Know Thy Enemy: Intel On Colts vs. Dolphins

The Indianapolis Colts (2-7) host the Miami Dolphins (1-7) on Sunday in a battle of two teams whose seasons are no longer about wins and losses.

The Dolphins began stripping things down for their rebuild last season and are in the first year of their new era. The Colts are currently where the Dolphins were at this time last year.

Both sides are evaluating who should be part of the future.

This week, ColtsRoundtable and James Brizuela of DolphinsRoundtable swapped questions to learn more about each side entering Sunday's matchup.

Here are the questions CR had about the Dolphins:

Jake Arthur: We know Kyle McCord is slated to step in for Malik Willis at quarterback, but how do you expect Miami to fill in for Zach Sieler? That's a really underrated loss.

James Brizuela: I would be a bit more worried if the Dolphins did not have some young and dynamic players who can step up. Zeek Biggers and Kenneth Grant are likely chomping at the bit to step into the role that Zach Sieler had. Both have made changes to their physique in the offseason, and it will be interesting to see if they can sustain the level of pressure that Sieler did.

JA: I loved this rookie class for Miami, as it featured a number of "my guys." Which rookies are really standing out this year?

JB: Linebacker Jacob Rodriguez is one. He is ninth in tackles with 79 and continues to show maturity beyond his rookie status. Safety Michael Taaffe and cornerback Chris Johnson are two others. They have both secured an interception, as has Rodriguez, making it the first time in NFL history that three rookies have done so. There are really a lot to name, but those are just three standout players in 2026.

JA: When you see national coverage of the Dolphins, what's the most common misconception you see?

JB: A big misconception is that the 2026 Dolphins are the same as they have always been. This team is honestly tough, and it has shown on the field. Multiple games have been decided by one touchdown or less. People see the 1-7 record and discount what this new team is building. 

JA: Who's a player or two who are highly important to what the Dolphins want to do, but fly under the radar?

JB: Defensive tackle Jordan Phillips continues to shine. He has been a starter in 2026 and has shown that his ceiling is very high. I am really excited to see how this season will shape his future. His run-stopping and defensive-stop abilities are a major reason the defense has been good at stalling opposing run games. 

JA: When you compare the Colts and Dolphins, is there any area in particular where you give the Colts a clear advantage?

JB: Oddly enough, it's the Colts' offense. Daniel Jones and Jonathan Taylor are enough to put this Miami defense on its heels. Even with trading Keenan Allen and Josh Downs, Indy has an offense that is far ahead of what the Dolphins can do. If the defense does not step up, it will be a long day for the Fins.

The Colts and Dolphins face off on Sunday at 1:00 p.m. ET on CBS in Indianapolis at Lucas Oil Stadium.