There are a couple of weak matchups in Week 6, but one tops — bottoms? — them all as winless Washington travels to Miami to meet the equally winless Dolphins.
Coaches
Farewell, Jay Gruden. Welcome, Bill Callahan. Washington’s wobbly start to 2019 led to Gruden becoming the first coach booted off his seat on the merry-go-round. Callahan has a sub-.500 record as an NFL coach. He was 15-17 in two seasons at Oakland. That said, his first season saw a pair of playoff victories before being vanquished by the Tampa Bay Bucs in Super Bowl XXXVII. Callahan also was head coach at Nebraska from 2004-07 before setting off on a round of different positions with the Jets, Cowboys and Washington. He will match wits with Brian Flores, who has gotten off to a miserable start in Miami The deplorable Dolphins are so bad they are underdogs at home to a team that is 0-5.
Offense
Both teams are offensive and that is not a compliment. Miami has scored 26 points in its four losses. Josh Rosen has been anointed as the Chosen One for the rest of the reason until Flores decides to swerve on that call. On the other side, Washington drafted Dwayne Haskins with the idea he would be their franchise quarterback. Unfortunately, the former Ohio State star seems unprepared and threw three picks in 17 attempts in his lone appearance. That was enough to get him stamped: NOT READY. It looks like journeyman Case Keenum will get the call over journeyman Colt McCoy. Oh, boy. Washington has the fifth-worst offense in the league at 282 yards per game; Miami checks in at 31st, with a paltry 225 ypg.
Defense
Miami has the worst defense in the league. That’s not a surprise when you consider it is allowing 472 yards per game and an astonishing 40.8 ppg. That is Big 12 material, not AFC East. The Dolphins are behind their Sunshine State brethren the Bucs in passing defense and are the worst team against the run. By the way, Flores came from New England, where his specialty was defense. Washington is not much better. It is allowing better than 30 ppg and ranks 10th worst against the pass. That’s likely because opponents are running all over it to the tune of 144 ypg.
Opponents
Washington’s opponents boast a 16-9 mark. The only team it has faced that is under .500 is the New York Giants. Other foes that are 3-2 are Philly, Dallas and Chicago. Throw in the perfect Patriots and you have a rough road that has been traveled. Miami’s opponents are a combined 13-6. Remember, the Dolphins are coming off a bye. Among common foes, Miami lost to Dallas and New England by the aggregate score of 74-6. Washington fell to those teams by the combined score of 64-28.
Special teams
Washington’s kicker, Dustin Hopkins, has made 4-of-5 field goals and all 7 of his PATs. Not the same for Miami, where Jason Sanders is 4-of-7 on field goals and has successfully attempted a pair of PATs. Washington has punted 26 times and its punter, Tress Way, is averaging 51.4 yards with a net of 43.4 and a dozen kicks inside the 20. Miami’s Matt Haack has punted 20 times for an average of 47.1 ypg, a net of 44.5 and six kicks inside the 20.
Possible wins
Miami’s schedule features the Jets twice and the Bengals. There is also a game against the Giants that deserves a sliver of consideration. Washington will meet the Giants again and the Jets. Neither team is actually flush with opportunity for success.
The last time
The teams opened the 2015 season and Miami won, 17-10, as Jarvis Landry’s 69-yard punt return in the fourth quarter capped a comeback that saw the Dolphins score the final 10 points. It was forever ago, but they met in a pair of Super Bowls, splitting them. Miami won in 1973 with Washington earning the NFL championship in 1983.
