Miami Dolphins 2024 Week 1 Preview: Texans Matchup, Key Matchups, and Playoff-Level Focus

With just 48 hours until the Miami Dolphins kick off their 2024 regular season against the Houston Texans at Hard Rock Stadium, the energy around the team is a mix of focus and anticipation. This isn’t just a typical Week 1 game for the Dolphins—after two straight playoff appearances and a roster built for contention, it’s a chance to send a message to the AFC that they’re serious about challenging for a Super Bowl. From finalizing defensive game plans to ensuring star players are mentally locked in, every detail of the team’s preparation is aimed at starting the season with a win. Miami Dolphins 2024 Week 1 Preview: Texans Matchup, Key Matchups, and Playoff-Level Focus breaks down the most critical storylines heading into Sunday’s game, including can’t-miss player matchups, injury updates, and how the Dolphins plan to exploit the Texans’ weaknesses.

The biggest storyline of the Week 1 matchup is the quarterback battle between the Dolphins’ Tua Tagovailoa and the Texans’ C.J. Stroud—two passers at different stages of their careers, but both with the ability to take over a game. Tagovailoa, entering his fifth NFL season, is coming off a Pro Bowl year where he led the league in completion percentage (71.2%) and passer rating (118.5), and he’s spent the week emphasizing the importance of starting fast. “We don’t want to play catch-up early—we need to establish our rhythm on offense and put pressure on their defense from the first drive,” Tagovailoa said during a Friday press conference. Stroud, meanwhile, is fresh off a Rookie of the Year campaign where he threw for 4,108 yards and 23 touchdowns, and he’s proven he can handle high-pressure moments (he led the Texans to three fourth-quarter comebacks in 2023). The Dolphins’ defense has spent extra time preparing for Stroud’s mobility—he rushed for 364 yards last season—and plans to use a mix of blitzes and zone coverage to limit his ability to extend plays. Miami Dolphins 2024 Week 1 Preview: Texans Matchup, Key Matchups, and Playoff-Level Focus highlights this QB duel because it will likely dictate the game’s outcome: if Tagovailoa can avoid turnovers and Stroud is forced into mistakes, the Dolphins will have a clear path to victory.

Another critical focus for the Dolphins heading into Week 1 is their run defense, which will be tested by the Texans’ dynamic running back duo of Dameon Pierce and Devin Singletary. Pierce, a physical runner who averaged 4.3 yards per carry last season, and Singletary, a free-agent addition with speed to the outside, form one of the AFC’s most balanced backfields. The Dolphins’ defensive line—led by Christian Wilkins and Jaelan Phillips—has spent the week practicing gap discipline, a key to stopping the Texans’ zone-running scheme. “Pierce and Singletary are different types of runners, so we can’t use the same approach for both,” Wilkins explained. “We need to clog the middle for Pierce and contain Singletary on the edges.” The Dolphins also got a boost this week when safety Brandon Jones, who tore his ACL last season, was cleared to play in sub-packages—his ability to tackle in the box will be crucial against the Texans’ running game. Miami Dolphins 2024 Week 1 Preview: Texans Matchup, Key Matchups, and Playoff-Level Focus emphasizes this run defense battle because the Texans love to establish the run early (they ranked 10th in rushing attempts in 2023) to set up play-action passes for Stroud. If the Dolphins can shut down the run, they’ll force Houston into a one-dimensional offense.

On the offensive side, the Dolphins are leaning into their speed advantage to exploit the Texans’ secondary, which was one of the league’s weakest units last season (ranked 26th in passing yards allowed). Wide receivers Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle—who combined for 2,898 receiving yards in 2023—will face a Texans cornerback group that lacks elite talent, with Steven Nelson and Derek Stingley Jr. as the starters. Hill, who averaged 112 yards per game against the Texans in his career, is expected to draw extra coverage, but that will open up opportunities for Waddle and newly added wide receiver Isaiah Ford. “The Texans like to play man-to-man coverage, which plays into our strengths—Tyreek and Jaylen are some of the best at beating press coverage in the league,” offensive coordinator Frank Smith said. The Dolphins also plan to use running back De’Von Achane in the passing game; his speed out of the backfield could create mismatches against the Texans’ linebackers, who struggled in coverage last season. Miami Dolphins 2024 Week 1 Preview: Texans Matchup, Key Matchups, and Playoff-Level Focus explores this speed advantage because it’s the Dolphins’ biggest edge in the game—if they can get Hill and Waddle in open space, they’ll be nearly impossible to stop.

Special teams could play a decisive role in Week 1, and the Dolphins are focused on maximizing field position against the Texans’ inconsistent return units. The Texans ranked 24th in punt return average (7.2 yards) and 21st in kickoff return average (21.3 yards) last season, and the Dolphins plan to use their coverage unit—led by linebacker Mohamed Kamara and safety Jordan Poyer—to pin Houston deep in their own territory. Kicker Jason Sanders, who made 92% of his field goals in 2023, is also a weapon; he’s capable of hitting 50+ yard kicks, which could be crucial if the game is close. “Field position is going to matter a lot on Sunday—if we can force the Texans to start drives inside their 20-yard line, that puts our defense in a great position,” special teams coordinator Danny Crossman said. The Dolphins also got good news this week when long snapper Blake Ferguson, who missed the preseason with a hamstring injury, was cleared to play—ensuring no last-minute disruptions to special teams plays. Miami Dolphins 2024 Week 1 Preview: Texans Matchup, Key Matchups, and Playoff-Level Focus highlights special teams because it’s often overlooked, but in a game between two evenly matched teams, a big return or a game-winning field goal could be the difference between a win and a loss.

Finally, the Dolphins are approaching Week 1 with a playoff-level mindset, recognizing that every win in the regular season matters when it comes to securing a top seed in the AFC. Head coach Mike McDaniel has emphasized attention to detail all week, from film study to practice reps, and he’s made it clear that there’s no room for complacency. “We’re not treating this like a regular Week 1 game—we’re treating it like a playoff game because that’s the standard we’ve set for this team,” McDaniel said. The players have bought into this mindset too; veterans like Hill and Wilkins have held extra film sessions with younger players, and the team’s energy in practice has been noticeably higher than in previous seasons. For the Dolphins, a win over the Texans isn’t just about starting 1-0—it’s about building momentum that carries through the tough midseason stretch against teams like the Chiefs and Ravens. Miami Dolphins 2024 Week 1 Preview: Texans Matchup, Key Matchups, and Playoff-Level Focus concludes with this mindset because it’s what separates good teams from great ones. As the Dolphins take the field on Sunday, they’ll be playing not just for a win, but for the chance to prove they’re one of the NFL’s elite franchises—and a legitimate Super Bowl contender. With all the pieces in place, Sunday’s game could be the start of something special in Miami.