News Dolphins Team Notes

Dolphins fans struggling with confidence in team as 2025 season approaches

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The NFL calendar is closing in on the start of the 2025 regular season, but Miami Dolphins fans do not seem to be looking forward to the return of football. This week, we asked our standard fan confidence question in our SB Nation Reacts survey, to get an idea of how Dolphins fans are feeling about the direction of the team ahead of the season. More fans are down on the team than are up on their chances for this season.

The oddsmakers have not been kind to the Dolphins in the buildup toward this season, and the fans seem to agree with those expectations. Over at FanDuel Sportsbook, the odds seem to support Miami finishing third in the division behind the Buffalo Bills and New England Patriots, with the team’s win total set at 7.5 wins.

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Our SB Nation Reacts poll shows 60 percent of the fans are down on the team’s direction. With just four of every 10 fans thinking the team is headed in the right direction, the Dolphins are going to need to jump out to a fast start to excite the fans and get the our fan confidence poll moving back in the right direction for this season.

We will be back next week with our next edition of the SB Nation Reacts survey.

Source: https://www.thephinsider.com/sb-nat...-confidence-in-team-as-2025-season-approaches
 
Phinsider Victory Of The Week Open Thread Vol. 648

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It’s Friday, which means it’s time for our Victory of the Week (VOTW) post! This evening’s conversation prompt is straightforward: What was your victory this week? Did something remarkable happen? Is there a small achievement worth celebrating? This could relate to the Miami Dolphins, your professional life, or your personal life. We all experience victories, big or small, and we want to hear about yours.

This post is for you, our site members, who are part of our Phinsider family. This is your opportunity to share your successes from the past week. Your triumphs can be significant, such as the birth of a new child or grandchild, or finally landing that job or promotion you’ve been working hard for. They can also be smaller victories, like winning $100 on a lottery scratch-off ticket, or any other positive experience you’d like to share.

This is your post to celebrate your achievements, so feel free to share them in the comments section below:

Source: https://www.thephinsider.com/miami-...sider-victory-of-the-week-open-thread-vol-648
 
Your Miami Dolphins Post Preseason/Final Roster Takes

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With our Miami Dolphins wrapping up training camp and preseason this past week, I asked the following questions on two separate days:

With training camp and preseason behind us, what did you see or not see during the preseason that gave you or did not give you confidence going into the regular season? What do you want/need to see the Miami Dolphins front office address with this current roster, and why, as well as how would you address those issues, or at least like to see them addressed, before the season kicks off? What other observations or surprises did you notice during camp/preseason?

Below are some of your thoughts and answers on the first question-

SlayerNation1 has a lot of thoughts about the team, but is more focused on the team moving on to a new coaching staff that can bring the correct kind of culture to the team.

Mostly what I expected to see. The Defensive Front 7 is the strength of the entire team. Weaver is flat out better at His job than Mikey McD, again, That is just affirmation of what I knew from last season.

Weaver will be a Head Coach in 2026 somewhere, Ross will have the right of first refusal.

A pleasant surprise, the STC, Auckerman so far, has shown more competence than the HC.

This is the fourth season of no real growth by the HC.

To my eye, the team has some individual dawgs, but the overall ethos of the team is soft and that will become evident as the season advances.

If Tua misses ~4 games, 6-7 wins, if Tua plays ~17 games 8-9 wins.

If Josh Allen misses significant time, maybe they have a chance at the playoffs if not the division.

That statement summarizes the culture. Miami doesn’t have a culture of kicking ass, dominating and conquering. They are always hoping disaster befalls every other team in their way and it provides a nicely grooved track with little effort.

That sort of happened in the AFC in 2023 and they still couldn’t take advantage.

Riddick/Weaver ticket in 2026 or Riddick/Gruden if Weaver doesn’t show HC ability when He gets the Interim HC at the Bye Week after a 4 game losing streak.

Let’s get this started so We can have a brighter future.

MIAMI235 wanted to see the team use final cuts to look for some roster upgrades, which they seemed to have done.

We seem to be LB heavy, are they all quality performers? Lets scour the market at finals cuts, to see if other key players become available!

