The Miami Dolphins are coming off of a terrible loss to the Buffalo Bills. They lost 35-0 and lost Tua Tagovailoa to injury in the first quarter. Tagovailoa will be out for the long-term as the Dolphins have placed him on the injured reserve list.
Miami now looks on to its Week 3 game against the Las Vegas Raiders. Jacoby Brissett will be under center for the Dolphins with Tagovailoa out, which will make this game difficult to win. The Raiders have started red hot with a 2-0 record, shocking many people. Derek Carr is playing at an elite level thus far, which has been vital in the Raiders winning games. With that said, here are four bold predictions for the Dolphins' week three matchup against the Raiders.
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Dolphins 2021 NFL Regular Season Week 3 Predictions
4. Jaylen Waddle catches a touchdown
While Tagovailoa is out, Jaylen Waddle is available and could perform at a high level. Miami selected Waddle with the sixth pick in the draft, and he is a talented wide receiver. Last week, Waddle had six receptions for 48 yards in the blowout loss.
Waddle led the team in receptions with Brissett under center, and that should continue this week. The Raiders have a solid defense, but Waddle and the Dolphins' offense will move the ball down the field.
3. Jacoby Brissett throws two touchdowns
Jacoby Brissett was thrust into the game against the Bills following Tagovailoa's injury. He had a subpar performance, throwing for 169 yards on 40 pass attempts. Brissett also threw an interception and was unable to get Miami any points on the board.
In the past, Brissett has shown his ability to put up solid numbers. Back in the 2019 season, Brissett threw for 2,942 yards, 18 touchdowns, and six interceptions. While these aren't elite numbers, they are good enough to compete in games. He should be able to put up a good fight for the Dolphins this week against the Raiders.
2. Dolphins defense forces a turnover
Although the Dolphins struggled in week two, they have a very talented defense. Miami's secondary includes two of the league's best cornerbacks in Byron Jones and Xavien Howard. They forced two turnovers in the Dolphins' loss, including a fumble recovery and an interception.
The Raiders' offense hasn't turned the ball over much, but they are now up against a great defense. Look for the Dolphins defense to get after, whether or not they have offensive support behind them.
1. Dolphins lose by ten or more
While Miami's defense should show up, the offense is a big question mark. They were unable to score last week against the Bills and likely won't keep up with the Raiders. Carr is playing at an MVP level for the Raiders thus far as he has thrown for 817 yards, four touchdowns, and only one interception.
The Raiders have beaten two tough opponents in the Baltimore Ravens and Pittsburgh Steelers so far. This is another game for them to prove that they are a contender in the AFC. It will be hard for Miami to overcome the Raiders, especially without Tagovailoa. The Dolphins' road ahead will be difficult, and their playoff aspirations may go down the drain. Look for the Dolphins to have a tough stretch with Tagovailoa out and struggle to pick up victories.
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