Panthers’ Sam Bennett Takes Stanley Cup to Humane Society

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FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — 2025 Conn Smythe winner Sam Bennett’s on-ice performance last season was instrumental in the Florida Panthers repeating as Stanley Cup champions. Yet, his off-ice contributions were equally impressive.

 

Prior to the 2024-25 NHL season, the Panthers forward started “Benny’s Buddies”, a charitable program with the Humane Society of Broward County. Every time Bennett scored a goal during the season, he would pay the adoption fee for a dog or cat at the shelter.

 

By the time Bennett hoisted the Stanley Cup for a second time in his career, 41 adoption fees were sponsored thanks to the 41 goals he scored throughout the season (25 regular season, 15 playoffs, 1 4 Nations Face-Off).

 

On Wednesday, Sam and his wife Zoe brought the Stanley Cup to the Humane Society in Fort Lauderdale.

 

There, the Bennetts met with eight animals, including the final two “Benny’s Buddies” adoptions from the previous season — a 3-year-old female dog named Piper and another 3-year-old dog called Kate.

 

A few sniffs and licks of the Stanley Cup — by the animals of course — was just a small part of a great day for all parties in attendance.

 

“It’s absolutely incredible,” Bennett joyfully said about bringing the Cup to the Humane Society. “I didn’t think I would have the opportunity [to bring the Cup]. I just found out a couple of weeks ago that I was going to have an hour with the Cup today.

 

“I’m so excited to bring it here and just get more attention to the Humane Society… that’s really the whole goal. It’s to get more people to come and look at adopting pets.”

 

Over the offseason, Bennett signed an eight-year, $64 million contract extension with the Panthers. With that, “Benny’s Buddies” will continue on into the 2025-26 season.

 

“That’s the plan… every goal I score will cover the adoption fee of a dog or a cat,” Bennett said regarding his charitable contributions headed into next season.

 

“Me and my wife both loved animals our whole lives,” Bennett said when asked why he chose to sponsor animal adoptions. “My wife started volunteering here a couple years ago when I first got traded [to Florida]. Then, we ended up adopting a dog from here and there were so many amazing animals. We wanted to do something to help more animals get adopted.”

 

Before starting “Benny’s Buddies”, Sam and Zoe rescued two animals in the Fort Lauderdale area, with their dog Billie being adopted from the Humane Society.

 

While Bennett was the one sponsoring adoption fees, his Panthers teammates were excited to help out in their own way.

 

“My teammates all throughout the year, every time I scored they would say ‘oh that was for the animals’. If someone gave me a back-door tap in they would say ‘oh I passed it so you could get another animal adopted’.”

 

Much like his play from last season, Bennett’s charity only continued to reach greater heights as the year progressed. Bennett said many people reached out to him over the season to see how they could help.

 

Merchandise requests have also been at an all-time high after both Bennett and Panthers head coach Paul Maurice dawned a “Benny’s Buddies” hat at the Stanley Cup parade last June.

 

“I didn’t think people would want them that bad,” Benentt said regarding the hats. “Everyone’s been asking where we can get them. So we’re in the process of trying to get that going.”

 

If you’re interested in adopting a pet, learn more at the Humane Society of Broward County.

Fingers crossed that the public is the biggest winner in Canelo Álvarez versus Terence Crawford

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It’s fight week for the mega spectacle between Canelo Álvarez and Terence Crawford that will decide the undisputed champion at 168 pounds on Sept. 13. Neither man has officially kissed the canvas in their careers, and this clash of titans at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas will be the biggest of the year. 

 

FanDuel Sportsbook has Canelo as a -192 favorite. DraftKings has him at -165, and Caesars at -170.   

 

Crawford didn’t have the same fishing power at 154 pounds facing Israil Madrimov that he did at 147, ending his knockout streak at 11. That also includes all eight welterweights he fought. He eventually solved Madrimov’s awkward movements and strike patterns for a unanimous decision, but it was far from his best showing in the ring at his only stay at junior middleweight. 

 

After going up 14 pounds, Crawford’s power will be tested by Canelo, who claims the four belts and will keep pressing forward until given a reason not to. Still, Crawford shouldn’t be underestimated for being the smaller man because he is the superior boxer.

 

“I ain’t scared of shit,” Crawford said at the press conference for the fight on June 27. He also thinks too much is being made of the weight jump. Manny Pacquiao probably thought the same thing when he moved up two divisions and retired Oscar De La Hoya.