JUK has a great list of what they wanted to see, what they didn’t want to see, and what they still want to see.

Things I wanted to see:

I saw a deeper, more physical team through the middle of the defense and the edge group. I saw a bigger, more athletic set of guards. I saw a really promising group of rookies (especially Grant, Phillips, and Gordon), and I saw some second-year players who look like they are moving up a gear (Paul and Malik)

Things I didn’t want to see:

The injury curse again. I know everyone gets them but we seem to get more than our share. The really disappointing one was Kader who was going to prove a lot of people wrong this year.

I also saw inconsistent o line play, especially from Jonah and the second team line. I would say the second team line isn’t a thing though once you’re in the season, all that really matters is how the individuals go if they have to step up and play with the ones. Are the team happy with Borom as the swing tackle?

I didn’t was to see players we brought it on to help toughen up the offense have disappointing camps. I’m still looking forward to seeing NWI in the running game, but to not make this roster as a TE has to leave Pharoah Brown’s nfl future in doubt

What I want to see:

Like everyone, I want to see them scour the waiver wire to see what can be added to the O line, TE and corner groups. Other than that, I want to see everyone healthy in week 1, and some real football!

Alpha6 was wondering…

I’m wondering this season who the team will trade or trade for… mostly in these early days before the first game.

With the roster cuts this past week, I also asked:

With our Miami Dolphins and the rest of the NFL working through their “final” cuts by 4 PM EST today, which players cut from other teams should the Phins front office reach out to in order to upgrade a position on the roster?

Below are some of your thoughts and answers to the second question-

phinsomniac has some interest in a corner currently on the Pittsburgh Steelers practice squad.

I’d like us to take a good look at Beanie Bishop Jr, who was cut from a deep Steelers corner room.

NeenerWhacker had a couple of surprises.

Couple of surprises but to me the biggest was Colbert. I imagine Davis starts on IR explaining the move. He and Bonner IR. Makes room for Douglas and a waiver pick up

finfanfromsiam greeted us and then listed some positions.

Evening! CB, OL, RB

It seems as if most of the fan base has mixed reviews on the preseason and the current roster as a whole. Many of us were also looking at the team to use some of the cuts to upgrade the roster, which the team has attempted to do. If you missed one of our first two posts on the post-preseason, please feel free to share your thoughts on either question in the comments section below. Thank you, as always, to each of you who took their time to participate in our PQOTD posts.

Source: https://www.thephinsider.com/miami-...mi-dolphins-post-preseason-final-roster-takes
 
The Phinsider 2025 NFL Eliminator Pool

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The 2025 NFL season kicks off this week. We have real games that count starting on Thursday, which means it is time to set up our eliminator pool for this season. This is a private group on ESPN, designed for us here on The Phinsider.

If you have never played in an eliminator pool before, the goal is to outlast everyone else in the group. You pick one winning team each week, but a strategy element that has to be considered. You can only pick a team once – once they have been selected, you cannot use them again. If you pick the winner correctly, you advance to the next week. If you do not pick a winning team, you are eliminated.

If you want to join the group, all you have to do it follow this link, or head to ESPN and search for the private group The Phinsider 2025. The password to join is Phins305.

See you in there!

Source: https://www.thephinsider.com/general/108261/the-phinsider-2025-nfl-eliminator-pool
 
Reasons for optimism heading into 2025 season – The Splash Zone 9/1/25

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National analysts have not been kind to the Miami Dolphins. If you look around, they are expecting the team to either implode, or just miss the playoffs, and also see Mike McDaniel being fired. But we’re not going to be doom and gloom right now. There are plenty of things that should make fans optimistic about this years Dolphins team. On the defensive side, they should have a very potent pass rush with a fully healthy Bradley Chubb, a returning Jaelan Phillips, and a rising star in Chop Robinson. Offensively, the unit stayed pretty much the same with some new pieces sprinkled in. The cohesion should be there on offense and we can only hope Tua Tagovailoa stays healthy.

You can check out that story here, and the rest of the day’s round-up below.

