The Miami Dolphins are flying high at the moment, winning their last three games to improve to 4-7 for the season. They will look to keep the momentum going in Week 12 when they host the Carolina Panthers. Here's a breakdown of this Panthers vs Dolphins matchup.
Carolina Panthers enter Week 12 as -2.5 favorites
Cam Newton's first game back in Charlotte ended in disappointment as the Carolina Panthers suffered a gut-wrenching 27-21 loss to the Washington Football Team. Taylor Heinicke spoiled Newton's homecoming, passing for 206 yards and three touchdowns in Week 11.
Newton also had a solid outing, completing 21 of 27 passes for 189 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions. He also did some damage on the ground, running for 46 yards on 10 carries, including a 24-yard score in the second quarter that gave Carolina a 14-7 lead. Unfortunately for Newton, that was not enough as he lost his ninth consecutive start for the Panthers dating back to the 2018 campaign.
It was a costly defeat for the Panthers, who fell to ninth in the NFC standings. They also now trail Tampa Bay Buccaneers by 2.5 games in the NFC South division. For the Panthers to return to the win column against the Dolphins, they will need to get a massive performance from Christian McCaffrey. He has averaged 134.1 yards from scrimmage per game since 2018, the highest in the NFL.
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Miami Dolphins installed as +2.5 underdogs
There is just no stopping Miami right now. The Dolphins extended their winning streak to three games with a 24-17 victory over the New York Jets in Week 11. It has been a stunning turnaround for the Dolphins, who had lost seven games in a row before their three-game unbeaten run.
Quarterback Tua Tagovailoa impressed in his first start since injuring his finger, completing 27 of 33 passes for 273 yards with two touchdowns and one interception. Jaylen Waddle was his favorite target, catching eight passes for 65 yards. Waddle now has 68 receptions in 2021, which is 19 more than any other rookie this season.
Tagovailoa and Waddle will be tested, though, by a Carolina side that possesses the league's top-ranked passing defense. The Panthers' secondary was exposed, though, in Week 11, with Washington recording three passing touchdowns.
One guy, the Dolphins, need to watch out for is Haason Reddick. He is tops in the NFC in sacks with 10 1/2 this season. Reddick has 18 sacks in his last 15 NFL games, dating back to last season when he was still a member of the Arizona Cardinals. That is concerning for the Dolphins as they have allowed 27 sacks this season.
Providing the impetus for Miami's resurgence is its outstanding defense. The Dolphins have yielded an average of only 12 points during their three-game unbeaten run.
Writer's Prediction
Miami beats Carolina to record its fourth straight win.
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