Lions vs. Dolphins Preview: Key Matchups, Injuries and Bold Predictions

The last time the Detroit Lions won four straight games was October 5 of last year, when they defeated the Cincinnati Bengals. Detroit will now take on the 1–6 Miami Dolphins, looking to accomplish that feat once again.

Currently, Detroit is a seven-point favorite over Miami. Despite their 1–6 record, the Dolphins have been much more competitive than their record suggests. In three of their last four games, Miami has remained within striking distance. They lost to the Minnesota Vikings by just five points and fell to the Cincinnati Bengals by seven, although a garbage-time touchdown made the final score closer than the game actually was.

In their two most recent matchups, however, the Dolphins have shown signs of improvement. Miami defeated the New York Jets and held a 10-point lead over the New England Patriots in the third quarter before ultimately losing by five points.

Miami will be without star running back De’Von Achane, who suffered a season-ending ACL injury earlier this year. In his absence, rookie running back Ollie Gordon has stepped up. Since taking over a larger role, Gordon has recorded four touchdowns and surpassed 100 rushing yards in two games, along with another performance in which he finished with 88 yards. Despite initially being viewed as a backup, Gordon has certainly played like a starter.

Meanwhile, starting quarterback Malik Willis has struggled to consistently produce through the air. Willis has surpassed 220 passing yards in just one game and is currently averaging 181 passing yards per contest. He has also thrown five interceptions this season, which could create opportunities for Detroit’s defense to capitalize on costly mistakes.

The Lions will be without linebackers Jack Campbell and Jimmy Rolder, while edge rusher DJ Wonnum could also miss the game due to a concussion. Cornerback DJ Reed is dealing with a hip injury after coming off arguably his best performance of the season. Reed has not practiced Wednesday or Thursday, putting his availability in question.

The good news for Detroit is that Brian Branch has returned to practice and appears to be on track to play. Former All-Pro safety Kerby Joseph has also begun practicing with the Lions and could make his first appearance of the 2026 season. Joseph has not played since Week 6 of the 2025 season, making his potential return a significant boost for Detroit’s secondary.

Defensively, Miami allows 113 rushing yards and 221 passing yards per game. I expect Detroit to lean heavily on its ground-and-pound identity, especially with Sione Vaki coming off an impressive performance against Minnesota. Vaki carried the ball 11 times for 65 yards, averaging 5.9 yards per carry.

Ultimately, this is a game the Lions should win. Miami has shown that it can compete with teams despite its disappointing record, so Detroit cannot afford to overlook the Dolphins. As long as the Lions avoid costly turnovers, limit mistakes, and establish their running game, they should be in a strong position to earn their fourth consecutive victory.