 

But what Canelo will it be? It’s been 12 years since Floyd Mayweather said he would “carry the torch” after that education. The last real test he saw was against Dmitry Bivol, who was a significant underdog before the first bell. Canelo came back down to super middleweight after that loss and at least four of his fights since 2022 have been against opponents who should not have been in the ring with him. And he couldn’t put down Jaimee Munguia and Edgar Berlanga after hurting them. 

 

Canelo may be older boxing-wise than people realize. In Douglas Fischer’s piece for The Ring magazine’s August edition, he wrote that Canelo told him years ago that 13 fights were not counted on his pro record. Still, even with a substandard performance in the unanimous decision victory over William Scull, who was there for a check, Canelo is the most dangerous fighter Crawford has challenged.

 

The biggest question of the fight is how Crawford, a two-time undisputed champ (four belts), will handle the heaviest shots of his career. Matchroom Sport chairman Eddie Hearn said he probably has to make it a “stinker,” but if Crawford rides constant movement while jabbing off the back foot plus firing light-speed backhands to the body, without brawling, I suspect many purists won’t complain.

 

Bivol’s blueprint at light heavyweight (175 pounds), set on May 7, 2022, is not one that Crawford can follow completely. Bivol, the naturally bigger man, had the faster hands and bothered Canelo with his movement and guard that took lots of Canelo’s good punches.  He eventually got bold and bullied the smaller man at times. 

 

The red-headed Mexican has tried to get into Crawford’s head, saying he hasn’t faced one elite fighter, but that’s not true. He broke Errol Spence Jr., who much of the boxing world deemed a 50-50 opponent in a massive fight in 2023. The Nebraska native also has many other good wins. The one over Shawn Porter is one of his top moments because he questioned how it was going in his corner, got an answer he didn’t like and dropped Porter twice, finishing the fight. But like all of the great ones, even Canelo, there are things that could be nitpicked. 

 

Considering how supremely gifted Crawford is, it’s a shame he’s not known about by the public as someone like Stephen Curry. Perhaps an upset would change that. But fingers crossed that the public is the biggest winner.

 

 

 

 

Dolphins receiver Tyreek Hill showed his frustration during the season-opening loss to the Colts.

Pressure Point: Tagovailoa’s woes among many concerns in Dolphins’ disastrous opener

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What. A. Dolphins. Disaster.

What went wrong for the Miami Dolphins in the season opener at Indianapolis?

Let us count the ways. Actually, easier to simply say, everything. Absolutely everything in a horrific 33-8 undressing by the Colts.

Dolphins wide receiver Tyreek Hill summed it up perfectly: “This was a big kick in the balls for us.”

It is one thing to go on the road and lose on opening day. That’s not surprising in the NFL.

But when every single offseason concern is not only confirmed but magnified, red flags about what lies ahead for this team in this season meld together like a crimson tsunami.

Secondary — oof! Offensive line — ouch! Run defense — gulp!

To make the situation more painful, guard James Daniels, the veteran addition to the o-line, lasted only three plays before leaving with a pectoral injury. Storm Duck, who was Miami’s top cornerback through attrition, left on a cart with a leg injury in the second quarter.

Even the Miami pass rush, which was supposed to be a strength, didn’t materialize.

One of Tua Tagovailoa’s worst performances

As for the quarterback play, it was simply one of the worst performances of Tua Tagovailoa’s career, punctuated by two interceptions and a fumble that the Colts turned into 17 points.

It began with the Dolphins’ first three possessions of the season ending in: interception, fumble (by Tua), punt, that led to a 20-0 deficit at the half.

Oh, by the way, Xavien Howard, who used to the Dolphins’ best cornerback, recovered Tua’s fumble to announce his presence in his first game for the Colts.

The Colts, at the intermission, had 255 yards of offense to 43 for Miami. They had a 17-3 advantage in first downs.

Those numbers illustrate that the Dolphins were not competitive on the one day when everyone starts on equal footing.

It didn’t get better for Miami. Tagovailoa threw his second interception of the game on the first possession of the second half and it was promptly 23-0.

Keep in mind, the Colts had not won as opening game since 2013. Their 0-10-1 mark since then was the second-longest drought in openers in NFL history. They haven’t been to the playoffs in four seasons.

