ClutchPoints
The Miami Dolphins head into 2025 with as many questions as they have weapons. Can Tua Tagovailoa stay healthy? Can Tyreek Hill bounce back after a down season? And can Mike McDaniel’s team shake off the noise about dysfunction and deliver results on the field? Those questions will start being answered in Week 1, when Miami travels to Indianapolis for a season-opening clash against the Colts. With Daniel Jones now under center in Indy, both teams enter with new storylines, fresh challenges, and playoff ambitions. These make this one of the more intriguing games of opening weekend.
The Dolphins and Colts play on Sunday, Sept. 7, at Lucas Oil Stadium in a matchup that pits two teams with playoff aspirations but very different identities. In Indianapolis, head coach Shane Steichen surprised many by naming Jones the starting quarterback over former first-round pick Anthony Richardson. The Colts believe Jones gives them a steadier hand in a weak AFC South. However, ‘Danny Dimes’ will need to show quickly that he can elevate this roster.
Miami, on the other hand, limps into the season with baggage. The Dolphins went 8-9 last year, losing four of the six games Tagovailoa missed. His health remains the ultimate swing factor for their season. Reports from camp haven’t quieted concerns about dysfunction, too. A rebuilt secondary raises even more questions on defense. With pass rushers Bradley Chubb and Jaelan Phillips needing to stay healthy to cover up deficiencies, Miami enters Week 1 as a volatile but dangerous team.
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Here we will look at and discuss some bold predictions for the game between the Dolphins and the Colts in Week 1 of the 2025 NFL season.
The Dolphins need Tyreek Hill to be a superstar again. Last season was a nightmare for him. He finished under 1,000 yards for the first time since arriving in Miami. Hill was hampered by a wrist injury and controversy surrounding his effort late in the year. Now relatively healthy, Hill is positioned to return to form.
Against the Colts, Hill’s speed should be a game-changer. Indianapolis doesn’t have the defensive backs to consistently contain him. Tagovailoa will be eager to hit him on deep shots to silence critics. Expect Hill to surpass 70 receiving yards and find the end zone, jump-starting his bid to reassert himself as one of the league’s elite wideouts. For Miami’s offense to truly click, Hill’s bounce-back is non-negotiable.
When Tagovailoa is on the field, Miami wins. Under McDaniel, the Dolphins are 25-16 straight up with Tua starting. His career record with the team is 38-24. His ability to execute the quick, timing-based offense is central to everything Miami does. After missing last year’s Colts matchup with a concussion, he should make up for lost time in Week 1.
The Colts’ defense struggled...
