Atlanta Falcons vs. Miami Dolphins 8/9/24 – The NFL preseason has begun, and fans are excited to see how their teams look and who the new stars might be. The Atlanta Falcons (7-10 last season) will travel to South Florida to take on the Miami Dolphins (11-6 last season) at Hard Rock Stadium on Friday, August 9, 2024, as Week 1 kicks off. Both sides want to get off on the right foot early in the year — especially in a pre-season game that tends to test out roster depth — so make sure you catch this matchup and find some free NFL preseason daily predictions for even more enjoyment from your watching experience!
Atlanta Falcons vs. Miami Dolphins 8/9/24 Game Info |
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| When: | Friday, August 9, 2024, at 7:00 PM ET |
| Where: | Hard Rock Stadium |
| TV: | — |
| Stream: | NFL Game Pass |
Atlanta Falcons (7-10) vs. Miami Dolphins (11-6)
Last season, the Falcons’ offense was sometimes brilliant and at other times downright frustrating, especially when it came to their run game. Bijan Robinson showed what he could do with 976 rushing yards and four touchdowns this season alone. His ability to make explosive plays — he had seven rushes of over 20 yards — gives the Falcons’ offense a different dimension. Drake London was again a dependable receiver for Atlanta last year, catching 69 passes for 905 yards. The Falcons need London to continue to develop into a game-breaking receiver while pairing him with Robinson on the ground.
The Dolphins, meanwhile, have thrived off quick-hitting and explosive play from their skill positions from past season. Raheem Mostert surpassed the 1,000-yard mark last season with 18 total touchdowns while showing off his speed on long runs. Tyreek Hill, arguably the best wide receiver in football, turned in one of his most impressive seasons yet with 119 catches for 1,799 yards and 13 scores. Miami’s ability to use these playmakers gives them an advantage in stretching defenses thin and creating scoring opportunities at will.
Taylor Heinicke QB vs. Tua Tagovailoa QB
Taylor Heinicke was the quarterback for the Falcons and had an up-and-down performance last season. In five games, he completed 54.4% of his passes, for a total of 890 yards. The Falcons were unable to find consistency with him under center, despite the fact that he threw five touchdowns. This preseason will be crucial in deciding whether or not Heinicke can play well enough to keep his job and lead the team.
On the other hand, Miami’s Tua Tagovailoa is as different from Heinicke as night is from day. With a sparkling passer rating of 101.1 last year, Tagovailoa has become one of the most important players in Miami’s offense — evidenced by his impressive stats: 4624 passing yards and 29 touchdowns during an outstanding season where he made himself known around football circles for having pinpoint accuracy combined with excellent game management skills that make him tough on any defense.
NFL Odds/Point Spread: Atlanta Falcons -2.5 -110, Total Odds: 36.5
The Falcons are surprisingly favored despite their shaky performance last season, perhaps reflecting the unpredictability of preseason matchups. The total of 36.5 suggests a lower-scoring game, aligning with both teams’ recent trends of games tending to go UNDER the point total.
Atlanta Falcons Betting Trends
Atlanta’s recent betting trends do not inspire confidence, going 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games and struggling in matchups against Miami historically, with a 2-6 ATS record in their last 8 meetings. This preseason game will be a crucial indicator of whether the Falcons can reverse these trends under Heinicke’s leadership.
Miami Dolphins Betting Trends
Miami, meanwhile, has been stronger at home, with a 7-2 SU record in their last 9 home games. However, their ATS record shows some vulnerability, standing at 2-4 in their last 6 games. Their performance against the spread will be something to watch, especially with key players likely seeing limited action.
Atlanta Falcons vs. Miami Dolphins 8/9/24 Betting Picks
Given the shifting dynamics and unknowns surrounding this year’s preseason, we recommend taking Miami at home with points. They’ve got a stellar home record and some of their key players are performing well which gives them an edge in this kind of game. For prop bets though, keep an eye on rushing yards over/under for Robinson as well as Mostert because whoever plays better may dictate how fast or slow the pace goes throughout all four quarters.
As you prepare to place your bets during NFL week one, consider consulting multi-handicapper premium tips so that you can make informed decisions based on research rather than just gut feelings alone. This matchup will give us insight into both teams’ depth charts and readiness heading into the regular season.