All Dolphins

Final NFL 2024 Week 3 Observations...With Dolphins Angles

What to know about upcoming Miami Dolphins opponents and former players based on their most recent performances.

Alain Poupart

Cleveland Browns defensive end Myles Garrett (95) closes in on New York Giants quarterback Daniel Jones (8) during the second half of an NFL football game at Huntington Bank Field, Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024, in Cleveland, Ohio.
Cleveland Browns defensive end Myles Garrett (95) closes in on New York Giants quarterback Daniel Jones (8) during the second half of an NFL football game at Huntington Bank Field, Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024, in Cleveland, Ohio. / Jeff Lange / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
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It's always dangerous to make too many assumptions about a team's schedule before a season starts. Still, three weeks in, the Miami Dolphins caught a break that their intraconference division opponents in 2024 will come from the AFC South.

Based on the standings, that division is the worst in the NFL, with a combined record of 3-9. It also includes two of the only three teams in the league that have yet to win, the Tennessee Titans and Jacksonville Jaguars. The Dolphins defeated Jacksonville in Week 1 and will face Tennessee in their next game, Monday night at Hard Rock Stadium.

A big reason for the struggles has been mistake-prone quarterbacking, with the Indianapolis Colts' Anthony Richardson (the Dolphins will see him in Week 7 after their bye) leading the NFL with six interceptions and Tennessee's Will Levis right behind with five.

Jacksonville, a team most believed would be a playoff contender heading into the season, looked more like a team headed for the first overall pick with their Monday night performance against the Buffalo Bills when the Jaguars were blown out 47-10.

Worse for the Jaguars has been the play of QB Trevor Lawrence, who played well enough when the Dolphins won in the season opener (97.7 passer rating) fresh off his big contract extension but looked bad against the Cleveland Browns and maybe even worse against the Bills.

On the flip side, Josh Allen, who the Dolphins will see again in Week 9, had another mistake-free performance and now has seven touchdown passes and zero interceptions on the season.

BROWNS, BEATEN AND BATTERED

The Dolphins' brutal season-ending six-game stretch may not be as brutal as initially feared, partly because of what's happening in Cleveland.

Put simply, the Browns are a mess.

Cleveland fell to 1-2 with their loss against the uninspiring New York Giants on Sunday. Deshaun Watson was sacked eight times. The Browns' only victory of the season came against Jacksonville in Week 2.

The Browns have a potential nightmarish issue on their hands, with reigning AFC Defensive Player of the Year Myles Garrett revealing last week that he's dealing with foot issues that might require surgery at some point.

The Dolphins-Cleveland game is scheduled for Sunday night in Week 17, but at this very early stage, it could be a matchup that gets flexed out.

49ERS FALLING SHORT

Another one of those tough matchups down the stretch for the Dolphins is against the San Francisco 49ers in Week 16. The defending NFC champions are off to a disappointing 1-2 start after their 27-24 loss against the Los Angeles Rams in Week 3.

While it's easy to point to the 49ers' playing that game without Christian McCaffrey, Deebo Samuel, and George Kittle, the real problem in San Francisco is the defense.

The 49ers failed to hold two separate 14-point leads in that game, despite Rams QB Matthew Stafford being without his top two receivers — Puka Nacua and Cooper Kupp. And now the 49ers will be without starting defensive tackle Javon Hargrave, out of the season with a triceps injury.

McCaffrey's status for the rest of 2024 seems uncertain in light of the news he's visiting a specialist in Germany, but while there's no doubt the 49ers miss all that he brings to the offense, the fact remains that his replacement, Jordan Mason, is second in the NFL in rushing yards.

FORMER DOLPHINS NEWS

  • Make it three straight games with a sack for linebacker Andrew Van Ginkel, whose performance has helped the Minnesota Vikings start 3-0.
  • Safety Brandon Jones had himself a big day in the Denver Broncos' upset victory against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Raymond James Stadium with an interception and a fumble recovery.
  • Guard Robert Hunt helped the Carolina Panthers record their highest point total since December 2022 with their 36-22 victory against the Las Vegas Raiders. Hunt made highlight reels with a memorable downfield block in that game.
  • The Pittsburgh Steelers have ridden the No. 1 defense in the NFL to a 3-0 record, and it's worth mentioning that it features three former Dolphins players in the starting lineup — Minkah Fitzpatrick, Elandon Roberts, and DeShon Elliott. Elliott, who played one season for Miami, leads the team in tackles. Roberts knocked Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert out of the game Sunday with a sack that caused an aggravation of Herbert's ankle injury.
  • Jacoby Brissett will remain the New England Patriots' starting quarterback despite getting pulled late in the 24-3 loss against the New York Jets last Thursday, which still puts him on track to start against the Dolphins in Week 5.

THE MIAMI DOLPHINS ON SI POWER RANKINGS

How we ranked the 32 NFL teams (because everybody is doing it) based on record, quality of wins, and talent.

  1. Buffalo Bills (3-0)
  2. Minnesota Vikings (3-0)
  3. Kansas City Chiefs (3-0)
  4. Philadelphia Eagles (2-1)
  5. Detroit Lions (2-1)
  6. Houston Texans (2-1)
  7. Pittsburgh Steelers (3-0)
  8. Green Bay Packers (2-1)
  9. San Francisco 49ers (1-2)
  10. Baltimore Ravens (1-2)
  11. New York Jets (2-1)
  12. Seattle Seahawks (3-0)
  13. Washington Commanders (2-1)
  14. Los Angeles Chargers (2-1)
  15. New Orleans Saints (2-1)
  16. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2-1)
  17. Dallas Cowboys (1-2)
  18. Los Angeles Rams (1-2)
  19. Atlanta Falcons (1-2)
  20. Las Vegas Raiders (1-2)
  21. Miami Dolphins (1-2)
  22. Cincinnati Bengals (0-3)
  23. Denver Broncos (1-2)
  24. Arizona Cardinals (1-2)
  25. Chicago Bears (1-2)
  26. Cleveland Browns (1-2)
  27. Indianapolis Colts (1-2)
  28. New England Patriots (1-2)
  29. New York Giants (1-2)
  30. Carolina Panthers (1-2)
  31. Jacksonville Jaguars (0-3)
  32. Tennessee Titans (0-3)
Published |Modified
Alain Poupart

ALAIN POUPART

Alain Poupart is the publisher/editor of All Dolphins and co-host of the All Dolphins Podcast. Alain has covered the Miami Dolphins on a full-time basis since 1989 for various publications and media outlets, including Dolphin Digest, The Associated Press, the Dolphins team website, and the Fan Nation Network (part of Sports Illustrated). In addition to being a credentialed member of the Miami Dolphins press corps, Alain has covered three Super Bowls (for NFL.com, Football News and the Montreal Gazette), the annual NFL draft, the Senior Bowl, and the NFL Scouting Combine. During his almost 40 years in journalism, which began at the now-defunct Miami News, Alain has covered practically every sport at one time or another, from tennis to golf, baseball, basketball and everything in between. The career also included time as a copy editor, including work on several books such as "Still Perfect," an inside look at the Miami Dolphins' 1972 perfect season. A native of Montreal, Canada, whose first language is French, Alain grew up a huge hockey fan but soon developed a love for all sports, including NFL football. He has lived in South Florida since the 1980s.

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