Two of the NFL’s highest-paid quarterbacks face off when the Miami Dolphins host the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday.
The countdown to Super Bowl LIX in New Orleans officially begins with all teams hoping to stop the Kansas City Chiefs to complete a historic three-time championship.
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However, before that, quarterback rivals Trevor Lawrence and Your Tagovailoa will fight for bragging rights in the season opener.
The Jags are racing to recover from the stunning collapse in late 2023, having been named the biggest surprise in the NFL.
Coach Doug Pederson has been responsible for five losses in the last six games, which has caused his team to miss the postseason despite leading the AFC South for two months with an 8-3 start.
Returning to the playoffs with a revamped defense would represent a step forward, but the dolphins are expected to be a severe test.
The Miami team is playing in front of its home crowd against its Florida neighbors, but lost its last three games last season.
Miami Dolphins vs Jacksonville Jaguars: talkSPORT coverage
The NFL’s opening weekend matchup will take place on Sunday, September 8.
The game will be played at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida.
talkSPORT 2 will also have live commentary of the game, which is scheduled to start at 6pm.
To tune into talkSPORT via the website, click HERE for the live stream. Listen through talkSPORT app hereor on DAB digital radio, via your smart speaker and on 1089 or 1053 AM
The game is also being shown live on Sky Sports in the UK. Fans can watch on TV or via the Sky Go app on tablets and mobile devices.
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Miami Dolphins vs Jacksonville Jaguars: Team News
The hosts had concerns about the fitness of linebacker Jaelan Phillips, who suffered a ruptured Achilles tendon last season, but he trained well on Friday and should be fit.
Jalen Ramsey also has a hamstring complaint, while Malik Washington is out completely.
Receivers Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle are fine to participate.
Old Wales Rugby star Louis Rees-Zammit was handed a lifeline by the Jags later failing to make the Chiefs’ 53-man roster.
However, the 23-year-old running back is not eligible to play until he is promoted from the practice squad to the active roster.
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Miami Dolphins vs Jacksonville Jaguars: What was said?
Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel was understandably happy after quarterback Tagovailoa signed a new contract this summer.
Tagovailoa signed a massive four-year, $212.4 million contract to become the fourth-highest-paid player and quarterback in the NFL — two spots behind his Jags teammate Lawrence.
“I’m happy, but I also expected this to happen, and now that it has, it’s time to move on,” McDaniel said.
“Maybe it’s a handshake and a smile, but it’s not a celebration.
“I’m excited for the organization, really excited for Tua and the work he’s done to receive something like this. It’s a nice validation of that.”
Wide receiver Hill said, via the Miami Herald: “This is the best team we’ve had since I’ve been here.
“Great time to be alive. We’re all excited. We’ve got a lot of weapons, a lot of players on this team. Everyone’s on the edge of their seats, waiting for this moment. . . . Tua has done a great job of over-communicating exactly what he wants in terms of route specifics.”
“Mike gave him the keys to the car. It gives all of us the ability to play freely and be ourselves and be creative in our routes.”
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Elsewhere, the Jaguars boss Shahid Khan issued a warning to the team after calling the 2023 season an “organizational failure.”
In a video shared on the Jags’ YouTube channel, Khan told his squad: “About a month ago, we celebrated the city’s partnership with the Jaguars and the approval of funding for the new stadium of the future.
“So I met with the reporters and the discussion obviously quickly turned to football and I was quoted, ‘For us, winning now is the expectation.’ So really I (have) been waiting for tonight to set the record straight. I was not misquoted. And let me just repeat, winning now is the expectation.”
He added: “Make no mistake, this is the best team assembled by Jacksonville Jaguarsalways. Better players, better coaches. But most importantly, we will prove it by winning now.”