Dolphins fans have reason to fear the worst

Understandably, by halftime Dolphins fans were tossing deck chairs off the Titanic. The popular chorus of “Fire everyone!!!” was in full scream mode.

Can’t blame them. They weren’t reacting to one bad half of football, but rather to decades of futility.

Granted, dramatic swings in performance from week to week are common in the league. If you want to give the Dolphins the benefit of the doubt, the next three weeks, against the Patriots, Bills and Jets, will show how they match up in the AFC East. The first two will come in a span of 11 days.

Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel pointed to a litany of mistakes as the reason for the embarrassing performance at Indy.

“It’s a young team having to learn some very hard lessons,” he said. “It’s all about the ebbs and flows. You can’t overcook a success and you can’t overcook a failure. You have to learn from things.”

He is peddling the notion of a quick fix.

The view from here is that an already suspect roster looked more problematic than expected.

Dolphins pushed around by Colts

What happened to the emphasis on being more physical and winning the battles in the trenches? The Colts mauled the Dolphins and tossed them aside with ease.

A number of Dolphins spent time in the blue injury tent on the sideline, though some did return.

It was a stunning physical mismatch that left few positives to point to from a Dolphins point of view.

What concerned me most was Tagovailoa. Now in his sixth season, we’ve been hearing about a new Tua, in command, more assertive, ready to lead the way to success.

To be sure, this was a different Tua, but not in a good way. I can’t recall him playing so poorly in a game that wasn’t against the Bills or in freezing weather.

This was played in balmy conditions and matched with Daniel Jones, who seemed to channel Peyton Manning in assertiveness and precise execution in his Colts debut.

Tyreek Hill exhibits frustration

Meanwhile, the Dolphins’ passing game was tentative and out of sync all afternoon.

A couple days before the opener, Tua had a message for Dolfans on social media. His post: “Time to show them who I am.”

If this is who he is at this point in his career, the franchise is in worse shape than many fans and media members feared.

While young players are being leaned on at some positions, Tua still has two of the premier receivers in Hill and Jaylen Waddle to work with. The cohesion that would be expected after several years of playing together wasn’t evident.

Tagovailoa appeared uncomfortable in the pocket and his throws were erratic. On the first interception, he sailed the throw five yards past Hill, who was open over the middle.

Hill’s frustration was evident on the sideline during the game and suggested all is still not well between him and Tagovailoa.

Dolphins general manager Chris Grier, already No. 1 on Dolphins fans’ hit list, recently said that in letting go of some veteran players, the roster was undergoing a “reset” but not a rebuild.

There is more talent on the roster than the 2019 “Tank For Tua” team that started 0-7 and began the rebuilding effort that was supposed to lead the way to sustainable success. That mission has yielded no playoff wins and led the beleaguered franchise back to what looks like another deep rut.

Granted it was only one game, but it already feels like a season in crisis.

Craig Davis has covered South Florida sports and teams, including the Dolphins, for more than four decades. Follow him on the site formerly known as Twitter @CraigDavisRuns.

Five Takeaways from the Miami Dolphins Embarrassing Week One Loss

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The Miami Dolphins opened the 2025 NFL season with a dud, getting dismantled by the Indianapolis Colts in a performance that left little to feel good about. Almost every unit looked unprepared, and the team failed to execute on the basic keys to victory. Here are five major takeaways:

1. Tua Looked Off from the Start

Tua Tagovailoa never settled into a rhythm. While he was under constant duress, both interceptions came on plays where he had time to throw. Decision-making and ball placement were shaky, leaving fans wondering if this was rust, nerves, or something deeper.

2. The “Revamped” Front Seven Was a No-Show

The Dolphins invested heavily into improving the defensive front, but week one was a reality check. One sack all game, 156 rushing yards allowed, and very little disruption in the backfield. The run fits were sloppy, and the Colts dictated the line of scrimmage from the opening whistle.

3. Secondary Struggles

For a team built around elite corners, this was not the kind of tape they’ll want to watch back. Miscommunication and blown coverages left receivers running open too often, and the Colts took advantage.

  • Storm Duck left the game with an ankle injury and was getting torched early on.

4. Offensive Line Still a Liability

Miami’s offensive line was overmatched again. Three sacks, six quarterback hits, and four tackles for loss highlight just how little push or protection the unit provided. Without improvement here, the offense will never find consistency.

  • James Daniels also only made it three plays before leaving with a pectoral injury.