Five Biggest Reasons for Optimism for Dolphins Heading into 2025 Regular Season
The Miami Dolphins are looking to return to the playoffs


Dolphins 2025 Season​


Bold Predictions for Dolphins 2025 Season
These are our boldest predictions for the upcoming season.


Phinsider News You May Have Missed​


Dolphins running back room – The Splash Zone 8/30/25
Welcome to the Splash Zone, the quickest way to get your day started off right. We bring you a rundown of Miami Dolphins news from the last 24 hours.

Your Miami Dolphins Post Preseason/Final Roster Takes
Miami Dolphins fans share their thoughts on the teams preseason and final roster.

The Phinsider 2025 NFL Eliminator Pool
Can you win our 2025 eliminator pool?

Source: https://www.thephinsider.com/the-sp...ading-into-2025-season-the-splash-zone-9-1-25
 
Dolphins vs. Colts odds in Week 1 2025

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The NFL season is here, with the first games of the regular season coming this weekend. Included in this weekend’s slate of games is a Miami Dolphins visit to the Indianapolis Colts. Both teams have questions that need to be answered quickly this season, and they will be looking to a Week 1 performance to start providing those answers.

For the Colts, quarterback Daniel Jones was named the starter, moving into the top spot after signing as a free agent in the offseason and supplanting Anthony Richardson atop the depth chart. Richardson was the fourth overall pick in 2023, but now the Colts may be ready to move on from the University of Florida alumnus. Jones, selected sixth overall in 2019 by the New York Giants, heads to his third team after being released by the Giants during the 2024 season and signing with the Minnesota Vikings late in the season.

The Colts do enter the season with Lou Anarumo as their defensive coordinator, looking to redesign the Indianapolis defense. Amarumo spent the last six seasons as the Cincinnati Bengals’ defensive coordinator after a year are the Giants’ defensive back coach. He also spent six seasons with the Dolphins as their defensive backs coach, along with a stint in 2015 as the team’s interim defensive coordinator.

Miami’s questions, similar to the Colts, start at their quarterback position – but not because they are trying to figure out who their starter will be, but rather if Tua Tagovailoa will be able to stay healthy this year. The Dolphins’ 2020 fifth-overall draft choice has only played a full seasons once in his career, starting all 17 games in 2023 and earning a Pro Bowl selection as he led the league with 4,624 passing yards. If Tagovailoa stays on the field, the Dolphins can dominate. If he is injured, the season could take a turn quickly.

On defense, Miami has to figure out if their secondary, and specifically their cornerbacks, can take giant leap forward this year. Miami recently signed veteran Rasul Douglas, but will he be ready for a full workload in a defensive system he has only been in for 11 days come Sunday? The team added Jack Jones Behind them, the team is relying on several young players, including 2024 undrafted free agent Storm Duck and 2025 fifth-round pick Jason Marshall, Jr. Will it be enough?

How do the oddsmakers see this weekend’s game playing out? According to FanDuel Sportsbook, the game should be fairly close. The odds as of Monday afternoon have the Colts favored by 1.5 points. The point total is 46.5 with the Dolphins -102 on the moneyline for the straight up win, while the Colts are -116.

The odds are subject to change throughout the week, especially as injury reports are released later this week.

Source: https://www.thephinsider.com/miami-...dolphins-vs-colts-tua-tagovailoa-daniel-jones
 
Previewing Dolphins 2025 season – The Splash Zone 9/2/25

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Hard to believe that football is back this weekend when the Miami Dolphins take the field against the Indianapolis Colts. Analysts aren’t too high on the Dolphins this upcoming season, but they should be a completive team provided they can stay healthy. That’s the main problem with this roster, a lot of their star players are too injury prone. If those start stacking up, we could be in for a long season. But let’s look on the plus side. The offensive unit still has a ton of playmakers and will be able to keep the Dolphins in games.

You can check out that story here, and the rest of the day’s round-up below.

Season outlook: Dolphins enter pressure-packed 2025 after disappointing 2024
One mantra Miami Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel started his tenure with was “I wish it were hotter.”


