The Miami Dolphins will be looking to make it two wins in a row when they visit the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday.
Miami improved to 1-7 on the season with a win over the New York Jets last week, but things will likely be more difficult against the Colts. While New York is one of the worst teams in the league, Indianapolis is in the hunt for a playoff spot. The Colts are 5-3 this year and have won three of their last four games.
Indianapolis quarterback Jacoby Brissett is considered a game-time decision, due to a knee injury he is battling. If Brissett can't go, the Colts will turn to Brian Hoyer for the start at QB. Miami should be prepared for either quarterback, as head coach Brian Flores is familiar with both men. Brissett and Hoyer spent time with the New England Patriots earlier in their careers, while Flores was on the sideline as a coach.
The Colts need this game as they are in the sixth and final playoff spot and a loss to lowly Miami could be a demoralizing one. Both Brissett and Hoyer are capable of beating a lackluster Miami defense, but Indianapolis will hope the latter is ready to go. Brissett has thrown 14 touchdown passes in 2019 and he has been picked off three times. Hoyer has three touchdowns, to go along with one interception in limited action this year.
Miami will be working with a depleted roster, after losing Xavien Howard and Preston Williams to season-ending injuries. Williams was Miami's leading receiver before the injury and the Dolphins do not have much of a running game to utilize instead. Miami traded away Kenyan Drake and lost Mark Walton to a four-game suspension recently. The lack of options on offense could lead to a long day for quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick. The veteran QB has thrown eight touchdowns this year and he has thrown seven interceptions.
With Walton unavailable, Miami will likely turn to Kalen Ballage for most of the running plays in this game. Ballage is averaging two yards per carry in his 35 attempts, though he has had sporadic opportunities thus far. Getting into a rhythm could improve those numbers for Ballage and give him a chance to remain a factor going forward. The Dolphins have only received 3.1 yards per carry as a team in 2019, which is the lowest total in the league.
Avery Moss, Daniel Kilgore, Davon Godchaux and Evan Boehm are listed as questionable for this game. Reshad Jones and Ken Webster will both be out.
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Sunday's kickoff is scheduled for 4:05 p.m.