5. The Keys to Victory Were Ignored

Heading into the matchup, three simple goals were laid out:

  • Start fast and set the tone. (Instead, the Dolphins looked flat early and never recovered.)

  • Contain Jonathan Taylor and make Daniel Jones beat you. (Instead, Taylor gashed them on the ground and Jones played comfortably within the game plan.)

  • Win the turnover battle. (Tua threw two costly interceptions and lost a fumble).

  • The Dolphins didn’t just miss on these keys they flipped them in Indy’s favor

I have long coined this season as the last chance for this regime, in regard to Tua, McDaniel, Grier and others. After losing in week one, the National media, local media, and even the most optimistic of fans all have added ammunition to their low standard takes regarding the Miami Dolphins this season. Next week the Dolphins have their home opener against the 0-1 New England Patriots, if Miami doesn’t figure things out quickly not only will it be a long season, but the last run with this core.

 

Dolphins Embarrassed by Colts in Week One Loss

Can Week One Be Considered a “Must Win” for the Miami Dolphins?

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The Miami Dolphins are looking to return to the NFL playoffs and maybe even end their quarter-century playoff win drought. That is easier said than done, but this year the path is right in front of them if they can stay healthy. Health is a key variable for every NFL team, but it is especially true for Tua Tagovailoa and the Dolphins.

On the surface, a 0–1 start is not a death sentence. Many playoff teams stumble out of the gate and find their rhythm later in the season. But with the Dolphins, context matters, and right now the national perception is not on their side.

National Media Predictions

The outlook from major outlets is not encouraging:

  • CBS Sports: 7–10

  • ESPN: 8–9

  • PFF: 9–8

  • Bleacher Report: 7–10

  • USA Today: 5–12

  • Sports Illustrated: 6–11

  • PFSN: 8–9

Most oddsmakers have set the Dolphins’ win total around 7.5 games, signaling doubt about Miami’s ability to navigate the season. The consensus narrative is that health concerns, Tua’s durability, and secondary depth issues make this team fragile.

But the Dolphins are more talented than these projections give them credit for. That is exactly why Week One looms so large.

Why Week One Matters More Than It Should

1. Culture

Winning breeds culture, not the other way around. Every coach in the NFL preaches “culture,” but it only sticks when victories back it up. A Week One loss to the Colts, an opponent many would argue Miami should beat, would hand national critics ammunition and test the Dolphins’ locker room resolve before momentum even has a chance to build. A win, on the other hand, starts the year with confidence and belief, both inside the locker room and in the fan base.

2. Strength of Schedule

Miami does not have the luxury of stumbling. The Dolphins face one of the more diverse schedules in the league, with five games against teams who they have a clear quarterback advantage against (IND, CAR, NO, CLE, ATL).

A slip-up against Indianapolis, however, would mean Miami has to play catch-up all season long. The math is not favorable. To reach 10 wins, which is likely the AFC cutoff, Miami would need to sweep both the Jets and Patriots or grind out victories against teams like Washington, Cincinnati, Tampa Bay, Buffalo, the Chargers, Baltimore, and Pittsburgh. Dropping Week One only increases the pressure to pull off upsets later in the year.

The Stakes

The Dolphins are built to contend, but the narrative around them says otherwise. Media outlets see them as middle-of-the-pack, fragile, and inconsistent. Week One against the Colts is not just about starting 1–0, it is about flipping that script.

A win establishes momentum, validates Mike McDaniel’s program, and gives Tua the confidence he needs to silence critics early. A loss reinforces every doubt that has been cast on this team since the offseason and makes the road to January feel like a mountain climb.

So, is Week One a must-win? Technically, no. Realistically, yes. For the Miami Dolphins, the season does not just begin in Week One, it might be defined by it.

Mateo’s Hoop Diary: Rhyne Howard drains nine threes, tying the single-game record again, leading the Dream over the Sparks

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The Dream, minus All-Star Allisha Gray (knee), completed their miniseries at home (2-0) against the desperate Sparks, overwhelming them by going to the body and with a surplus of threes. Rhyne Howard and Maya Caldwell made up for most of the latter, shooting them up worse than Scarface at his last stand. The win also gave the hosts home-court advantage through the first round of the playoffs.

 

In combat sports, these types of matchups are called tune-ups because eventually one side will take off like a jet next to a dust cropper. In this case, the Dream pulled away in the second half as if they were in another time zone.

