Miami Dolphins 2024 Week 2 Preview: Jaguars Matchup, Momentum Carryover, and Defensive Adjustments

Fresh off a dominant Week 1 win over the Houston Texans, the Miami Dolphins are turning their attention to a tough road test against the Jacksonville Jaguars— a team that narrowly missed the playoffs last season and is hungry to start 2024 with a statement victory. For the Dolphins, this game isn’t just about extending their record to 2-0; it’s about proving their Week 1 success wasn’t a fluke, adapting to a dynamic Jaguars offense led by Trevor Lawrence, and avoiding the “letdown” that often plagues teams after a big win. From refining their pass rush to preparing for Jacksonville’s explosive running back Travis Etienne, every part of the Dolphins’ game plan is aimed at keeping their momentum alive. Miami Dolphins 2024 Week 2 Preview: Jaguars Matchup, Momentum Carryover, and Defensive Adjustments breaks down the key storylines heading into Sunday’s game, including can’t-miss matchups, injury updates, and how the Dolphins plan to stay one step ahead of the Jaguars.

The biggest challenge for the Dolphins this week will be slowing down the Jaguars’ offense, which combines Lawrence’s precision passing with Etienne’s breakaway speed— a duo that averaged 370 total yards per game last season. Lawrence, entering his fourth NFL season, has developed into one of the league’s most consistent quarterbacks, with a 67.2% completion rate and 25 touchdowns in 2023. He’s especially dangerous on third down, where he converted 45% of his attempts last year by extending plays with his legs and finding tight end Evan Engram over the middle. The Dolphins’ defense, which shined against the Texans’ run game, will need to split its focus: stopping Etienne (who rushed for 1,125 yards and 5 touchdowns last season) and containing Lawrence’s scrambling ability. “Lawrence and Etienne are a 1-2 punch that can beat you in multiple ways,” defensive coordinator Vic Fangio said during a Wednesday press conference. “We can’t focus too much on one— we need to be disciplined in our run fits and keep Lawrence in the pocket.” Miami Dolphins 2024 Week 2 Preview: Jaguars Matchup, Momentum Carryover, and Defensive Adjustments highlights this offensive challenge because the Jaguars aren’t the Texans— they have the talent to exploit any defensive lapses, and the Dolphins can’t afford to rely on Week 1’s success alone.

On the offensive side, the Dolphins are looking to carry over their Week 1 momentum by leaning into the same formula that worked against Houston: quick passes to Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle, balanced with a steady running game from Raheem Mostert and De’Von Achane. Tua Tagovailoa, who looked sharp in Week 1 (345 yards, 3 touchdowns), has spent extra time studying the Jaguars’ secondary, which ranked 18th in passing yards allowed last season but added veteran cornerback Darious Williams in free agency. Williams, who recorded 4 interceptions for the Rams in 2023, is expected to shadow Hill for much of the game— a matchup that will test Hill’s ability to beat press coverage and Tagovailoa’s willingness to look elsewhere when Hill is double-teamed. “Darious is a good corner, but I’ve faced the best in this league,” Hill said. “I’m ready for the challenge— and if they focus on me, that opens up opportunities for Jaylen and the other guys.” The Dolphins also plan to use Achane’s speed more in the running game; the Jaguars’ run defense ranked 22nd in 2023, and Achane’s ability to hit the edge could create big plays. Miami Dolphins 2024 Week 2 Preview: Jaguars Matchup, Momentum Carryover, and Defensive Adjustments explores this momentum carryover because it’s critical for the Dolphins to avoid complacency— a win this week would solidify their status as an AFC contender, while a loss would raise questions about their consistency.

A key focus for the Dolphins’ defense this week is ramping up their pass rush to pressure Lawrence, who tends to struggle when forced to make quick decisions. In Week 1, the Dolphins recorded 2 sacks and 6 pressures against the Texans, but they’ll need to be even more aggressive against the Jaguars, whose offensive line allowed 40 sacks last season (12th most in the NFL). Defensive end Jaelan Phillips, who had a quiet Week 1 (4 tackles, 0 sacks), is eager to bounce back— he’s spent extra time in practice working on his pass-rushing moves, including a spin move that helped him record 9 sacks in 2022. “Week 1 was a warmup— this week, I’m looking to make a statement,” Phillips said. The Dolphins also plan to use more blitzes from linebacker Mohamed Kamara, who impressed in preseason with his speed off the edge. By sending extra rushers, the Dolphins hope to disrupt Lawrence’s timing and force him into throwing interceptions— something he did 12 times last season. Miami Dolphins 2024 Week 2 Preview: Jaguars Matchup, Momentum Carryover, and Defensive Adjustments emphasizes this pass rush focus because Lawrence is at his best when he has time to scan the field— if the Dolphins can pressure him early and often, they’ll have a much easier time stopping the Jaguars’ offense.

Special teams will once again be a factor in Week 2, with the Dolphins looking to maintain their Week 1 success in field position battles against a Jaguars unit that has improved significantly in the offseason. The Jaguars added punter Braden Mann (who averaged 48.9 yards per punt for the Jets last season) and kicker Brandon McManus (who made 81.5% of his field goals for the Broncos), making them a more dangerous special teams opponent than the Texans. The Dolphins’ special teams coordinator Danny Crossman has spent the week preparing for Mann’s deep punts, which could limit the Dolphins’ return opportunities, and McManus’ long-range accuracy (he’s made 22 field goals of 50+ yards in his career). “We can’t take any plays off on special teams this week— the Jaguars have guys who can change the game with one play,” Crossman said. The Dolphins also got good news this week: returner Jaylen Waddle, who missed part of Week 1 practice with a minor ankle injury, is fully healthy and expected to handle both punt and kickoff returns. Miami Dolphins 2024 Week 2 Preview: Jaguars Matchup, Momentum Carryover, and Defensive Adjustments highlights this special teams focus because field position could be the difference in a close game— and the Dolphins can’t afford to give the Jaguars easy scoring opportunities.

Finally, the Dolphins are focusing on mental preparation to avoid a letdown after their Week 1 win— a challenge that head coach Mike McDaniel has emphasized all week. McDaniel has implemented several changes to keep the team focused, including scaling back film sessions to avoid burnout and adding a “rivalry focus” to practice (the Dolphins and Jaguars are divisional rivals in the AFC South until 2025, when realignment takes effect). He’s also brought in former Dolphins linebacker Zach Thomas to speak to the team about the importance of consistency in a long NFL season. “Winning one game is easy— winning week in and week out is hard,” McDaniel said. “We need to treat this game like it’s a playoff game, because that’s the standard we’ve set for ourselves.” The players have bought into this mindset too; veterans like Christian Wilkins and Hill have led extra workouts after practice, and the team’s energy in meetings has been just as high as it was before Week 1. Miami Dolphins 2024 Week 2 Preview: Jaguars Matchup, Momentum Carryover, and Defensive Adjustments concludes with this mental preparation because it’s often the difference between good teams and great ones. With a win over the Jaguars, the Dolphins would start 2-0 for the first time since 2018 and take a big step toward securing a top seed in the AFC. And as they head to Jacksonville, all signs point to a team that’s ready to keep its winning streak alive— and prove that Week 1 was just the beginning.