On Friday we have an interesting preseason between two teams playing their first games of the year, with the Atlanta Falcons visiting Miami to play the Dolphins. Hard Rock Stadium will host kickoff at 7 p.m. ET for fans in South Florida's first taste of professional football this season.
This game will make headlines because it will feature the debut of Michael Penix Jr. Atlanta shocked the NFL world by taking the former Washington standout with the eighth overall pick after having already signed Kirk Cousins. Now, in what looks like it'll be a redshirt year if Cousins stays healthy, Penix will begin his NFL development with this preseason matchup. How am I planning on betting the matchup?
Falcons vs Dolphins Prediction
Falcons vs Dolphins Odds
| Falcons Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-2.5 -115 | 38.5 -110o / -110u | -145 |
| Dolphins Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+2.5 -105 | 38.5 -110o / -110u | +125 |
Sam Farley's Falcons vs Dolphins Prediction
Falcons Get First Look at Penix to Shine
Here's my matchup analysis. As always with preseason, it's about which starters we'll see on the field and how strong the quarterback depth is. For the Falcons, this is the key question, and their fans will be excited to see it. We won't see Kirk Cousins on Friday, with the former Viking looking likely to be kept out of preseason. That leaves the backups, which are hugely interesting.
First up is Penix, who was picked eighth overall in this year's NFL Draft. It was a shock at the time to pick a quarterback so high after signing Cousins in free agency, but Morris can now give Penix a chance to shine and showcase why the team made that decision.
He won't have the majority of the Falcons starters around him, but we'll see if that rocket of an arm translates to the NFL. Then, he'll be replaced by Taylor Heinicke, who was 1-3 as a starter last season but is a seasoned vet with ample experience.
Dolphins Backup QBs Are Unspectacular
If we look at how Mike McDaniels has treated preseason in past seasons, we can see that he has an element of disdain for it. He routinely rests his starters and uses it to evaluate talent lower in the depth chart.
Given Tua Tagovailoa's injury history, it's not surprising that he won't start but it leaves us with a mixed bag of talent under center. Instead, we'll see Mike White and Skylar Thompson, neither of whom has established themselves as top-level backups.
Mike White started one of his two games in preseason for the Dolphins last season failing to find the endzone and getting picked off once. Speaking of picks, we saw Thompson picked off four times in three preseason games last year, despite not starting a single one.
Use Quickslip To Bet Falcons vs Dolphins
Atlanta Falcons vs Miami Dolphins Prediction
This is a game in which we are barely going to see any starters, which makes it tricky to call. Ultimately, we have to boil this down to the quarterbacks who'll be on the field in this game.
Last season we saw White and Thompson rack up more interceptions than passing touchdowns. I have a hard time putting money on them in this matchup against Atlanta's quarterback room.
Penix is an unknown in the NFL, but he offers real upside with his draft pedigree and college resume. With Heinicke serving as a capable, albeit unspectacular, backup in this game, I'll back the Falcons laying less than a field goal. My pick is Altanta at -2.5.
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