 

Nobody needed to wait long for the fireworks. Howard swished five triples on and off the dribble, plus nailed two freebies in the first quarter. Yet the Sparks were still within striking distance because of Dearica Hamby’s paint pressure, and outside shooting from Rickea Jackson and Kelsey Plum.

 

The visitors hung around, but Howard added another pair of 3-pointers and dribbled into the lane for two close-range baskets, lifting her output to a career-high of 29 first-half digits.

 

The Dream led 56-52 at halftime. Despite little separation on the scoreboard, one of the differences was Brittney Griner, standing at 6-foot-9, was a mismatch in the lane, too.

 

Then the game plan shifted as Brionna Jones punctured the heart of the defense four times. The problems were that her teammates went cold, and Atlanta’s defense had lost its teeth going back to the first frame.

 

It took Howard almost seven minutes to drain her first second-half triple as she curled around a dribble handoff at the top of the key, extending the lead to 11. That was also Atlanta’s 11th straight point coming out of a timeout halfway into the third. She buried another pull-up trey as 28 seconds were left in the third quarter.

 

The hosts were never in danger of losing their lead in the fourth, and they held LA to 25% shooting. Howard stayed through most of garbage time, too, looking for the 3-point record (10) but finished after 37 minutes.

 

The Dream won 104-85. They also outscored the Sparks by 26 off the bench. It was Howard’s second time logging nine 3-pointers this season, the current record for most made in a game, and her first was on June 13. The other players to share this record are Kelsey Mitchell (Sept. 9, 2019, Jewell Loyd (July 11, 2023) and Arike Ogunbowale (Sept. 1, 2024).

 

Keys to A Miami Dolphins Week One Victory

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The Miami Dolphins open up their 2025 regular season as underdogs on the road against the Daniel Jones led Colts. The Colts made little to no adjustments on the offensive side of the ball this offseason other than their quarterback change, and bolstered their secondary signing Camryn Bynum, Xavien Howard, and Charvarius Ward. On the offensive side of the ball, they lost linemen Will Fries and Ryan Kelly and added Penn State tight end Tyler Warren in the draft. Miami gets nearly the same Colts team they lost to a season ago, but this time without Tua under center.

Daniel Jones is sure to be an upgrade over Anthony Richardson, but the Miami Dolphins will be much better, much in part to health, the bolstering of their offensive line, and some late off-season additions (Rasul Douglas and Matthew Judon).

So here are the keys to a Miami Dolphins victory.

  1. Start Fast: The Miami Dolphins are being attacked by the National Media, their own fans, and many players amongst the NFL. Culture attacks, leadership attacks, and questioning the organizations continuity and trust in certain individuals. The Miami Dolphins must show that they are ready to head back to the playoffs. Start fast, silence the haters, and put this game away early. Getting ahead will enable the Miami Dolphins to unleash their fierce pass rush, Jaelan Phillips, Bradley Chubb, Chop Robinson, Zach Sieler, and Matthew Judon. A fast start plays in the Dolphins favor, make Daniel Jones beat you.
  2. Stop the Run; Force Daniel Jones to Throw: Daniel Jones isn’t a prominent passer but rather a dynamic quarterback who should bring a good balanced attack with Jonathan Taylor, especially since he’s an upgrade from Anthony Richardson. The Colts averaged 137.1 yards per game on the ground last season (8th in the NFL) and will likely lean on the rushing attack again this season. Adding Tyler Warren should open up the play action attack but also bolster the Colts run blocking. With Jonathan Taylor handling the ball, the Dolphins have to contain him. The new look front seven and Anthony Weaver’s scheme will be essential in containing the Colts on the ground. Jordyn Brooks, Willie Gay, Tyrel Dodson, will need to have gap integrity and be sure tacklers for all 60 minutes. For the edge rushers it will be essential to keep the Colts in the middle of the field, don’t let Jonathan Taylor get to the outside.
  3. Win the Turnover Battle: The Dolphins only forced 16 turnovers last season, among the NFL’s worst. Winning the turnover battle is always a key to victory, but it really fits this Miami Dolphins’ team’s agenda, especially early.

The Dolphins really have the talent to make some noise in 2025, but the must stay healthy, connected, and start fast, reasserting themselves as a top team in the NFL. If the Dolphins do these three things, nothing is stopping Mike McDaniel and company (except health). The Colts open up as favorites, but the Dolphins should surely take this one.

