Following an embarrassing loss to the lowly Cleveland Browns last week, the 1-6 Miami Dolphins next face the 3-3 Atlanta Falcons.
The question for Sunday is whether quarterback Michael Penix Jr. will be able to play.
The second-year signal caller is listed as questionable with a knee injury. Should he be unavailable, veteran Kirk Cousins will take the reins, which could still pose plenty of difficulty for the Dolphins defense. Regardless who starts for Atlanta at quarterback, Miami has its hands full:
RB Bijan Robinson
Miami’s rushing defense is giving up an NFL-worst 159.3 rushing yards a game. Earlier in October, Dolphins allowed career days for backups Rico Dowdle and Kimani Vidal of the Panthers and Chargers, respectively. Just last week, Cleveland Browns rookie Quinshon Judkins scored three touchdowns.
Now they’ll face one of the NFL’s best in Bijan Robinson, who is currently sixth in the league in rushing yards with 524. Robinson is averaging a career-best 5.4 yards per carry and also averages 65 receiving yards per game.
WR Drake London
Falcons wide receiver Drake London has been targeted 63 times this season and will undoubtedly be a huge part of Atlanta’s game plan against the Dolphins. His 469 yards rank No. 11 in the league and his 6’4 frame will make his a difficult cover for the banged up Miami secondary.
The Dolphins secondary has allowed just 780 receiving yards to wide-outs this season, third lowest in the league. But it has given up seven touchdowns to the position so far, which could mean London feasts in the red zone.
TE Kyle Pitts
Pitts is having a career-best year with five receptions and 47.5 yards per game in 2025. Expect him to be targeted often, as Pitts is the seventh most targeted tight end so far in the NFL in 2025.
It’ll likely be up to Jordyn Brooks, Tyrel Dodson, and Minkah Fitzpatrick to keep the talented tight end in check.
S Xavier Watts
Watts earned the NFC Defensive Rookie of the Month honors in September after finishing the first month of his career with two interceptions. The No. 96 overall selection is looking like a top-flight young defensive back in the league, and already playing like an elite safety for the Falcons.
S Jessie Bates
In addition to Watts, Atlanta has 2023 Pro Bowler Jessie Bates deep in their secondary. Bates and Watts have helped make the Falcons the top-ranked passing defense in the league in 2025, allowing just 141.2 passing yards per game so far.
Bates has 39 tackles and a quarterback hit so far in his eighth NFL season and third in Atlanta. This safety duo could make things difficult for Miami’s quarterback, Tua Tagovailoa, when looking over the middle of the field.