The Miami Dolphins host the Jacksonville Jaguars in a Jaguars and Dolphins week one matchup with two Florida teams fighting to start the year off strong. After a long and productive offseason for the Jaguars, the 2024 season is finally here.
There’s a lot to look forward to, and plenty of players to watch throughout the season. The bold predictions for the Jaguars 2024 season are in, the fans are ready, and the tailgate lots are finally being opened. For the Jaguars and Dolphins’ week one showdown, there are three key matchups to watch for.
Jaguars and Dolphins Week One Preview and Injury Report
Jaguars Offensive Line vs Dolphins Defensive Line
The trenches are always critical when it comes to football, especially so in the NFL. The Jaguars in 2023 had a rough season with their offensive line. Battling injuries, suspensions, poor play, and rookie bumps. Overall, it was a frustrating offensive line for Jaguars fans. The offseason came, and the Jaguars made one move along that front that made the 2024 offensive line outlook a lot brighter: the signing of veteran center Mitch Morse.
The former Buffalo Bills center comes to Jacksonville to be the centerpiece of the Jaguars offensive line, and he is a monumental improvement over Luke Fortner. Fortner, according to PFF, was one of the worst centers in the NFL in 2023 in both run and pass blocking. While Morse isn’t a top-ten center in either category, he’s in the top 16, which is a massive improvement along the offensive line that desperately needed it.
Left tackle Cam Robinson, left guard Ezra Cleveland, right guard Brandon Scherff, and second-year right tackle Anton Harrison round out a solid offensive line. This group will be tasked with facing a tough Dolphins defensive front. The former Jaguars and veteran Calais Campbell, Zach Sieler, Jaelen Phillips, Emmanuel Ogbah, and rookie first-rounder Chop Robinson form a formidable front. While that front is dealing with some injuries, the overall group, including plenty of other potential pass rushers, makes a tough first team for the Jaguars to face with their revamped offensive line.
Tyson Campbell and Ronald Darby vs Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle
Arguably the best wide receiver room in the NFL, the Dolphins wide receivers Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle will be a very challenging matchup even for the best corners in the NFL. For Tyson Campbell and Ronald Darby, it will be a tough trial by fire for the duo in their first NFL game together. They have the experience needed, but in a new defensive scheme, the Jaguars corners will have their hands full in the first week of the season.
The Dolphins’ offense runs mainly through their elite wide receiver duo, but the offense is electric due to how many different ways they can attack a defense. The Jaguars’ secondary will have their work cut out for them, between Hill’s speed and Waddle’s overall incredible ability, there isn’t much room to make mistakes against one of the most explosive offenses in the NFL.
Jaguars Defensive Front vs De’Von Achane and Raheem Mostert
Stopping the Dolphins’ offense can’t just be done by shutting down the wide receivers, the offense is supported by two dynamic running backs. De’Von Achane is a speedster with speed that only a few others in the NFL even come close to. Raheem Mostert is a veteran with incredible vision, underrated speed, and good footwork that can help him punch the ball into the endzone when the team gets within the red zone. They complement each other well and will pose problems for the Jaguars on Sunday.
Fortunately, the Jaguars have a very strong defensive front with Josh Hines-Allen, Arik Armstead, and Travon Walker. The run game should be massively improved for the Jaguars in 2024 with the addition of Armstead, and improvement of Walker heading into his third season. But, the most important advantage the Jaguars have in stopping the run is their incredible linebacker duo. Foyesade Oluokun and Devin Lloyd make up one of the best linebacker rooms in the NFL, and both should be instrumental in stopping the run game for the Dolphins. Oluokun is a tackling machine, and entering his third season, Lloyd should be primed to take a step forward.
Injury Report: Jacksonville Jaguars
Fortunately for the Jaguars, there are only two players on the injury report heading into the first week of the season. Arik Armstead was a DNP or Did Not Participate, in the Jaguars Friday practice. However, he’s good to go for the Jaguars season opener. Daniel Thomas, a safety with special teams value, is Questionable with an Achilles injury, after practicing in limited capacity all week.
Injury Report: Miami Dolphins
Unfortunately for the Dolphins, their injury report is significantly longer heading into the season opener. Terron Armstead, Calais Campbell, Jaelan Phillips, Quinton Bell, Aaron Brewer, Kendall Fuller, Benito Jones, David Long, Jordan Poyer, Anthony Walker, and Jevon Holland all popped up on the injury report, but all are expected to play in the Dolphins home opener.
Meanwhile, Jalen Ramsey is Questionable after missing Wednesday and Thursday practice, along with being limited in Friday’s practice due to a hamstring issue. Malik Washington, the rookie wide receiver, was ruled out ahead of the week one matchup against the Jaguars. He’s dealing with a quad injury and will be sidelined for the Jaguars and Dolphins’ week one matchup.
Final Prediction For Jaguars and Dolphins Week One
With the NFL season getting underway, the Jaguars look to take back the AFC South crown from the Houston Texans. Their efforts begin in Miami in a very challenging matchup. In week one, there are a lot of tough matchups on both offense and defense for the Jaguars. While frustrating, the prediction for the Jaguars’ week one matchup will be a close loss in a shootout with an elite offense in the NFL. A loss that proves the Jaguars are not only ready to compete with the elite in 2024 but also showcases how great the offense in Trevor Lawrence‘s fourth year will be. The final prediction is that the Jaguars lose to the Dolphins in Miami by a score of 35 to 32.
Main Image: Jasen Vinlove-Imagn Images
