Arizona Cardinals at Miami Dolphins Free Spread Pick

Arizona Cardinals (3-4 SU, 3-3-1 ATS) vs. Miami Dolphins (2-4 SU, 1-5 ATS)
NFL Football Week 8
Date/Time: Sunday, October 27, 2024 at 1PM EDT
Where: Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens, Florida
TV: Fox

The Arizona Cardinals make the trip out east to Florida to battle the Miami Dolphins in week 8 action on Sunday from Hard Rock Stadium. A 16-10 loss to Indy on Sunday sent the Dolphins to 2-4, but with some help on the way, they look to start making things right starting now. They get a scrappy Arizona team coming into town, fresh off their 17-15 MNF win over the Chargers to get to 3-4, hoping they can get to .500 against what has been a struggling Dolphins team. Let’s break this one down!

Will Miami Get off Their Backs?

Miami QB Tua Tagovailoa is starting to practice this week, with the general expectation being that he will return. There’s no question what he can do for this group, as the Dolphins’ offense is truly a depreciated unit without him. Guys like Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle seem impotent. A multi-pronged run game is out of sorts. But with him back in there, there is at least the promise that this offense can find its footing again. In that area, they’re not getting the worst opponent to showcase what they can do at closer to full strength. Arizona is scrappy and dangerous on certain weeks, but their defense is nothing special. Assuming Tua isn’t rusty or still feeling some effects, this offense stands to see a bump this week.

Still, it was concerning to see Miami come off the bye last week and, QB problems aside, put forth such a dud against the Colts. After getting off to a 10-0 lead, they were shut out in the entire second half. Getting Tua back and the expected boost that gives this offense is one consideration. Another is that, in many respects, Miami has regressed. Whether it’s a morale issue, it’s hard to say, but maybe their problems run deeper than simply whether Tua is behind center or not.

What Can the Cardinals Do About It?

At the end of the season, it’s unlikely we’ll consider the Cardinals a good team, but they can jump up and bite you in certain weeks. Their win against the Chargers on MNF was their second in three games. They also upset San Francisco and handed the Rams a 41-10 beating. Kyler Murray can be a valuable weapon, and with RB James Conner, WR Marvin Harrison, Jr., and TE Trey McBride, they have some offensive tools. Still, this is a tough out-of-conference road game for Arizona on a short week.

Perhaps lost in Miami’s offensive struggles is that their defense is holding up relatively well. Despite minimal support from the offense, Miami’s defense has held opponents to 26 total points in their last two games. Granted, Arizona has more offensive potential than Miami’s last two opponents, the Colts and Patriots. And while Murray’s mobility can cause issues, Miami’s defense might still keep things in check. However, the Dolphins don’t generate much pressure on opposing quarterbacks, and their big-play potential has been limited so far this season.

Can the Miami Offense Get Rolling?

You’d expect a player like Tyreek Hill, who has had few opportunities to shine this season, to be eager to get back on track. While Miami’s offense may not be ready to fully explode, this matchup presents a good opportunity to get things moving. Arizona’s defense can play above its level against struggling offenses, but against more functional units like Buffalo and Washington, they’ve been exposed. If Tua and the Dolphins make mistakes or aren’t fully sharp, Arizona’s defense could cause problems. However, if Miami’s offense starts clicking, Arizona will have its hands full.

What to Expect

Often when predicting games, we tend to take extreme stances on what teams will do. In this case, it feels like a game of degrees. Miami may not put up a 350-yard game with Tua, Hill, and Waddle all having big performances, but we could see something in between their recent struggles and an offensive breakout. Similarly, Arizona’s defense, while not elite, could play well enough to keep things competitive. Miami’s defense, which has benefited from facing weak offenses recently, may show some cracks if Arizona’s offensive weapons perform well. Expect a close game with both teams having their moments.

Take the Points

This feels like a spot where the pick will either be spot-on or way off. I anticipate some caution with Tua’s return, while Arizona will likely play more aggressively and with abandon. That could lead to Miami struggling offensively while Arizona does enough to keep it close. I’ll take Arizona and the points.

Loot’s Prediction to Cover the Point Spread:

I’m betting on the Arizona Cardinals plus 3 points.