The Atlanta Falcons and Miami Dolphins kick off the NFL preseason against one another on Friday, August 9 at 7:00 pm ET at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida. Both teams are expected to show signs of priestess after a strong offseason. The Falcons are favored on the road to win with a point spread at -2.5 (-120).
The Falcons finished 7-10-0 last season and were third overall in the NFC South. They have an opportunity to set the tone early this year but must show they have made the proper adjustments.
Under offensive coordinator Dave Ragone, the team averaged 18.9 points per Game. This ranked 26th overall in the league, which shows they were on the tail end of getting things going.
As for their defense, they allowed teams to average 21.9 points per Game (ranking 18th in the league) with Ryan Nielsen as their defensive coordinator. With some key additions on defense, they aim to improve here.
The Falcons ended the regular season with two tough losses, both of which they scored 17 points each. Defensively, they allowed an average of 42.5, which does not bode well for their outlook this season.
The Dolphins made a solid run last season and finished second in the AFC with an 11-6 record. After a strong offseason, they are poised to repeat this success.
Their offense shined in many ways, as they ranked second overall in the league when they averaged 29.2 points per Game. Offensive coordinator Frank Smith had their offense going strong, and once again, they could pick up where they left off.
Defensively, they were a step behind the Falcons, allowing opponents to average 23.0 points per game and ranked 22nd in the league. If they can improve here, they will likely be a favorite in the division this year.
The Dolphins capped off their season with three consecutive losses. In these games, they averaged 13.3 points per game and gave up 34.3, so their defense was not up to par going into the next season.
MyBookie gives you appealing NFL preseason betting odds favoring the Atlanta Falcons. Market insights suggest this will be a tight matchup, especially with a spread of under three points.
The Dolphins have the upper hand if both teams pick up where they left off. They are playing at home and should have an edge.
This will likely not be the exact starting lineup for both teams, as these are preseason games that will test certain lineups and player positions. That being said, look for the Dolphins to cover the spread.