Dolphins Wide Receivers​


Tyreek Hill isn’t a Dolphins captain in 2025, but a recently passed contract deadline should serve as a much greater source of motivation for this season
Tyreek Hill is not a captain in 2025 but he has a much more pressing motivator for this season.


Dolphins Linebackers​


What to Know About the New Dolphins OLB Coach
Mike McDaniel addressed the situation involving assistant coach Ryan Crow


Dolphins Secondary​


Inside the Dolphins’ experiment of rookie Jason Marshall Jr. at nickel
Jason Marshall Jr. had never played nickel cornerback. That is, until the Miami Dolphins decided to try it out.


Phinsider News You May Have Missed​


Reasons for optimism heading into 2025 season – The Splash Zone 9/1/25
Welcome to the Splash Zone, the quickest way to get your day started off right. We bring you a rundown of Miami Dolphins news from the last 24 hours.

Dolphins captains 2025 announced; Six players named team leaders
The Miami Dolphins have announced their 2025 captains.

Miami Dolphins OLBs coach arrested on domestic battery charge
Dolphins OLBs coach Ryan Crow arrested; placed on administrative leave by club.

Dolphins vs. Colts odds in Week 1 2025
Taking a look at the latest odds for the Dolphins vs Colts NFL 2025 Week 1 game.

Ask The Phinsider: Miami Dolphins mailbag submissions
Our Ask The Phinsider mailbag is back and open for your questions.

Phinsider Question Of The Day: Where Will You Be Week 1 Edition
We as Miami Dolphins fans where and how they watch the games.

Source: https://www.thephinsider.com/the-sp...g-dolphins-2025-season-the-splash-zone-9-2-25
 
Phinsider Question Of The Day: Dolphins @ Colts Week 1 Predictions

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After the long, painful wait, our Miami Dolphins will once again play meaningful football this coming Sunday. I am not sure if I will be as nervous as I was about my Canes pre-games, but hopefully this game works out just as well. For those of you who may be new to the site, I put up these posts pregame, with the follow-up post on Saturday evening before the game.

So this evening’s Phinsider Question Of The Day is:

What are your predicitons for this coming weekend’s game between our Miami Dolphins and the Indianapolis Colts? You can predict the outright winner, the final score, the hero of the game for the Dolphins on either side or both sides of the ball, or any other random thing that you would like to predict that would apply to this game.

Please share your thoughts, predictions, and answers in the comments section below-

Source: https://www.thephinsider.com/miami-...-of-the-day-dolphins-colts-week-1-predictions
 
Tagovailoa: Miami Dolphins leaders are more engaged this year

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As we continue to inch closer and closer to the beginning of the Miami Dolphins regular season on Sunday against the Indianapolis Colts, team leaders continue to speak about a culture shift happening within the storied South Florida franchise.

Tuesday night, the Dolphins released the inaugural episode of their behind-the-scenes YouTube show, Under the Sun.

Within the first few minutes, Miami quarterback Tua Tagovailoa began talking about how the 2025 version of the Dolphins differs from past versions coached by Mike McDaniel.

I would say I’m pretty excited about the challenges that we’re going to see. I want to see how, through adversity, our team responds.

The 27-year-old continued:

This year, it definitely feels as if it’s more of a player led team. I think that the leaders, this year, are more engaged in what is best for the team… How we can communicate with certain individuals, the dynamic with everything, it doesn’t feel like it’s one sided. The offense is helping holding the defense accountable and vice versa with the defense holding the offense accountable. I think that’s a little unique to years past.

Tagovailoa’s comments indicate what some have already speculated this offseason — last year’s team had players who didn’t fully buy in to what Mike McDaniel and the rest of the Dolphins coaching staff were selling. While the club shipped off multiple malcontents this offseason — albeit talented malcontents — the hope is that the result equals more of an “addition by subtraction” equation.

We won’t have to wait long to see how the recent changes have affected Miami. They play meaningful football in just four days.

