The Miami Dolphins are staying at home in Miami Gardens, Florida this week to take on the Carolina Panthers on Sunday afternoon for a Week 6 matchup.
Mike McDaniel’s team is 4-1, having won their last matchup against the New York Giants on Sunday. Their offense has proven to be one of the best in the league, and the defense can show up and hold teams out of the end zone.
Carolina, on the other hand, has struggled this year, losing their first five games of the season. First-overall pick Bryce Young hasn’t had the smoothest adjustment to the NFL, as he’s completed 63.9% of his passes for 750 yards with five touchdowns, four interceptions and a 77.0 passer rating in his four starts.
Here are a few things that the Dolphins and Panthers fanbases should know and think about before the game.
Rankings
Points scored per game (2023)
- Carolina (18.2 – 25th)
- Miami (36.2 – 1st)
Points allowed per game (2023)
- Carolina (28.8 – 28th)
- Miami (27.0 – 26th)
Yards gained per game (2023)
- Carolina (294.4 – 23rd)
- Miami (513.6 – 1st)
Yards allowed per game (2023)
- Carolina (325.8 – 13th)
- Miami (353.2 – 23rd)
Records
The Dolphins are 5-2 all-time against the Panthers, but they’re 1-3 since 2010. Miami is also 3-1 against Carolina at home.
These two teams last met in 2021, when Cam Newton returned to Carolina to start after he left for New England for a year. Miami won 33-10, and Tua Tagovailoa hit Jaylen Waddle for a touchdown.
Injury concerns
The Dolphins have already placed left tackle Terron Armstead and running back De’Von Achane on injured reserve in the past two weeks.
Now, they have center Connor Williams and right guard Robert Hunt dealing with injuries, so they may have a hard time protecting Tagovailoa and providing any push for their running backs.
On the other side, the Panthers listed 13 players on their injury report on Thursday, with some key players like Derrick Browns, Brian Burns, Xavier Woods, Miles Sanders and Chandler Zavala all not participating.
Connections
- Dolphins defensive coordinator Vic Fangio served as Panthers defensive coordinator from 1995-98.
- Special teams coordinator Danny Crossman served as Panthers special teams assistant from 2003-04, special teams coach from 2005-06 and special teams coordinator from 2007-09.
- Panthers quarterbacks coach Josh McCown spent the offseason with the Dolphins in 2008.
- Panthers wide receivers coach served as the Dolphins wide receivers coach from 2016-18.
- Panthers senior defensive assistant Dom Campers served as Dolphins defensive coordinator from 2006-07.
- Panthers senior assistant Jim Caldwell served as Dolphins assistant head coach and quarterbacks coach in 2019.
- Dolphins wide receiver Robbie Chosen played for the Panthers in 2022.
- Dolphins cornerback Eli Apple played for the Panthers in 2020.
- Panthers defensive end DeShawn Williams spent time on the Dolphins practice squad in 2018.
- Panthers linebacker Kamu Grugier-Hill played for the Dolphins in 2020.
