The Indianapolis Colts will open up the 2025 regular season at home against the Miami Dolphins.
A strong start to the season is vital for Shane Steichen. The Colts also look to snap what has been an 11-year winless streak in Week 1 games.
To help us preview the Colts’ opponent this week, Adam Stites, the managing editor of Dolphins Wire, was kind enough to answer a handful of our questions to provide us with added insight into this Miami team.
There’s a lot of speed on the Dolphins’ offense, when opponents have found success against that unit, how have they done so?
Stites: The formula for defenses last year was pretty simple. The Dolphins couldn’t run the ball effectively, so opposing safeties played deep and kept everything underneath. In 2023, Miami was No. 1 in the NFL in yards per rush attempt, so it was pick your poison. If the Dolphins are going to be successful again, the changes they made on the offensive line have to lead to more success on the ground.
It’s Week 1, so there is still unknowns around each team, but what is the biggest question mark to start the season?
Stites: The Dolphins secondary is largely made up of a grab bag of discount bin free agents. While they added Minkah Fitzpatrick on the back end, the rest of the group includes veterans like Ashytn Davis, Jack Jones, and Rasul Douglas all on cheap one-year deals.
On the flip side, what is the biggest strength for the Dolphins?
Stites: Miami’s front seven should be a terror. Bradley Chubb and Jaelan Phillips are back from injury, first-round pick Kenneth Grant was added up front, and the Dolphins have a pair of stars in Zach Sieler and Chop Robinson. The Dolphins are hoping all that firepower up front will mean it doesn’t matter who’s in coverage.
Who is one under-the-radar player on offense and defense for Colts fans to know in this game?
Stites: Second-year wide receiver Malik Washington has shown all the signs of a player ready to make a big leap. After making a few plays as a rookie, Washington should handle return duties in 2025 and should be the third receiver that the Dolphins have struggled to find during the Tyreek Hill/Jaylen Waddle era.
On defense, a big question is whether Storm Duck is ready to be a top cornerback. He earned a lot of snaps as an undrafted rookie last year and impressed in camp, but he’ll be asked to do quite a lot this year.
Prediction time: Who wins and why?
Stites: Experts are bullish on Miami this year, but that’s due in part to Tua Tagovailoa’s durability concerns. With the Dolphins healthy entering Week 1, they should be hard to stop.
Dolphins 24, Colts 14
This article originally appeared on Colts Wire: 4 things to know, plus a prediction for Colts vs. Dolphins Week 1
Reporting by Paul Bretl, Colts Wire / Colts Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
