Here’s a look at how the Miami Dolphins (1-3) and Carolina Panthers (1-3) match up in six key areas ahead of Sunday’s Week 5 game at Bank of America Stadium (1 p.m., Fox):
When the Dolphins run: This may be the new focal point for the offense with wide receiver Tyreek Hill out for the season. Miami ran the most it has all season last Monday night in the win against the New York Jets, totaling 31 rushes for 123 yards. Speedy running back De’Von Achane had 20 carries for 99 yards. It could be matchup-based week-to-week on whether coach Mike McDaniel wants to utilize his burst on the ground or use him more as a pass-catcher while giving power runner Ollie Gordon II more of a workload, like the previous week against the Buffalo Bills.
The Dolphins made a change on the offensive line against the Jets, going with Cole Strange at right guard. McDaniel sounded pleased with Strange’s contributions supplanting Kion Smith and Daniel Brunskill as Miami has another game without starters James Daniels at right guard and Austin Jackson at right tackle. Second-year left tackle Patrick Paul has been phenomenal.
The Panthers are No. 23 against the run. Derrick Brown is one of the better defensive tackles in the game and a 2023 Pro Bowl selection. Carolina added former Rams inside linebacker Christian Rozeboom in the offseason. He’s a hard hitter, and safety Tre’von Moehrig, another offseason pickup, helps in run support as the team’s leading tackler (29). Edge: Dolphins
When the Panthers run: The Dolphins rank 30th against the run and struggled mightily in defending it against the Jets. After defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver challenged the unit to play with more violence, the group surrendered 76 rushing yards on the opening drive before ultimately allowing 197 yards on the ground for the game. That series, though, ended with cornerback Jack Jones punching the ball out at the goal line for a Minkah Fitzpatrick fumble recovery. It’s something Miami put an emphasis on as it recovered three fumbles Monday.
Luckily for the Dolphins, it’s weakness on weakness here. The Panthers are 26th in the NFL in rushing. Running back Chuba Hubbard goes for about 54 yards per game, and Rico Dowdle spells him. Carolina has some pieces on the offensive line, but former Dolphin Robert Hunt, who earned his first Pro Bowl bid last year with the Panthers, is on injured reserve. His backup, Chandler Zavala, is also now down, so they’re going deeper into their line depth. One of these games, the Dolphins’ young defensive linemen have to turn the corner around veteran defensive tackle Zach Sieler as linebackers Jordyn Brooks (league-leading 44 tackles) and Tyrel Dodson (42) rack up tackles. Edge: Even
When the Dolphins pass: For only the second time since joining the Dolphins in 2022, Hill is not available for a game, and Miami will have to get used to it as he’s done for the year after his gruesome knee injury. As Hill is no longer an option for quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, veteran tight end Darren Waller was unlocked last Monday night with two touchdowns in his debut with the team. As Waller’s snaps should increase, Tagovailoa can lean on him, utilize Jaylen Waddle as a true No. 1 option on the outside and build on preseason chemistry built with Malik Washington.
The Panthers have a decent pass defense, ranked 12th in the league. They have 2021 first-round pick Jaycee Horn and former Miami Hurricane Michael Jackson on the outside, with Moehrig at safety. Carolina will offer the first full game glimpse on how opponents will cover the Dolphins without Hill, after so many teams often stuck with the two-high safety shells to deter the deep pass to Hill and Waddle.
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The Panthers do not excel in rushing the passer. They have just two sacks on the season and pressure opposing quarterbacks on a league-low 7 percent of dropbacks. That’s a relief for the Dolphins’ offensive line because, aside from Paul and center Aaron Brewer, rookie left guard Jonah Savaiinaea and the backups on the right side of the line — Strange at guard most recently and Larry Borom at right tackle — have not held up in pass protection. Edge: Panthers
When the Panthers pass: Carolina quarterback Bryce Young is completing 60 percent of passes for 188 yards per game, five touchdowns and three interceptions through his first three games of Year 3 as the 2023 No. 1 pick. He struggled to get anything going last Sunday in a blowout 42-13 loss at the New England Patriots.
His top target, rookie first-round pick Tetairoa McMillan has 18 catches for 278 yards. The Dolphins secondary again may not have Storm Duck, so it remains Jones and Rasul Douglas on the boundary. Both have been fine and should only get better the more they play in this defense. Douglas had a sack on Justin Fields on Monday, and Jones, of course, had the big forced fumble at the goal line. Different combinations among other defensive backs should continue to be used, between safeties Ashtyn Davis, Ifeatu Melifonwu and Dante Trader, sometimes in three-safety nickel packages, or Cornell Armstrong as the nickel corner with Jason Marshall Jr. now on IR.
The Panthers, without Hunt at right guard, have 2022 first-round pick Ikem Ekwonu at left tackle and 2017 second-round selection Taylor Moton at right tackle. The Dolphins will look to pressure Young off the edge with Bradley Chubb, Jaelan Phillips, Chop Robinson and Matthew Judon getting their share of chances. Weaver is blitzing 37.7 percent of the time, according to Pro Football Reference, which leads the NFL. Edge: Dolphins
Special teams: Dolphins punter Jake Bailey was phenomenal late in the Monday night victory, with key punts downed at the Jets’ 3- and 1-yard line. Miami special teams also forced a turnover last time out, with Trader forcing and recovering a fumble on the opening kickoff of the second half. Plus, Washington and Dee Eskridge have been strong in the return game.
Riley Patterson will continue filling in for the injured Jason Sanders, and he has made all his kicks. Panthers kicker Ryan Fitzgerald has missed a field goal and an extra point this season. Edge: Dolphins
Intangibles: The Dolphins showed heart to remain locked in after Hill’s injury, which could’ve easily demoralized a team. That was an in-game reaction, though, and it will be tougher to keep maintain week in and week out. Carolina is 0-3 on the road, but in its one home game — and this will be played at Bank of America Stadium — the Panthers defeated division rival Atlanta, 30-0. Edge: Panthers
PREDICTION: Dolphins 24, Panthers 23
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