The Dolphins travel to Atlanta for the first time since 2017 to take on the Falcons. It's just an eight-hour drive from South Florida to Northern Georgia, yet the Dolphins have visited Atlanta once every eight years since 2009. It will be the Dolphins' second game at Mercedez-Benz Stadium as they look to remain undefeated in that building.
Fittingly, former Miami safety Reshad Jones – an Atlanta native – secured the victory for the Dolphins in the waning moments of that 2017 contest with a red zone interception. Six months later, the Dolphins added another safety in the first round of the 2018 NFL Draft in Minkah Fitzpatrick.
In his second stint with Miami, the five-time Pro Bowler is off to a hot start in 2025 allowing a passer rating of 77.1 with an interception and three pass breakups. Fitzpatrick has played multiple positions in the Dolphins secondary. Recently, Fitzpatrick has displayed his versatility as a defensive back in the nickel role due to a handful of injuries at the position. He kicks back to safety on third downs, lining up all over the formation, in addition to his nickel duties.
The Dolphins will need Fitzpatrick to be at his most flexible Sunday against a high-power and diverse Atlanta offense. Fitzpatrick has done it all this season. He's covering tight ends. He's playing the deep post. He's supporting the run and coming after the quarterback on blitzes.Atlanta has the matchup pieces to extend Fitzpatrick's rolodex of duties. Tight end Kyle Pitts is off the best start of his career. He lines up everywhere, splitting his time almost evenly across the slot, out wide and attached to the line-of-scrimmage.
Drake London is a big body receiver with rare ability to kick inside to the slot. That could be an area that Miami deploys Fitzpatrick as London ranks 10th in yards per route run in the NFL from the slot position.
Finally, running back Bijon Robinson has forced 46 missed tackles (10 more than the second-ranked tackle breaker) and ranks sixth in rushing yards with 524.
"I think I see a little bit of Chris Johnson when you see him in terms of his all-purpose yards," Dolphins Defensive Coordinator Anthony Weaver said. "How quickly when he makes his decision that he wants to get downhill, how fast he does that and his ability to catch the ball out of the backfield, too. Maybe a little bit of Marshall Faulk in there".Miami's offense will also have their work cut out for them. The Falcons hired former Jets defensive coordinator and interim head coach Jeff Ulbrich this offseason, signed outside linebacker Dante Fowler and drafted two more edge rushers in Jalon Walker and James Pearce Jr. in the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft. That group, which blitzes at an NFL-high rate of 39.8 percent, has been middle of the pack in pressure statistics (tied for 14th in sacks, 24th in pressure rate).
That front complements a remade secondary, spearheaded by two rookie safeties in Xavier Watts and Billy Bowman Jr. to boast the NFL's best pass defense. The Falcons have allowed just 144.5 passing yards per game and have seven interceptions this season, the ninth best in the league.
The Atlanta defense is constructed just like the offense. Versatility, aggressiveness, and hungry youngsters that play fast. With tight end Darren Waller on injured reserve, the Dolphins will likely lean on their two biggest producers – running back De'Von Achane and wide receiver Jaylen Waddle. Together, Achane and Waddle have accounted for 1,088 yards from scrimmage, 53 percent of the team's total yardage from scrimmage.
Make sure to check out the Injury Report and the team's official social media accounts 90 minutes before kickoff to see who is active for the game.
Watch the game live on Sunday, October 26 at 1 p.m. ET on CBS, and listen on the Dolphins Radio Network and view the Game Center for the latest coverage.
