Dolphins-Titans predictions: Will Miami tighten its grip on playoff berth vs. No. 2 seed Tennessee?

Dolphins (8-7) astatine Titans (10-5), Sunday, 1 p.m., CBS

Latest line: Titans are favored by 3 1/2 points; over/under is 40.

Dave Hyde, Sports Columnist (Season record: 10-5): Titans 20, Dolphins 17

On the road, successful the cold, against the No. 2 effect successful the AFC, it’s hard to prime the Dolphins winning. Tennessee has warts, though, starting with an discourtesy this red-hot Dolphins defence tin upend. If that’s the case, and if Tua Tagovailoa plays mistake-free, you tin spot the way to an upset. But Tennessee is the favourite by Vegas oddsmakers for a reason.

Omar Kelly, Dolphins Columnist (Season record: 11-4): Dolphins 21, Titans 17

These are the types of games that physique legacies, and alteration a franchise’s trajectory. Tua Tagovailoa was taken 5th successful the 2020 draught due to the fact that these are the situations wherever helium thrives. Tagovailoa has been much than efficient, starring the NFL successful completion percent (70.1). His favourite target, Jaylen Waddle, needs six receptions to interruption the rookie grounds of 101 acceptable by Anquan Boldin successful 2003. Waddle has had astatine slightest 8 catches successful 4 consecutive games.

David Furones, Dolphins Writer (Season record: 11-4): Dolphins 20, Titans 16

Tennessee’s 4 much days of remainder and mentation is concerning with Miami playing Monday nighttime and the Titans the erstwhile Thursday. But Tennessee simply isn’t the aforesaid without prima RB Derrick Henry. Since helium went down with an injury, the Titans are 4-3. They’re inactive a carnal squad that tin tally the ball, but the mode Miami’s defence is playing, they should halt the tally and fluster Ryan Tannehill with unit and antithetic looks. I besides spot Tua Tagovailoa to negociate the crippled wisely. The season’s precocious bye and comparative wellness should besides assistance the Dolphins coming disconnected the abbreviated week.

Kathy Laughlin, Sports Editor (Season record: 10-5): Dolphins 27, Titans 24

This volition beryllium tight, and don’t judge Ryan Tannehill erstwhile helium says he’s lone focused connected looking ahead. As overmuch arsenic the erstwhile Dolphins QB wants to triumph each week, helium would instrumentality other pleasance successful pounding the squad that gave up connected him — earlier helium recovered occurrence successful Tennessee. The Dolphins’ defence volition person its hands full. If Miami tin get adjacent a tiny a spark of moving crippled to instrumentality a small unit disconnected Tua Tagovailoa, the Dolphins should beryllium capable to widen their winning streak to 8 and support their playoff hopes alive.

Keven Lerner, Assistant Sports Editor (Season record: 9-6): Titans 24, Dolphins 20

Ryan Tannehill, who the Dolphins drafted successful 2012, is poised to nonstop revenge connected the squad that traded him to Tennessee successful 2019. Tannehill has an NFL-best 13 game-winning drives since then. He besides has been sacked 45 times this season, 2nd astir successful the league. While the Dolphins pb the NFL with 45 sacks, including 33 successful the past 7 games, Titans manager Mike Vrabel volition person a program successful spot to dilatory down Miami’s walk rush. Tennessee tin clinch a 2nd consecutive AFC South rubric and 3rd consecutive playoff berth with a win.

Steve Svekis, Assistant Sports Editor (Season record: 9-6): Titans 20, Dolphins 12

The Dolphins volition beryllium against the elements and a carnal Titans squad that boasts a backmost successful Ryan Tannehill, who, adjacent with his shortcomings, is superior to immoderate backmost the Dolphins person faced successful astir 2 months. The Dolphins discourtesy has averaged conscionable 18.5 points a crippled this year, and lone 14.1 points a crippled against teams with a winning record. The forecast is for a precocious of 35 degrees with upwind up to 18 mph.