 

Mateo’s Hoop Diary: Angel Reese has put the Chicago Sky on notice

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Angel Reese is a star and has no issues throwing her weight around on and off the court, even at the expense of her teammates. Her second season has five games left, but the start to her career has been spent on a team far away from doing anything serious because of internal drama, injuries and a limited, rebuilding roster. That’s not good enough for Reese, a college champion at LSU who also led Saint Frances Academy in Baltimore to three straight championships. 

 

She said, “… I’d like to be here for my career, but if things don’t pan out, obviously I might have to move in a different direction and do what’s best for me,” per the Chicago Tribune’s Julia Powe. Now her teammates are rightfully upset.

 

Now think of the Sky’s avenue to improvement. Per a press release on April 13, “In 2026, the Sky hold the rights to swap Phoenix‘s first-round pick with Connecticut’s.” Yet, they traded their 2027 FRP and the third pick in the 2025 draft, which was used on All-Star rookie Sonia Citron, for Ariel Atkins, who is in her eighth season and was formerly a two-time All-Star. Don’t forget that they also got the 11th pick in the last draft and the Lynx kept Chicago’s 2026 FRP. Hailey Van Lith, Reese’s former teammate at LSU who has struggled in her rookie campaign, was picked at 11.

 

The Sky (9-30) is one game ahead of the Dallas Wings (9-32), owners of the worst record in the league.  Can anyone foresee a bounce-back year in 2026 for the Sky? They need it for their sake, so morale isn’t zapped if they are the bottom feeders and Washington drafts superstar prospect Juju Watkins through the original Chicago pick.  

 

Reese must be looking at Phoenix’s Alyssa Thomas thinking, “Dang, give me a team like that, and we’ll be in the mix.” 

 

Reese, on top of being the most productive rebounder (by average) in WNBA history at age 23, has shown she can be a reliable playmaker, nearly doubling her assists (to 3.7 per game) on a lousy 3-point shooting team. With snipers around her, she could average two to three dimes on offensive rebounds alone because defenses are vulnerable in those situations. Eventually rivals will stop helping on her drives if she keeps burning them with a feed to the corner or wing, and when that happens, expect her accuracy to elevate at close range.

 

Additionally, Reese guards well, but needs teammates strong at checking the point of attack to maximize her impact. She can’t be next to someone who is exposed in drop coverage either. 

 

There are two things she needs to do to emulate Thomas: get stronger so opponents are at an even worse disadvantage when she dribbles toward the cylinder. The other is to keep working on her jumper, which only drops 28.2% of the time, per WNBA Stats. This season, Thomas has raised her accuracy on her jumper by 15.2%.

 

Still, Reese has played at the level of a top-15 player since her turnaround after the poor start to the season. It behooves the Sky to get her some help quickly.



Predicting the Miami Dolphins 2025 Record

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It’s finally game week, and the Miami Dolphins will look to bounce back after missing the playoffs for the first time under head coach Mike McDaniel. The 2025 offseason and NFL Draft saw Miami invest heavily in the trenches while adding proven veterans and key depth pieces. The late off-season acquisitions of Matthew Judon and Rasul Douglas, the return of Kendall Lamm, the emergence of rookie running back Ollie Gordon, and improved special teams play throughout the preseason have reinforced early predictions that this roster is built for a strong rebound.

Miami now has the potential to field one of the most disruptive front sevens in the NFL and an offense capable of returning to its 2023 explosiveness. Health across the roster is improving, but concerns remain in the secondary, particularly at cornerback. Until that position progresses, it remains a limiting factor in projecting the Dolphins’ ceiling.

The Dolphins are scheduled for five primetime appearances and an international showdown in Spain, a clear indication of the NFL’s belief that Miami is one of the league’s most entertaining and competitive teams to watch, although the National media may say otherwise.