Source: https://www.thephinsider.com/miami-...i-dolphins-leaders-are-more-engaged-this-year
 
Phinsider Question Of The Day: Colts Players You Would Steal Edition

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For those of you who are new or newer to the site, like with last evening’s post, I ask this evening’s question each week our Miami Dolphins have a game unless we have already played the team once this season, as with a divisional opponent. The follow up post for this and last evenings post will be posted Saturday evening before the game. If you missed last evening’s post feel free to go back and add your predictions for this weeks game between your Miami Dolphins and the Indianapolis Colts.

So this evening’s Phinsider Question Of The Day is:

Which current Indianapolis Colts player(s) would you steal for the roster of our Miami Dolphins and why?

Please share your thoughts and answers in the comments section below-

Please join us tomorrow evening for our live thread as the NFL kicks off the 2025-2026 season with an NFC East showdown between the Dallas Cowboys and the Super Bowl Champion Philadelphia Eagles.

Source: https://www.thephinsider.com/miami-...the-day-colts-players-you-would-steal-edition
 
NFL winners picks 2025: Week 1 Thursday Night Football – Cowboys vs. Eagles

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The NFL traditionally has the reigning Super Bowl champion kick off the following season with a Thursday night game to open Week 1. This year, that honor falls to the Philadelphia Eagles, who beat the Kansas City Chiefs 40-22 back in February to claim the Super Bowl LIX title. The league looks to make that game an intriguing one, getting the season off to a fast start. This year, they are doing just that by giving the Eagles a division opponent to start the year.

Tonight, the Eagles will be hosting the Dallas Cowboys – a team that always draws television viewers on their own – in the opening game of the 2025 season. Kickoff is set for 8:20 p.m. Eastern with NBC handling the television broadcast.

As we do every year, a group of our contributors will pick the straight-up winner for every game on the schedule starting tonight and carrying through the Super Bowl. You can find the latest odds, our picks, and last year’s results, below.

What are the latest odds?​


Spread: Eagles -8.5
Moneyline: Cowboys +350 | Eagles -450
Point Total: 48.5

Odds by FanDuel sportsbook.

Last Year’s Final Standings​


James McKinney (198-87)
Marek Brave (195-90)
Sumeet Jena (193-92)
Kevin Nogle (191-94)

McKinney was the only member of the group to correctly predict the Eagles’ win over the Chiefs.

Cowboys at Eagles, Week 1 Thursday night picks​


Source: https://www.thephinsider.com/nfl-ex...-1-winners-picks-odds-expert-predictions-2025
 
Sporting News goes to extreme in Tua Tagovailoa bashing

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The debate surrounding Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa has been ongoing since before Miami even made him the fifth-overall pick out of Alabama in 2020. Does he have a strong enough arm? Can he stay healthy? Is he tall enough?

Even after he led the league in passer rating in 2022, passing yards in 2023 (earning a Pro Bowl selection), and completion percentage in 2024, the questions continue to swirl. Can he take over a game? Can he win in the cold?

Some Dolphins fans love Tagovailoa and see him as the best quarterback since Dan Marino for the team. Some Dolphins fans want to move on from him, worrying that injuries could continue to derail Miami’s seasons as long as Tagovailoa is the starter. The ceiling for Tagovailoa, according to the fans, seems to be a quarterback just below the elite of the game. The floor seems to be an average or above average quarterback who can win, but needs help around him.

Then there are the quarterback rankings released this week by the Sporting News’ Vinnie Iyer. Is Tagovailoa among the top quarterbacks in the league, according to Iyer? No.

Is he in the middle of the pack? Again, no.

Iyer ranked Tagovailoa 28th out of 32 quarterbacks.

SN's @vinnieiyer ranked all 32 starting NFL QBs 👀https://t.co/nqgUbEZ13b pic.twitter.com/XmhpkC3Aid

— The Sporting News (@sportingnews) September 2, 2025

There are only four projected starting quarterbacks in the league who are worse than Tagovailoa, according to Iyer.

Explaining the ranking, Iyer writes:

Tagovailoa has gone from one of the best YPA passers in generating big plays from his receivers to a compressed offense with concerns about his durability. It’s not helping him that there’s still little in Miami after Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle, and the creative edge is gone in Mike McDaniel’s passing game.“

Having one of the top two wide receiver duos in the league is a problem? De’Von Achane is apparently not a factor in Miami’s offense, according to Iyer’s analysis. McDaniel cannot evolve and learn from last year’s struggles – ignore the first two years and only focus on last year when injuries caused issues throughout the season.

