With Tua Tagovailoa expected to return, I’m going to give an optimistic outlook here. Kyler Murray and Co. squeaked out a win against the Chargers on Monday Night Football to jump to 3-4. Despite the sub-.500 record, the Cardinals deserve context where it’s due: through seven weeks, they’ve had to face the Bills, Lions, Commanders, 49ers and Packers. Performances have been a mix of good and bad, but one part of their defense has been a bright spot for this team, particularly over the last three weeks, as they’ve allowed a league-low 27.7% of red zone drives end in a touchdown.
Despite the dumpster fire on offense, Miami has done well on the other side of the ball. Their secondary has held teams to a league-low 154.5 passing yards per game and their pass rush ranks first in pressure rate, per NFL Pro. The offense has been the heart of the issue in Miami in the absence of their quarterback, though that all could change this week. This is an absolute must-win for the Fins if they want any chance at narrowing the gap in the AFC East.
The Dolphins defense has generated a league-leading 43.6% pressure rate this season, including the quickest average time to pressure (2.46 seconds). They have also registered the fourth highest pressure rate (38.3%) when rushing with four or fewer defenders.
Murray has averaged 4.9 yards per attempt while under pressure this season, the seventh fewest among qualified quarterbacks. In contrast, Murray has averaged 7.3 yards per attempt when not pressured, close to league average (7.5).
