ESPN analyst picks Miami Dolphins to make Super Bowl vs. Philadelphia Eagles

The Miami Dolphins organization and its fans have plenty of reasons to be excited about the 2023 season, especially after a solid offseason that saw the Dolphins make some key additions.

Moreover, another campaign of improvement should be expected from quarterback Tua Tagovailoa. If the fourth-year pro can maintain a clean bill of health this campaign, Miami’s offense should only continue to improve.

The Dolphins seem to have done enough to become threats to come out of the AFC, according to Mike Clay. The ESPN analyst believes that Miami will be able to overcome other AFC squads, such as the reigning champion Kansas City Chiefs, and face off against the Philadelphia Eagles in the next Super Bowl.

“Are the Chiefs and Eagles the best teams in their respective conference?” Clay wrote. “I believe so. Is it fun to predict a repeat Super Bowl? No, it’s not.

“I’m very much in on the Dolphins this season, and it’s not a stretch to think, come playoff time, that their loaded defense (especially once [Jalen] Ramsey returns) can contain the Kansas City offense a bit while the Tagovailoa/Tyreek Hill/Jaylen Waddle trio delivers the goods on offense, sending Miami to its first Super Bowl appearance since 1984.

“The Eagles, meanwhile, are well-positioned to repeat as NFC champions, and this time [Jalen] Hurts, A.J. Brown and the rest of this roster will get them over the top.”

Miami’s chances of reaching its first Super Bowl since the 1984 season likely hinge on Tagovailoa. While the 25-year-old had an impressive 2022 campaign, his bouts with concussions prevented him from lifting his team to greater heights.

Regardless, he led the league in multiple categories, including quarterback rating and yards gained per pass attempt.

Clearly, Miami’s offense is in good hands with the rising star. Having elite targets such as Hill and Waddle should also bode well for the Dolphins. Hopefully, Tagovailoa’s warning to the rest of the league that his team can do something “much more special” in this campaign will come to pass.

However, for that to happen, the defense will likely have to step up. In the 2022 season, Miami allowed 23.5 points per game, which ranked 24th among all 32 squads. The arrival of defensive coordinator Vic Fangio, who is fresh off a Super Bowl appearance, can hopefully cause the unit to trend in the right direction.

Only time will tell if Miami finds a way to outlast its conference foes. The Dolphins can offer a clearer view of how the year might turn out when they open their season against the Los Angeles Chargers next week.