Miami Dolphins 2025 Game-by-Game Predictions

WEEK DATE OPPONENT LOCATION NETWORK TIME (ET) RESULT
1 Sun., Sept. 7 at Indianapolis Colts Lucas Oil Stadium CBS 1:00 PM W
2 Sun., Sept. 14 New England Patriots Hard Rock Stadium CBS 1:00 PM W
3 Thu., Sept. 18 at Buffalo Bills Highmark Stadium Prime Video 8:15 PM L
4 Mon., Sept. 29 New York Jets Hard Rock Stadium ESPN 7:15 PM W
5 Sun., Oct. 5 at Carolina Panthers Bank of America Stadium FOX 1:00 PM W
6 Sun., Oct. 12 Los Angeles Chargers Hard Rock Stadium CBS 1:00 PM W
7 Sun., Oct. 19 at Cleveland Browns Huntington Bank Stadium CBS 1:00 PM W
8 Sun., Oct. 26 at Atlanta Falcons Mercedes-Benz Stadium CBS 1:00 PM W
9 Thu., Oct. 30 Baltimore Ravens Hard Rock Stadium Prime Video 8:15 PM L
10 Sun., Nov. 9 Buffalo Bills Hard Rock Stadium CBS 1:00 PM L
11 Sun., Nov. 16 Washington Commanders (Spain) Bernabéu Stadium, Madrid NFL Network 9:30 AM L
— Sun., Nov. 23 BYE WEEK — — — —
12 Sun., Nov. 30 New Orleans Saints Hard Rock Stadium FOX 1:00 PM W
13 Sun., Dec. 7 at New York Jets MetLife Stadium CBS 1:00 PM W
14 Mon., Dec. 15 at Pittsburgh Steelers Acrisure Stadium ESPN/ABC 8:15 PM W
15 Sun., Dec. 21 Cincinnati Bengals Hard Rock Stadium NBC 8:20 PM L
16 Sun., Dec. 28 Tampa Bay Buccaneers Hard Rock Stadium FOX 1:00 PM L
17 Jan. 3 or 4 at New England Patriots Gillette Stadium TBD TBD W

Final Record: 11–6

  • AFC East Record: 4–2

  • Conference Record: 8–4

  • NFC Record: 3–2

Key Wins

  • at Pittsburgh (Week 14, MNF): A statement primetime win in a cold-weather playoff-style environment.

  • vs New York Jets (Week 4): An early divisional victory that helped set the tone for the season.

  • vs Los Angeles Chargers (Week 6): A complete team effort against a high-powered offense provided momentum heading into the midseason stretch.

The Dolphins offense and strong front seven will lead to the majority of their wins. They have the clear quarterback and coaching advantage in many games, causing a high floor, barring health.

Toughest Losses

  • vs Washington (Madrid, Week 11): Travel fatigue and unfamiliar conditions made for a costly international slip.

  • vs Buffalo (Week 10): Being swept by the Bills could be the difference in the AFC East race.

  • vs Cincinnati (Week 15): A potential playoff preview that gets away under the lights at home.

The Dolphins secondary will be very telling in how their 2025 season goes. Can they contain they high octane offenses?

Playoff Outlook

An 11–6 finish should comfortably secure a Wild Card berth in a stacked AFC. If Buffalo falters down the stretch, Miami has a path to stealing the division via tiebreakers. The Dolphins start hot at 7–1 before stumbling in the stretches of November and December, but the foundation is there for a postseason run, especially if the secondary solidifies.

Final Thoughts

Between favorable scheduling, manageable travel, and improved depth, Miami is positioned to return to the playoffs. Winnable games against Carolina, Atlanta, New Orleans, and Cleveland should serve as anchors to the record (Miami is just the better team), while divisional matchups against New England and the Jets could determine playoff seeding (do the Patriots and Jets take a leap?).

The addition of Judon and Douglas strengthens a defense already built to pressure quarterbacks and now gives them support on the backend. Lamm’s return adds needed stability up front, while Gordon provides fresh juice to the backfield. Special teams, long a weakness; look sharper and could swing close games.

If Tua Tagovailoa stays healthy, Miami’s floor is at least eight wins. The ceiling pushes into 12+ territory if the Dolphins can take a game from Buffalo and slow down elite offenses like Baltimore, Cincinnati, Washington, and Tampa Bay.

The schedule suggests streaks are likely, but the pieces are in place for Miami to reassert itself as a postseason contender.

The Miami Heat’s ’06 files: Setting the stage

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The dream season became a nightmare as the Pistons celebrated as Eastern Conference champions in the Heat’s house following Game 7 in 2005. The hosts exited to the locker room with their pride wounded, looking like they’d seen an apparition after blowing a 3-2 lead.

