Las Vegas Raiders @ Miami Dolphins - November 17, 2024

As I dive into the upcoming showdown between the Las Vegas Raiders and Miami Dolphins, it’s clear both teams are under pressure to turn their seasons around. Both squads come into this matchup with struggling records; the Raiders sit at 2-7, while the Dolphins are slightly better off at 3-6. With oddsmakers placing Miami as -6-point favorites, it’s essential to dissect the numbers behind each team’s performance to unveil potential trends.

Starting with Miami, they average a modest 16.3 points per game and have been reliant on their running game, generating an impressive 126.4 rush yards per contest with a solid average of 6.6 yards per attempt. This suggests that if they can establish a ground presence against a struggling Raiders defense, they could dictate the pace of the game effectively.

On the passing side, Miami throws for approximately 208 yards with a completion percentage just above 66%. While these numbers indicate some efficiency in moving the chains through the air, they’ve had difficulty finishing drives consistently—an area that has cost them dearly throughout their season.

Conversely, Las Vegas averages slightly more points at 18.7 but lacks balance in its offensive attack; they’re only managing about 76.9 rushing yards per game—a troubling statistic considering how vital establishing any semblance of run support is in keeping opposing defenses honest. Their passing game boasts higher yardage at around 225.6 yards per outing coupled with almost identical completion percentages (66%). However, after suffering five straight losses—indicating severe issues both offensively and defensively—their confidence likely hangs by a thread.

When we look back on recent outings: Miami secured a win against Los Angeles last week while covering as underdogs; meanwhile, Las Vegas fell apart against Cincinnati—a loss marked by defensive lapses leading to significant scoring from opponents. It underscores not only their lack of consistency but also highlights an unsettling trend: over four of Las Vegas’s last five games have gone OVER total points, suggesting they might struggle defensively again versus an inconsistent yet potentially explosive Dolphins offense.

Given these statistics and current forms heading into Sunday’s clash at Hard Rock Stadium, my prediction leans towards Miami taking home victory while comfortably covering that -6 spread—it seems reasonable given how badly Las Vegas has faltered lately on both sides of the ball.

As for total points scored? The UNDER appears likely here too given both teams’ struggles to put consistent drives together—noting particularly how eight out of eleven Dolphin games have finished UNDER so far this season aligns well with this projection.

In conclusion: expect Miami to emerge victorious in this matchup against Las Vegas—with enough momentum built up from their prior success—to cover those six points while also pushing for another low-scoring affair amidst two teams fighting through adversity.