South Florida Sun-Sentinel (Sunday)
PREDICTIONS
Dave Hyde, Sports Columnist (Season record: 7-3): Dolphins 38, Texans 17
This is the easiest game on the schedule for the surging Dolphins. Even given the anygiven-Sunday parameters, it would take something singularly odd for a Houston team that’s below average to awful in most statistical categories to give the Dolphins a competitive game.
Chris Perkins, Dolphins Columnist (6-4): Dolphins 34, Texans 20
The streaking Dolphins will cap the “soft” part of the schedule with a relatively easy home victory. Expect star wide receivers Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle to get back on track after low-key performances last week. And, yeah, expect another strong game from quarterback Tua Tagovailoa.
David Furones, Dolphins Writer (8-2): Dolphins 31, Texans 13
We see another dominant, complete performance from Miami at home against Houston, which has the NFL’s worst record at 1-8-1 as no other team has fewer than three wins. Maybe the Dolphins come off the bye week a little rusty early, but then it starts looking like the Browns game after that. Miami has a rough history against the Texans, but that’s in the past with the Dolphins winning two of the last three in the series. They get a final tuneup to go into the December gauntlet 8-3.
Kathy Laughlin, Sports Editor (8-2): Dolphins 37, Texans 17
Houston won’t be too much of a challenge for Tua Tagovailoa, Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle, and the budding running game should have a chance to build on its success against the Browns. After Miami’s bye week, the 1-8-1 Texans allow the defense a bit of time to shake off any rust and get back into the groove. The danger is that the Dolphins could be looking ahead, and this Houston team is desperate.
Keven Lerner, Assistant Sports Editor (6-4): Dolphins 27, Texans 13
The Dolphins are favored by 13 points against the lowly Texans for good reason. The Dolphins have won four straight games, tying them for the longest current winning streak in the NFL with the Chiefs and Ravens. Houston has lost five straight and has the worst record in the league at 1-8-1. The Texans had just 5 yards of offense at halftime in last week’s loss to Washington. Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa leads the league in passer rating (118.4) and has thrown for 18 touchdowns with just three interceptions.
Steve Svekis, Assistant Sports Editor (7-3): Dolphins 44, Texans 9
The Dolphins historically have performed much better than their rest-ofthe-season record coming off their bye weeks, and the Texans are pretty clearly the worst team in the NFL. The Dolphins have a tough, tough final six games, but they will embark on that journey by emphatically getting to 8-3 first.