 

Two sweeps against New Jersey and Washington were inconsequential because what could have gone wrong in the fourth quarter did. The Heat got away from what worked- giving it to Shaquille O’Neal- instead Dwyane Wade took bad shots and the role players did too much, including Damon Jones, whose turnover with two minutes left resulted in a Rip Hamilton pick-6, tying the game.

 

Wade said after that, “They made plays at the end, you know, that we didn’t make. That was the main thing.”

 

On the other side, Chauncey Billups buried a trifecta and coffin-closing free throws. Rasheed Wallace took the lead for good with freebies and made a vital putback with under a minute left on the next possession. 

 

The Heat’s clock management was suspect, and Wade didn’t get a clean look from deep while down four points with seven seconds left. 

 

O’Neal was the white whale that the front office acquired the previous summer, instantly elevating them to contending status. He was even better than in his last year with the Lakers after shedding around 40 pounds, too, and his presence with the remaining ingredients racked up 59 regular-season victories, the second-most in franchise history at the time. 

 

The one-two combination with O’Neal and Wade was as tough to stop as any league duo, but the latter was compromised with a rib injury suffered in Game 5 and needed an injection before tip-off of Game 7. Ron Culp, who was the Heat’s first trainer and later died in 2021 of cardiac arrest per his official obituary, applied heat to the rib area during timeouts.

 

Heat play-by-play broadcaster Eric Reid told Five Reasons Sports Network that the moment Wade got hurt was a “high point and a low point at the same point.” He tried warming up for Game 6, but never played.  

 

The Heat’s locker room was quiet after elimination because they felt they let one slip away. O’Neal’s voice usually filled every room with bass, but not this time. The Associated Press’ Tim Reynolds was present for the scene. He told FRSN, “If you weren’t within six inches of him, you couldn’t hear him.”  

 

O’Neal was pissed off not just at the outcome but at coach Stan Van Gundy as well because he wanted the ball more late. He complained to anyone who would listen about Van Gundy later that offseason. 

 

Management’s first order of business was to improve when league rules allowed. Team president Pat Riley called Wade in the summer for his input on moves and received feedback from his surprised star player. Wade publicly said on Quite Frankly with Stephen A. Smith during the 2005-06 season that the moves confused him. The changes included: 

 

-Certified playmaker Jason Williams via five-team trade from Memphis. 

 

-Top-shelf perimeter defender and 3-point marksman James Posey via five-team trade from Memphis.

 

-Antoine Walker, a former 20-point-per-game scorer, arrived via a five-team trade.

 

-Gary Payton, whom the Heat wanted for multiple years, committed on Sept. 22. Payton’s defensive prowess was instantly going to help the Heat at guarding at pick and roll, a notorious weakness for O’Neal, who was his teammate in 2003-04 in LA. 

 

-Jason Kapono, the 10th man for the Charlotte Bobcats in 2004-05, was an extra body with outside range. He signed as a free agent on Oct. 3.

 

One of the consequences of Eddie Jones’ inclusion in the Memphis trade was that more was demanded of Wade on defense. Wade added on Quite Frankly, “My concern was defensively… as a young player, I didn’t know how to take that, but I came in and worked hard to become the best defender I can for this team to help us win and still be productive on the offensive end.” The other departures included Keyon Dooling, Rasual Butler, D. Jones, Steve Smith and Christian Laettner.

 

Additionally, one advantage the Heat had going into 2005-06 was that Alonzo Mourning was arguably the best backup big man in the NBA. He was no longer the man who was second and third in consecutive years in MVP voting while winning back-to-back Defensive Player of the Year awards because of a kidney scare years earlier, but Mourning could still guard well and was a respected member of the team. He returned to the Heat on March 1, 2005.

 

Reid said, “On paper, it looked like the greatest team that the franchise had ever put together.” For that reason, the mood around the team was all or nothing. Despite Wade only going into year three, O’Neal would turn 33 that season and with limited time before his powers declined further.

 

 “Some players didn’t love how hard that training camp was,” Reynolds said. “Stan Van Gundy was the coach in that camp, but it was a Pat Riley training camp in a lot of ways.” Multiple members of the team did not show up in Heat shape.

 

While management did its job, making bold alterations for a squad nearly there, one cloud hung in the backdrop: Before the upcoming campaign, Riley said he wanted to be more hands-on with the team, unnecessarily creating speculation about Van Gundy’s job security. 

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-Stay tuned for more podcasts and written episodes of the ‘06 Files during the Heat’s 2025-26 season.