Sun Sentinel Palm Beach Edition
Analyst: Dolphins will lose all games
ESPN analyst Mike Clay predicts Dolphins will lose every game next season
The Miami Dolphins have made some early, significant strides during their extensive rebuild under general manager Chris Grier and new coach Brian Flores.
Despite the moves, national expectations for the Dolphins remain bleak.
ESPN analyst Mike Clay — who last week released early scoring predictions for all 2019 NFL games — believes the Dolphins will be the worst team in the league next season.
Clay projects the Dolphins could win 3.8 games, which ranks last among all NFL teams in his projection. But he also predicts the Dolphins will lose all 16 of their games next season based on his scoring predictions.
The Dolphins hired Flores, traded away former quarterback Ryan Tannehill, acquired a possible new starter in Josh Rosen and extended the contract of Pro Bowl cornerback Xavien Howard among many moves made this offseason.
They also traded away defensive end Robert Quinn. A number of players — including longtime defensive end Cameron Wake, starting right tackle Ja’Wuan James, leading receiver Danny Amendola and former University of Miami running back Frank Gore — signed free-agent deals elsewhere.
Miami’s attempt to replenish its roster has been somewhat underwhelming.
The Dolphins signed 14-year veteran quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick to be a bridge between Tannehill, Rosen and/or a future starter.
Miami has also signed a number of players in free agency who could have low-risk, high-reward potential, such as former Buffalo Bills starting right tackle Jordan Mills, former New England Patriots tight end Dwayne Allen and oft-injured cornerback Eric Rowe, and former UM running back Mark Walton and tight end Clive Walford.
The Dolphins have also signed a number of players from the nowdefunct American Alliance of Football and undrafted free agents this offseason, hoping to uncover some hidden gems who could contribute toward their rebuild.
Clay predicts Miami will lose at home by three points in Week 6 against the Washington Redskins, Week 11 against the Buffalo Bills and Week 16 against the Cincinnati Bengals. Clay gives the Dolphins at least a 40 percent chance to win each of those games.
There are two five-point losses projected against the New York Jets at home in Week 9 and on the road against the New York Giants in Week 15. Clay gives the Dolphins at least a 33 percent chance of winning both games.
All other Dolphins games are projected to be losses by at least seven points.
Clay gives Miami a 27 percent chance to win the season opener at home against the Baltimore Ravens, while he believes the Dolphins have less than a 10 percent chance to win road games against the Dallas Cowboys in Week 3, the Indianapolis Colts in Week 10 and the New England Patriots in Week 17.
While Miami has a chance to prove these predictions wrong, they provide an offseason portrayal of how NFL analysts perceive the Dolphins heading into next season.