Miami Dolphins (0-0) vs. Tennessee Titans (0-0)
Game Facts
DATE: Sunday, Sept. 9
TIME: 1 p.m. ET
SITE: Hard Rock Stadium; Miami Gardens, Fla.
TV: In Miami-Fort Lauderdale, WSVN-TV (FOX 7); in West Palm Beach, WFLX-TV; in Fort Myers, WFTX-TV
TV ANNOUNCERS: Sam Rosen, play-by-play; Cris Carter, color analysis; Sarah Kustok, sideline
RADIO: Dolphins Radio Network, KISS 99.9 FM, WQAM 560 AM, WQBA 1140 AM (Spanish)
RADIO ANNOUNCERS: Jimmy Cefalo, play-by-play; Bob Griese, color analyst; Joe Rose, color analyst; Kim Bokamper (sideline); Roly Martin, play-by-play (Spanish); Eduardo Martell, analysis (Spanish)
The Series
SERIES RECORD: Miami leads 20-17 (including playoffs)
AT MIAMI: Dolphins lead 12-9
AT HOUSTON: Teams tied 6-6
AT TENNESSEE: Teams tied 2-2
LAST MEETING: 2017 at Miami; Dolphins 16, Titans 10
SERIES TREND: The teams have alternated victories for the past seven meetings, starting with the Dolphins' 13-10 victory in 2006. The Dolphins' victory last season marked the first time in five meetings the games was decided by less than 12 points.
HISTORY LESSON: This game will mark the third time the Dolphins open the season at home against the Oilers/Titans, but barring unforeseen circumstances it will be the first time the game is played on a Sunday. The first opener against the then-Houston Oilers took place in 1968 and was scheduled for a Saturday. The franchises were scheduled to open the 2004 season on Sunday, Sept. 12, but the game was moved up one day because of the threat of Hurricane Ivan.
Scouting Report
TENNESSEE's 2017 RECORD: 9-7 (won at Kansas City; lost at New England in playoffs)
TENNESSEE'S 2018 PRESEASON RECORD: 0-4
OVERVIEW: The Titans will be back at Hard Rock Stadium for a second consecutive year, but there will be some noticeable changes from the team that earned a wild-card playoff spot in 2017. The most obvious will be the team's new uniforms, complete with blue helmets replacing the white ones they previously wore. Tennessee also has a new head coach in Mike Vrabel, who replaced Mike Mularkey in January after a playoff loss at New England. For the game at Hard Rock Stadium only, perhaps the most significant change is that quarterback Marcus Mariota will be in the lineup after missing the 2017 game because of an injury. In terms of personnel, the Titans' two biggest veteran acquisitions came from the New England Patriots — running back Dion Lewis, and cornerback and former Super Bowl hero Malcolm Butler. The first two picks in the 2018 were spent on defense with the selections of Alabama linebacker Rashaan Evans and Boston College pass rusher Harold Landry, though both players will sit out the season opener because of injuries.
KEY NEW FACES: LB Rashaan Evans (draft-1st round), OLB Harold Landry (draft-2nd), RB Dion Lewis (New England), CB Malcolm Butler (New England), CB Logan Ryan (New England), LB Will Compton (Washington), S Kenny Vaccaro (New Orleans)
KEY VETERANS GONE: RB DeMarco Murray, WR Eric Decker, QB Matt Cassel, LB Erik Walden, S Da'Norris Searcy, NT Sylvester Williams, S Jonathan Cyprien (IR)
Final Injury Report
Miami Dolphins: Doubtful — WR DeVante Parker (finger)
Tennessee Titans: Out — T Jack Conklin (knee), LB Rashaan Evans (hamstring), OLB Harold Landry (knee), S Kendrick Lewis (foot)
