Arizona Cardinals
vs.
Miami Dolphins
Week 14
NFL Pick
12/11/16
By Jason Green
The Cardinals snapped their 2-Game losing streak with a win in their last Game, but sitting under .500 for the season they may need to win out to have any chance at the playoffs. ESPN put their chances at making the post-season at less than 10%. However, they looked good in beating the Washington Redskins in their last Game where they made some big plays down the field and they forced 2 turnovers one of which was a fumble that was returned for a TD.
The Dolphins had their 6-Game winning streak halted, big time, getting crushed by the Baltimore Ravens in their last Game. Catching the 10-2 Patriots in the AFC East is a major long shot, but if they finish the season well a Wild Card berth may be in the cards. Miami struggled on both sides of the ball in their last Game losing 38-6 in Baltimore and they need to get back on track at home.
In their last Game the Cardinals beat the Washington Redskins 31-23 covering at home as a 2.5-point favorite.
These teams have not met since the 2012 season where the Cardinals beat the Dolphins 24-21 in OT.
The Dolphins were embarrassed in their last Game losing to the Baltimore Ravens 38-6 where they came nowhere near covering the spread as a 3.5-point underdog.
The Cardinals came up with 2 big turnovers in the win over the Redskins and Carson Palmer had a solid Game passing for 300 yards with 3 TD and 0 INT. He has a solid WR corps and in the Washington Game RB David Johnson not only rushed for 84 yards and a TD, but he was the leading receiver with 91 yards and a TD.
Arizona will be going up a Dolphins’ defense that was shredded in their loss to the Ravens, to the tune of 496 total yards, and overall they rank 11th in the league against the pass and 20th against the run.
QB Ryan Tannehill and RB Jay Ajayi were a couple of reasons for the Miami win streak, as they had been playing great in that stretch. However, in the bad loss to the Ravens Tannehill passed for 226 yards with 3 INT and only 1 TD and Ajayi rushed for only 61 yards. With the Miami defense not an elite unit it is key that these 2 play well, as if they do not the Fish will not get back in the W column.
Arizona’s defense ranks 3rd in the league against the pass and 11th against the run.
Arizona is 1-5 ATS in their last 6 road Games, 1-5 ATS in their last 6 Games overall, and in their last 7 Games on the road the posted total has gone Over every time.
Miami is 5-2 ATS in their last 7 Games overall, 5-12 ATS in their last 17 home Games, and in their last 6 Games overall the posted total has gone Over 5 times.
Bettorsworld Pick – Cardinals +1