The Green Bay Packers will welcome the surging Miami Dolphins to Lambeau Field for a Thanksgiving Night showdown in Week 13. After starting 2-5 and dealing with an injury to Tua Tagovailoa, the Dolphins have won three straight games and are picking up steam offensively since Tagovailoa returned to the lineup. The Packers, meanwhile, have won five of the last six games, including Sunday’s blowout win over the shorthanded San Francisco 49ers.
Can the Packers feast in primetime and ruin the holiday for their visitors from Miami?
Here’s a closer look at the Dolphins in Week 13:
Last week (Win, 34-15 over Patriots)
The Dolphins scored 31 straight points and led 31-0 into the fourth quarter of a blowout win in Miami. The Patriots scored on a 4th-and-15 touchdown pass and a fumble return for a touchdown during garbage time. Tua Tagovailoa threw four touchdown passes, including a pair to running back Devon Achane in the first half. Jaylen Waddle caught eight passes for 144 yards and a score, and Jonnu Smith added nine catches for 87 yards and a score. The Dolphins sacked Drake Maye four times and forced two turnovers, including a fumble setting up a touchdown. Miami struggled to run the ball (23 carries, 65 yards) but it didn’t matter. This one was over early.
Quarterback play
Tua Tagovailoa returned from a head injury suffered in Week 2 and has ignited the Dolphins passing game. Over the last three games, Tagovailoa has eight touchdown passes and just one interception as the Dolphins have beaten the Rams, Raiders and Patriots. He’s completing a league-high 73.3 percent of attempts and has a passer rating of 106.1. Tagovailoa is one of the NFL’s best timing passers, and he can be deadly hitting in-breakers or underneath passes with anticipation and accuracy. While not a statue, Tagovailoa is not a major threat to scramble or create rushing yards with his legs. He wants to get the ball out quick and on time. The Packers can’t let him play from clean pockets and must force Tagovailoa to make decisions under pressure.
Line of scrimmage
The Dolphins offense is averaging only 4.1 yards per rush attempt and has allowed 27 sacks, suggesting a potential weak spot up front. At PFF, the Dolphins rank 15th in pass-blocking grade and 16th in run-blocking grade. Left tackle Terron Armstead is 33 but remains one of the best in the business, and center Aaron Brewer is having a nice season. Robert Jones, the left guard, has struggled as a pass-blocker, while veteran Kendall Lamm took over recently at right tackle. Defensively, the Dolphins are giving up 4.3 yards per carry and have 21 sacks. At PFF, Miami ranks eighth in run defense and 19th in pass-rushing grade. Rookie Chop Robinson has emerged as a game-wrecking pass-rusher. Even at 38, Calais Campbell is an impact player against the run (team high nine tackles for loss) and as an interior rusher, while defensive lineman Zach Sieler has 27 pressures.
Turnovers
The Dolphins have 12 giveaways and 11 takeaways, creating a minus-1 turnover differential. Miami ranks 22nd in fumbles lost with seven, including one returned for a touchdown last week. Tua Tagovailoa has thrown four interceptions but has eight turnover worthy plays in seven games. The Dolphins have intercepted seven passes, including two from Jalen Ramsey, and six different players have a forced fumble. The turnover margin hasn’t been perfectly predictive for the Dolphins this season — they are 2-2 when turning the ball over two or more times and 2-1 when getting multiple takeaways.
Injury situation
Dolphins cornerback Kendall Fuller isn’t expected to play while dealing with a concussion. Left tackle Terron Armstead wasn’t estimated to have practiced on Monday with a knee injury, but he’s played through the issue during each of the last two weeks. Receiver Tyreek Hill is playing through a wrist injury. Receiver Braxton Berrios, former Packer Grant DuBose, right tackle Austin Jackson and edge rusher Jaelen Phillips are on injured reserve.
Players to know
DE Chop Robinson: The rookie from Penn State has 22 pressures on only 82 pass-rushing snaps over the last three games. He’ll rush from both sides.
RB Devon Achane: He leads the Dolphins in rushing yards and all NFL running backs with five receiving touchdowns. While only 5-8 and under 190 pounds, Achane is dynamic.
TE Jonnu Smith: Everyone knows Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle, but Smith — the veteran tight end — has been a capable underneath target. He’s second on the team in targets and coming off a game in which he caught nine passes.
DL Zach Sieler: The veteran interior defender has three or more pressures in six games this season. His four sacks are tied for the team lead, while his nine quarterback hits lead the Dolphins.
CB Storm Duck: The rookie with an awesome name was excellent as a starter opposite Jalen Ramsey against the Patriots last week.
K Jason Saunders: The veteran kicker has made seven kicks over 50 yards this season.
