope. Reports have already suggested that both could be on the hot seat if the season spirals the way Week One hinted it might. With that in mind, here’s how the Dolphins can prove last week was nothing more than opening-week jitters.
Injury Report
Why are things never easy for the Miami Dolphins? Just when it feels like rock bottom, things somehow get worse. Earlier this week, the team announced that starting right guard James Daniels will be placed on injured reserve after suffering a pectoral injury on Miami’s opening offensive drive. He’s expected to miss three to four weeks. Right tackle Austin Jackson’s status is also uncertain, as he continues to work back from a training camp injury. That means Larry Borom and Kion Smith are likely to step in on the offensive line.
There is some good news: tight end Darren Waller, who missed Week One, is set to make his Dolphins debut this Sunday against the Patriots. Though he sat out the first two practices of the week, he’s expected to return later in the week. Wide receiver Jaylen Waddle is another name to watch. He logged two limited practices after briefly exiting the opener with a shoulder injury before returning to the field.
Keys to Beating the Patriots
One of Miami’s biggest mistakes in Week One was abandoning the run game. With De’Von Achane, one of the NFL’s most dynamic backs, and rookie Ollie Gordon, the Dolphins have the pieces to create balance. Yet against Indianapolis, the duo combined for just nine carries, even though they averaged over six yards per attempt. Falling behind early played a role, but leaning entirely on the passing game only made matters worse. This week’s opponent won’t make things easy. The Patriots, under the hard-nosed leadership of Mike Vrabel, remain one of the NFL’s toughest run defenses.
In their loss to Las Vegas, New England allowed just 38 rushing yards on 19 carries to rookie Ashton Jeanty. However, they were exposed through the air, as Geno Smith torched them for 362 yards. The Dolphins should take a page out of last year’s playbook. Even when the Patriots bottled up Achane on the ground, he still made an impact as a receiver, posting 50 rushing yards and scoring twice through the air. If McDaniel wants to steady the ship, he must feature Achane more prominently and establish the run early, even against a stout front.
The Players-Only Meeting
Following the Week One loss, the Dolphins held a players-only meeting to address what went wrong. History suggests those meetings often signal bigger concerns about a team’s direction. As J.J. Watt said back in 2023, “If you’re doing players-only meetings, just go ahead and book your January vacations.” Whether that applies to Miami remains to be seen. The Dolphins now have a chance to reset at home, searching for their first win of the season against the also-winless Patriots.
