Both teams are fighting for their playoff life, which makes the Week 14 inter-conference matchup between the Arizona Cardinals and Miami Dolphins a riveting game with the loser likely eliminated from contention. The Cards are still alive in the NFC while the Fins chances took a hit when their six-game winning streak came to an end. The two are currently on the outside looking in and need some help along the way to qualify, but first and foremost, they need to win their own games.
This contest in Week 14 of the regular season will go down Sunday, December 11, 2016, at 1 p.m. ET at Hard Rock Stadium.
NFL Odds at BookMaker.eu
Arizona Cardinals +1
Miami Dolphins -1
Over/Under 43
Odds Analysis
The Dolphins opened at -2.5, but early action on the visitors moved the line down to its current number. Part of Arizona’s woes this season can be traced to its play on the road. The Cards are just 1-4 SU and ATS away from home this season with the only victory coming against the lowly 49ers. Arizona is far from a sure thing but I think the Fins blew their wad during that six-game winning streak and now they are going to pay for it.
Injury Report
Tyrann Mathieu – Arizona has one of the top ranked defensive units thanks to the all-around play of their starting safety. His absence due to a shoulder injury was a factor in the Redskins amassing 333 total yards and several big plays in the middle of the field. Expect Ryan Tannehill to take some shots if Mathieu is sidelined again.
Kiko Alonso – The Dolphins linebacker suffered a broken thumb against the Ravens but returned to finish the contest with a cast on his hand. He had surgery Monday to repair the digit and is questionable to play against the Cards. His loss would be significant for a defense that has surrendered 971 yards combined in the past two games.
Player to Watch
It’s hard to argue against David Johnson being the best player in the league right now. The Cards’ back had another solid display on Sunday to keep his team’s slim playoff hopes alive. When Arizona needed a first down late in the game to ice its victory over Washington, everyone in the stadium knew who was getting the ball, including the Redskins defense. They were still unable to stop him. On a fourth-and-1 Johnson raced for the first down and the Cards added an insurance score to seal the outcome. But there was so much more leading up to that crucial point.
Johnson not only led all runners with 84 yards, he was also the game’s leading receiver with 91 yards on nine catches. He amassed 175 yards from scrimmage, giving him triple digits in every game this season. But one of the biggest things Johnson does, according to Carson Palmer, is keep the defense honest. That honesty allowed Palmer to connect on a bomb to J.J. Nelson shortly after Johnson converted his fourth down play. His ability as a runner and receiver opens the middle of the field when safety help is needed to cover Johnson. And defenses need to cover him. He scored a pair of touchdowns against Washington, giving him 15 on the year.
Free ATS Pick
The success enjoyed by the Dolphins had to end, and it did with a crashing thud against the Ravens. Miami’s six-game winning streak turned into a one-game losing skid with an effort we hadn’t seen from this group in some time. The Fins were torched by a Baltimore offense that hasn’t done much all season, adding to the concerns as the Dolphins are actually playing meaningful games in December. Miami is a decent team and one that deserves to be in the playoff picture, but the Fins are far from the class of the AFC and sustaining the level of success was a bit too much to ask for.
Miami is a fragile group right now with little margin for error. The defense has been gouged the last two games and may have gotten away with a victory over the 49ers two weeks ago. That kind of effort won’t be enough against better teams. The Cards will use Johnson in a variety of ways against one of the poorer run-stopping groups, and much like last week, Palmer will look to the vertical attack when the defense sags and the Cards could hit a few big plays, which will give them the cushion for a straight up victory.
NFL Odds: Cardinals 27, Dolphins 21
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