By Jeff Moeller, Florida Sports Wire
For the Jaguars, it’s Week One in Miami. It will be their shortest trip of the season, a brief 327-mile trek.
However, it is one of the most intriguing matchups of the opening week. It may be hard to surpass Thursday night’s Chiefs-Ravens drama, but it should be right there.
You can draw several parallels between the two teams, and they both are on the precipice of the NFL Penthouse level.
In a year or two, this could be a AFC Championship Game matchup.
Both teams will be heavily scrutinized with the winner apparently ready to embark on the next step. The Jaguars need to prove that they can win the division again with improved teams around them, while the Dolphins have to show that they can get past a first-round playoff game.
The Jags and the Dolphins may not be in the same category as the Chiefs, Ravens, 49ers, or Eagles, but they can easily get there.
Trevor Lawrence and Tua Tagovailoa both recently inked big contracts, and the burden of a heightened responsibility has come with it.
Lawrence and Tagovailoa both were injured and inconsistent last season. They have posted impressive numbers, but each of them have to put their teams on their backs.
If they both stay healthy, Lawrence and Tagovailoa both have enough weapons around them to take their teams deep into the playoffs. Jaguars’ top pick Brian Thomas Jr. and the Dolphins’ Odell Beckham Jr,, are both players to watch this Sunday.
Thomas and Beckham Jr. can elevate their respective offenses throughout the season.
Thomas and second-year running back Tank Bigsby had their rehearsals during the preseason, but now the real curtain goes up. They are integral parts to raise the bar.
With a productive Beckham Jr. the Dolphins would have a loaded arsenal with Tyrek Hill, Jayden Waddle, De’Von Achane, and returning leading rusher Raheem Mostert.
On paper, it looks like the Jags have the better defense with Josh Hines-Allen ready to prove his worth of his huge, new deal, and Travon Walker ready to prove he was worthy of a top selection a few years ago.
The Dolphins won’t have edge rushers Jaelen Phillips and Bradley Chubb this week, but cornerback Jalen Ramsey is back.
In the big picture, this should be a game that goes down to the wire.
Jacksonville is coming off a disappointing 9-8 season -their second straight- and Miami was 11-6, getting knocked off in a 34-31 loss to Buffalo without a healthy Tagovailoa.
Initially, the winner will get some instant gratification as possibly being their year, while the loser will be considered on the road to mediocrity. Still, both teams have high expectations.
Miami is a slim 3-point or a 3.5 point favorite. It should be that closer and likely closer.
It will be a battle of Florida, and it also will be a showcase of two teams that are expected to make some noise this year.
