Game Preview, Week 11: Washington at Miami Dolphins

November 14, 2025

by Steve Thomas

Washington humiliated themselves again last week in probably their worst game to date, for their fifth loss in a row.  Every week it seems they reach rock-bottom, only to continue to descend even further.  Hopefully, a week of practice by themselves in Spain will do this team some good.  Dan Quinn will apparently take over the defensive playcalling, so those of you hoping for coaching changes will get your wish, sort of.  It’s reasonable to doubt that the team can actually get this done, of course, but the Dolphins are a good team on which to try to rebound.  Daron Payne makes this task more difficult by virtue of his stupid, undisciplined, totally unnecessary, and well-deserved suspension for punching a Lions player last Sunday.  That having been said, Miami did upset the Bills last Sunday, so it won’t be easy even in the best of circumstances.   Can this happen?  Can Washington right the ship and start to look like an NFL team again?  Until I see if for myself, I doubt it, but that’s why they play the game.  Our game preview starts below.

Game time & location:           Monday, November 16, 2025, 9:30 a.m. ET, Santiago Bernabeu Stadium, Madrid, Spain

Television:                                NFL Network

Television announcers:          Kenny Albert, Jonathan Vilma, Jamie Erdhal

TV broadcast map:                 Click here

 

DC-area radio:                            BIG-100 (WBIG FM)

Washington radio network:    Click here

Dolphins radio network:         Click here

Satellite radio:                             SiriusXM: 380 (Wash. broad.) /  88 (nat’l broad.); internet: 831

 

Washington roster:                 Click here

Washington depth chart:       Click here

Dolphins roster:                     Click here

Dolphins depth chart:            Click here

 

All-time head-to-head record vs Dolphins: 5 – 9 (last 5: 2 – 3)

Last meeting: L, December 3, 2023, 15 – 45

Dolphins record: 3 – 7 (3rd place) / NFC: 1 – 1 / Home: 2 – 3

Washington record: 3 – 7 (3rd place) / AFC: 2 – 1 / Away: 1 – 4

Early odds: Dolphins, -2.5

3 KEYS TO THE GAME

Defensive mentality must improve

Nothing good is going to happen for this team, no matter who they play, if the defense doesn’t start playing with discipline and aggression, and stop making mistakes.  We can argue about whether the coaches are completely at fault, the players just stink, or it’s somewhere in between, but the bottom line is that the team simply isn’t going to win an NFL game if it leaves opposing receivers wide open, gets zero pressure on the quarterback, and allows running backs to regularly average over 5 yards per carry.  I fully recognize that injuries have decimated the defense, but it is what it is: these players and coaches will need to figure out how to not be historically bad, or they aren’t going to win another game this season.

Take advantage of the Dolphins bad pass defense

Washington’s offense has a bit of a break this week, at least on paper, because the Dolphins pass defense is almost as bad as that of Washington, at least on paper.  Recognizing that the Dolphins upset the Buffalo Bills last week, Washington needs to take advantage of this weakness and open up its offense.  Miami’s run defense isn’t particularly good either, but having given up 4.6 yards per carry, it is tied for 23rd in the NFL; in contrast, their pass defense has allowed an average opposing quarterback rating of 112.2, ranked 30th, which is almost as bad as Washington’s league-worst 112.7.  Therefore, take advantage of this, Washington: don’t be afraid to open up the passing game and see if it works.  The team really needs to get off to a strong start for once, and going downfield is a perfect way to do it.

Win the turnover battle

Newsflash: the Dolphins are absolutely terrible in turnovers.  Quarterback Tua Tagovailoa has a league-leading 13 interceptions, and they also had 4 fumbles lost, for 17 total.  They have a -7 turnover differential, which is tied for 30th in the league and one worse than Washington, which is at -6.  Assuming Washington defense actually shows up this week and doesn’t embarrass themselves again, I suspect that whoever wins the turnover battle will ultimately win the game.  Whoever is left in Washington’s defensive backfield needs to be laser-focused on getting interceptions this week.  Just jump routes and leave a receiver with a wide-open touchdown, please.

