Philadelphia Eagles vs Miami Dolphins: 5 Subplots that determine a winner

There are a ton of subplots as we head into the Philadelphia Eagles’ showdown with the Miami Dolphins, but the answer to these five questions will determine who wins.

All season, the Miami Dolphins have heard that the Philadelphia Eagles‘ schedule gets easier after Philly hosts the Seattle Seahawks in Week 12. Well, that’s a slap in the face if you’re the team the Eagles face in Week 13, isn’t it?

Don’t look now, but Miami’s no longer a walkthrough. This isn’t going to be an easy win for ‘the Birds’. They’ll have to show up and play.

This one’s loaded with subplots, but the answers to these five questions will determine how Week 13’s game shakes out.

1. Can the Eagles defense do it again?

Over the course of the past two weeks, Philly’s defense has done just about everything that they’re capable of to help usher their team to a victory, so much so that both the New England Patriots and Seattle Seahawks’ offenses have had to resort to trick plays in order to help get the job done.

Will the offense help them out this time?

2. Can Miami’s defense do it at all?

If there was ever a game that could help the Eagles offense get back on track, it’s this one. The Dolphins are allowing just under 32 points per game, which is the highest among all 32 NFL teams. There will be opportunities for the Eagles offense to be successful. Will they capitalize on them? That’s the question.

3. Does Philly end up with a winning record over the AFC East? Can this team actually win five straight?

Part of the reason that Philly’s been able to narrow the gap between themselves and Dallas is the fact that they’ve been better against the AFC East. Both Philly and Dallas lost to the Pats, but the Eagles have beaten the New York Jets and Buffalo Bills, while Dallas lost to both teams.

If the Eagles beat Miami, they’ll help their case for an NFC East crown even more. The question has to be asked though. Can the Eagles actually win five straight games?

4. Did Miami take the wrong tight end in 2018’s draft?

In 2018’s NFL Draft, the Dolphins took Mike Gesicki with the 42nd-overall selection. The Eagles would take Dallas Goedert at 49. That decision looks as though it will work out for both teams. Both Eagles and Dolphins fans will get a front-row view of both sides as the play of these two former second-rounders might decide the direction that this game goes in.

5. Does Ryan Fitzpatrick have any of that ‘Fitzmagic’ left?

This isn’t a walkthrough, and no matter what happens, the defense can’t fall asleep when Ryan Fitzpatrick has the ball in his hands. Hopefully, there will be no fireworks from a feisty Dolphins offense.