by Hate ’em or love ’em, we’ve got another doubleheader on “Monday Night Football” this week. The fun starts in South Beach, where the Miami Dolphins host the still winless Tennessee Titans. Miami is coming off a 24-3 loss to the Seattle Seahawks with Skylar Thompson at quarterback, while the Titans were shut out by the quarterback they traded a month ago and lost 30-14 to the Green Bay Packers.
Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa will miss at least three more games after being placed on injured reserve due to a concussion, and Thompson also won’t start this week. Instead, it will be former Pro Bowler Tyler Huntley under center, who was claimed from the Baltimore Ravens practice squad earlier this month. Can he spark the Dolphins’ offense and keep them in the playoffs?
Let’s break down this AFC prime-time matchup. But first, find out how to watch the match.
All NFL odds are via SportsLine Consensus.
Where to look
Date: Monday September 30 | Time: 7:30 PM ET
Location: Hard Rock Stadium (Miami Gardens)
Channel: ESPN | Current: fubo (free trial)
To follow: CBS Sports App
Chances: Dolphins -2.5, O/U 37
Trends
- The Titans upset the Dolphins, 28-27, as a 13.5-point underdog in Week 14 last season. It was the biggest upset by spread in the NFL in 2023
- The Titans have a 6-21 record as of Week 12 of the 2022 season. It is the second-worst record in the NFL during that span
- The Titans are 9-3 straight and against the spread on “Monday Night Football” since 2008.
- The Dolphins have failed in six straight games, including the playoffs. It is the longest active streak in the NFL
- The Dolphins have lost, failing to cover four consecutive primetime games
- Both the Titans and Dolphins are 0-3 against the spread this season
When the Titans have the ball
All the money Tennessee spent in free agency this offseason has yet to lead to a win. What Titans fans hope to see Monday night is more consistency on offense, as well as better play from quarterback Will Levis and the offensive line.
Levis has turned the ball over eight times in three games. No player has turned the ball over more than Levis and that is the main reason why Tennessee is 0-3. He has multiple turnovers in all three games, but the Titans do have one of the worst offensive lines in the NFL. PFF ranked Levis’ protection as the second-worst offensive line entering Week 4 after he was sacked eight times for a loss of 56 yards against the Packers. It is rookie left tackle JC Latham who has probably been the best offensive lineman for the Titans, while right tackle and Fantasy football expert Nicholas Petit-Frere is in serious danger of losing his job.
Tennessee went out and acquired Calvin Ridley and Tyler Boyd in free agency, but the receiver Levis is most comfortable throwing to is without a doubt DeAndre Hopkins. Unfortunately, the veteran is trying to play through a torn MCL. He got off to a slow start this season, catching just two passes for 17 yards in Weeks 1-2 before seemingly getting back on track with 73 yards and his first touchdown of 2024 on six receptions last week against the Packers.
Last year, when the Titans scored one of the best unlikely comebacks the NFL has seen in two decades over the Dolphins, Hopkins caught seven passes for 124 yards and one touchdown. Keep an eye on him as Levis and first-year coach Brian Callahan try to resolve their issues.
When the dolphins have the ball
Welcome to the Huntley Show. The Dolphins are now 1-5 without Tagovailoa in the starting lineup, and you can understand why Mike McDaniel wanted to try something different after his offense put up just 205 yards of total offense against the Seahawks.
Huntley is 3-6 as a starter and has averaged 154.3 passing yards per game with five touchdowns and six interceptions in those nine starts. He earned Pro Bowl honors in 2022 as an alternate after stepping in for the injured Lamar Jackson and helping Baltimore reach the playoffs. While questions remain about how familiar he is with this new offense, Huntley offers dual-threat options that can be utilized by coach McDaniel. Huntley will not be called upon to shoulder the load and will single-handedly lead Miami to victory. Instead, he will be asked to feed the Dolphins’ playmakers better than Thompson.
De’Von Achane averaged 4.1 yards per touch last week vs. Seattle. That was his fewest ever in an NFL game. Despite being listed as questionable to play in the Week 2 game against the Buffalo Bills with an ankle injury, Achane collected a career-high 29 touches and became the first Dolphin to record 100 scrimmage yards and a touchdown in each of the first competitions. two games in a season since Ricky Williams accomplished the feat in 2003. Achane entered Week 4 ranked ninth in scrimmage yards (323).
Getting Tyreek Hill going is also something that is important. He has had consecutive games with fewer than five receptions and 50 receiving yards, and is averaging 68.5 receiving yards per game and zero touchdowns when playing without Tagovailoa. How Huntley impacts this offense will be the most important thing to watch on Monday night.
Tyreek Hill with dolphins
|
Games |
32 |
6 |
|
Receiving yards per play |
107.0 |
68.5 |
|
Receiving Touchdowns |
22 |
0 |
|
100 meter games |
15 |
1 |
Prediction
This isn’t a game I expect people to feel like betting on, but I think Tennessee has some value in terms of covering the spread and winning the first game of the season. As we’ve discussed, the Dolphins have been bad without Tagovailoa at quarterback. Huntley offers more upside than Thompson, but this is also a player who only joined the organization a few weeks ago.
The Titans defense ranks No. 5 in the league in total yards allowed per game. If Levis can provide the football, I foresee a low-scoring win for the Titans.
Projected score: Titans 17-10 over Dolphins
RJ White, who has a 27-17 ATS roll on Titans games, has released his best bets for the “Monday Night Football” game between the Titans and Dolphins. We can tell you that he is down on the points total. Find out here who he supports against the spread.