3 KEY MATCHUPS

Laremy Tunsil vs. Bradley Chubb

Tunsil facing off against Bradley Chubb is an elite matchup – both have been to multiple Pro Bowls and considered to be in the top rung of NFL players in their respective position groups.  Chubb missed all of the 2024 season due to a torn ACL, but is fully back this year and is leading the Dolphins with 5 sacks.  Meanwhile, Tunsil has for the most part lived up to billing at left tackle.  This will be one of the matchups that gets significant attention from the television broadcast crew.  Watch to see whether one of these players can get the better of the other – my guess is that this will largely be a draw.

Jonathan Jones vs Jaylen Waddle

With the injury to Tyreek Hill, Waddle has inherited Miami’s #1 receiver position.  For his part, Jones seems to have inherited Washington’s #1 corner position by virtue of the injuries to both Marshon Lattimore and Trey Amos, since Mike Saintristil remained in the  slot last week.  De’Von Achane is actually the Dolphins’ leading receiver as measured by both targets and receptions, but Waddle leads the team in total receiving yardage.  By default, it will be mostly be Jones; job to match up with Waddle.  Jones has had his moments this year, so this will be important to the game, and Jones might at least make this interesting.

Bobby Wagner vs De’Von Achane

The truth is that Achane is the Dolphins’ most important offensive player other than the quarterback – he leads the team in rushing with 780 yards and 5.5 yards per carry, and is also a significant part of the Dolphins’ passing game as well.  Wagner, as the middle linebacker and defensive signal caller, won’t necessarily be lined up directly against Achane, but in my view it’s going to be his job to account for Achane at all times and to make sure the rest of his defense does the same.  My guess is that if Achane has a big game against Washington on Sunday, it’s probably going to result in another Washington loss, so Wagner has a pretty big job in this regard this week.

OFFICIAL INJURY REPORT (active roster only)

LP – limited practice                          FP – full practice                    DNP – did not practice

NIR – not injury related                      Q – questionable                     O – out

D – doubtful

Washington	Dolphins
WR T. Burks, finger; Wed: DNP; Thurs: DNP; Fri: DNP; game: O	OL A. Jackson, toe; Wed: LP; Thurs: LP; Fri: LP; game: D
QB J. Daniels, left elbow; Wed: DNP; Thurs: DNP; Fri: DNP; game: O	LB B. Chubb, foot; Wed: NL; Thurs: NL; Fri: LP; game: Q
LB A. Kaho, concussion; Wed: DNP; Thurs: DNP; Fri: DNP; game: O	CB R. Douglas, foot/ankle; Wed: DNP; Thurs: LP; Fri: LP; game: Q
WR T. McLaurin, quad; Wed: DNP; Thurs: DNP; Fri: DNP; game: O	WR D. Eskridge, shoulder; Wed: :P; Thurs: LP; Fri: LP; game: Q
S W. Harris, ankle; Wed: LP; Thurs: LP; Fri: LP; game: O	OL A. Brewer, foot/ankle; Wed: DNP; Thurs: LP; Fri: FP
DE D. Jackson, knee; Wed: NL; Thurs: LP; Fri: LP; game: O	S A. Davis, quadricep; Wed: LP; Thurs: LP; Fri: FP
LB F. Luvu, shoulder; Wed: LP; Thurs: LP; Fri: FP	RB O. Gordon, ankle; Wed: LP; Thurs: LP; Fri: FP
S Q. Martin, shoulder; Wed: LP; Thurs: LP; Fri: FP	TE J. Hill, ankle; Wed: LP; Thurs: LP; Fri: FP
TE B. Sinnott, ankle; Wed: LP; Thurs: LP; Fri: DNP; game: O	S I. Melifonwu, thumb/foot; Wed: LP; Thurs: LP; Fri: FP
RB C. Rodriguez, shoulder; Wed: FP; Thurs: FP; Fri: FP	LB C. Robinson, concussion; Wed: FP; Thurs: FP; Fri: FP
LB B. Wagner, thumb; Wed: FP; Thurs: FP: Fri: FP
LB J. Magee, knee; Wed: NL; Thurs: NL; Fri: LP; game: Q

Steve’s Prediction

Washington is going have to prove to me that they can become a real NFL team again, and until I see that, I’m unwilling to pick them to win.  Miami gets the victory by a score of 32 – 24.

Elevated

RB Chase Edmonds

CB Tre Hawkins