It is all on the 28th ranked quarterback in the league.

That is completely a joke of a rating. Drake Maye, the New England Patriots quarterback who somehow earned a Pro Bowl selection as a rookie last season with 2,276 passing yards and a 6.7 yards per attempt average in route to a 3-9 record as a starter, is ranked 10 spots ahead of Tagovailoa.

Iyer hated on Tagovailoa’s 7.2 yards per attempt average in 2024. Maye was clearly the better passer with his 6.7 yards per attempt.

Make it make sense.

Bo Nix, with the Denver Broncos, threw for 3,775 yards in 2024 nearly a 1,000 yards more than Tagovailoa. Nix did that in 17 games, averaging 222.1 yards per game. Tagovailoa averaged 260.6 passing yards per game. He was limited to 11 games played due to injuries, so Iyer’s concerns about Tagovailoa’s durability are valid, but does it make a 16-position difference? Nix is 12th while Tagovailoa’s 28th?

And, based on the yards per attempt average, Nix averaged 6.7 yards. Again, Tagovailoa was 7.2. “Compressed offense” in Miami, though.

What about Caleb Williams, the Bears quarterback who was ranked 11th by Iyer? He finished 2024 with a 208.3 yards per game average and a 6.3 yards per attempt average. But Tagovailoa is 17 spots back.

Trevor Lawrence, the prototypical big-bodied, big-armed quarterback who went number one overall the year after Tagovaloa was drafted, has not turned into the dominant quarterback the Jacksonville Jaguars had hoped he would be. He tied Tagovailoa with a 7.2 yards per attempt average last year, throwing well below Tagovailoa’s per game average with just 204.5 yards per game – and he was limited to 10 games played. He ranked 17th. Tagovailoa ranked 28th.

Of Lawrence’s ranking, Iyer wrote, “Lawrence, much like Johnson going from Goff to Williams, is hoping that new Jaguars’ coach Liam Coen can provide the same impact that Mayfield enjoyed as a fellow No. 1 overall pick last season. There are still some doubts about Lawrence’s ceiling, but the first goal is to raise the floor with Travis Hunter flanking Brian Thomas Jr.”

Doubts about his ceiling, but first they have to raise his floor. But, well ahead of Tagovailoa.

Make it make sense.

You can argue where on this list Tagovailoa should land – but I will say he should be nowhere near 28th on this list.

Source: https://www.thephinsider.com/miami-...k-rankings-2025-tua-tagovailoa-miami-dolphins
 
TNF/2025 NFL Opener: Dallas Cowboys @ Philadelphia Eagles Live Thread & Game Information

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As has become the norm, the NFL will kick off this evening with a Thursday Night Football game. Reigning Super Bowl champions, the Philadelphia Eagles, will host their division rival, the Dallas Cowboys, this evening. The Eagles will, of course, hope to pick up where they left off last season, while the Cowboys will be hoping to start off strong and put up a better record than their 7- 10 playoff-missing record last season. The Cowboys were swept by the Eagles last season, with Philly outscoring Dallas by 75 to 13 over those two games.

Please use this thread to follow and discuss this evening’s game and any other news from around the NFL this past week, and as always, your Miami Dolphins. Please remember to continue to follow all site rules in the live threads as you would in any other post on The Phinsider. Also, please remember that sharing, discussing, or requesting illegal game streams may result in a temporary suspension from the site or a ban from the entire SBN platform

Dallas Cowboys (0-0) NFC East @ Philadelphia Eagles NFC West

  • When: Thursday, September 4th, 8:20 PM EST
  • Where: Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
  • TV: NBC
  • Streaming: NFL Game Pass (Will be available after the live conclusion of the game)
  • Odds: Philadelphia Eagles -8
  • Over/Under: 48.5

Source: https://www.thephinsider.com/non-mi...ladelphia-eagles-live-thread-game-information
 
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