To say that Miami had a disappointing 2015 season would be a severe understatement. The Dolphins finished last campaign with a woeful 6-10 record as they missed the playoffs for the seventh consecutive year.
Miami’s top brass decided it was time to make a change and installed Adam Gase as its new head coach this past offseason. He’s now the fourth man to take the reins here in Miami at the start of a season in the past decade. Gase will be hell-bent on improving a Miami offense that averaged just 19.4 points per game last season, 27th in the entire NFL.
Gase’s main task this season is to improve the play of Ryan Tannehill. He has gotten the most out of quarterbacks Peyton Manning, Jay Cutler and Tim Tebow in his young coaching career and Gase is expected to do the same with Tannehill. The 28-year old has progressed in each of his past four seasons with Miami, throwing for a career-high 4,208 yards with 24 touchdowns last season.
It will be interesting to see how Tannehill’s partnership with Jarvis Landry will improve under the watchful eyes of Gase. Landry, a 2015 Pro Bowl selection, caught 110 passes for 1,157 yards for Miami last season. He was ranked 4th in the NFL in receptions and 13th in receiving yards last campaign. The 23-year-old wide receiver, however, needs to become more of a red-zone threat this season for Miami to become a playoff team. Landry only had four touchdowns for the Dolphins last season.
The Dolphins are 5-1 SU and ATS in their last six games against the Seahawks. They are pegged at +2,500to win the AFC Championship this season.
The Seattle Seahawks still have a bitter taste in their mouths following a nightmarish loss to Carolina in the Divisional Playoffs last season. The Seahawks’ road back to redemption begins at CenturyLink Field, where they will lock horns with the Miami Dolphins. Seattle went 5-3 SU and 4-4 ATS in its eight home games last season.
For the Seahawks to start their season on a winning note, they will need their defense to step up its play once again. Seattle finished last season ranked second in total yards allowed (291.8) and first (17.3) in scoring defense. We can expect more of the same from the Seahawks this season with Richard Sherman, Earl Thomas, Kam Chancellor, K.J. Wright all returning for the 2014 Super Bowl champions.
Apart from Seattle’s defense, much is expected as well from quarterback Russell Wilson. With Seattle losing the heart and soul of its offense in running back Marshawn Lynch, the onus is on Wilson to carry the scoring load for the Seahawks.
Wilson had the best season of his career in 2015, throwing for 4,024 yards and 34 touchdowns against eight interceptions, and had a passer rating of 110.1. The 27-year-old also had 103 rushes for 553 yards and a touchdown last campaign. He will be licking his chops at the prospect of facing a Miami D that ranked 25th in total yards allowed (376.2) and 19th in scoring defense (24.3) last season.
Seattle is 7-3 SU and 6-4 ATS in its last 10 games overall. The Seahawks are pegged at +800to win the Super Bowl this season.
Writer’s Prediction
Wilson and the Seahawks (-10.5) jump on the Dolphins early and earn a 28-14 home win.
