QB Inexperience
Probably the biggest factor going into Sunday. Several QBs struggled to read the Miami defense last year.
Considering how highly he has been touted since entering the league, Justin Herbet is probably the prime example to use in this scenario. Anthony Lynn, the former Chargers HC: “There are a lot of veteran quarterbacks that would have struggled in that game and that have struggled against Miami.”
While Mac Jones may turn out to be a very good QB in the league, can he solve the riddle that is the Miami D in his very first game?
The Dolphins WR core
Even without Will Fuller in week 1, you only have to look at the names that featured at WR against the Patriots last season to see how far we have improved at the position, both organically and through the draft. Hollins, Bowden and Ford the top WRs last year in this contest, vs Waddle, Parker and Wilson likely to be playing at WR this time around.
RBs to eat
With this increased threat at WR, there is likely to be less of a focus on the RBs. Considering Ahmed went for 122 yards in the previous encounter and we rushed for 250 yards in total, there is no reason why Gaskin and/or Ahmed can’t punish the Patriots in the running game if they’re already struggling with our new-look WR core.