Lions vs. Dolphins: Week 9 Preview and Prediction

November 5, 2026 • Detroit Lions, Miami Dolphins, NFL News

By Brian Hradsky

The Detroit Lions visit the Miami Dolphins on Sunday, Nov. 8, with Detroit looking to build on its victory over previously unbeaten Minnesota. The Lions enter at 5-2, while Miami is 1-6 after a 24-19 loss to New England. Kickoff at Hard Rock Stadium is scheduled for 1 p.m. Eastern on CBS.

Detroit has an opportunity to attack a Miami defense that has struggled to prevent explosive passes. The Dolphins have an opportunity to challenge a Lions defense dealing with several injury concerns. The outcome could depend on whether Miami can sustain possessions long enough to keep Detroit from repeatedly testing that downfield vulnerability.

How to watch Lions at Dolphins

Detroit can test Miami’s coverage discipline

The Lions’ official opponent report highlights Miami’s difficulty defending deep throws and the two long passing touchdowns it allowed against New England. That gives Jared Goff an obvious area to examine, but Detroit should avoid becoming impatient in pursuit of the highlight play. Deep completions are easier to create when a defense must also respect the run and intermediate passing game. The Lions can make Miami’s coverage decisions harder by presenting several credible threats from similar formations.

Jahmyr Gibbs plays an important role in that process. His presence can influence how closely linebackers align to the line and how quickly they react to a backfield exchange. Detroit should use that attention to create favorable space, whether the ball goes to Gibbs or somewhere else. The running game can be valuable even on a passing touchdown if the defense’s response to a credible fake helps create the opening.

Goff’s protection will determine how often Detroit can take advantage of those opportunities. The Dolphins may need to create pressure through movement or extra rushers when their standard front cannot disrupt the pocket quickly enough. Detroit’s answer should begin with recognition rather than assuming every pressure look calls for the same protection. When the Lions identify an additional rusher, they need a timely receiving option that makes Miami account for the space it has left uncovered.

Miami’s defensive backs also need to make Detroit finish drives without help from penalties or missed tackles. A completion in front of the coverage does not have to become an explosive gain if the first defender takes a sound angle. The Dolphins should be willing to force another snap when the alternative is abandoning an assignment to chase an interception. Detroit is dangerous enough without Miami creating easy opportunities through unnecessary risks.

Miami needs its running game back on track

The Dolphins’ rushing performance against New England fell short of the production they had established over the previous several weeks. Detroit’s opponent report says Miami finished that game with 74 yards on 23 carries after a run of five consecutive games with at least 100 rushing yards. The Dolphins need better consistency at the point of attack to give their offense more choices. Long-yardage situations would place additional pressure on the passing game and give Detroit a clearer target.

A productive ground attack also could help Miami control when it tests the Lions through the air. The Dolphins should look for situations in which Detroit’s defenders must react to multiple possibilities instead of simply rushing the passer. Play-action and movement can create those situations when the run threat is credible. Miami must still protect the ball and avoid treating every favorable defensive look as permission to attempt a difficult throw.

Detroit’s pass rush gives that caution a practical basis. Aidan Hutchinson is a major concern for Miami’s protection plan, and the Dolphins need to account for where he aligns rather than assuming one blocker will always receive the same assignment. Help from a back or tight end could reduce the time available for routes elsewhere. Miami therefore needs its protection choices and receiving concepts to work together instead of solving one problem while creating another.

Detroit’s injuries remain a significant variable

The Lions’ Wednesday practice report listed Jack Campbell, Cade Mays, D.J. Reed and DJ Wonnum as nonparticipants. Brian Branch, Kerby Joseph and Amon-Ra St. Brown were among the players listed as limited. Detroit conducted a walkthrough, so those participation entries were estimates. They should not be described as final Sunday rulings, and later reports will be important in determining the available lineup.

Those situations could affect several parts of Detroit’s plan, including coverage flexibility, communication and offensive timing. Miami needs to evaluate the actual personnel on the field rather than assuming an injured player will be absent or ineffective. Detroit needs a plan that remains practical if a reserve takes additional snaps or a returning player has a different workload. Uncertainty is a reason to watch the final announcements closely, not a basis for inventing a precise limitation before the team reports one.

Field position could become particularly valuable if Miami is able to slow Detroit’s opening possessions. Making the Lions start deep would increase the number of successful plays required to reach scoring range. Conversely, a giveaway that sets up Goff near midfield would reduce the number of defensive stops Miami needs to make but increase the likelihood of immediate points. The Dolphins’ upset case depends on keeping Detroit’s best possessions difficult from the beginning.

Brian’s Take: Detroit has the more complete attack

I favor the Lions because their offensive options give them several ways to attack Miami’s defensive problems. Detroit can threaten through Gibbs, use the attention around the running game and then let Goff search for opportunities downfield. Miami can keep the game competitive by running effectively and making Detroit’s offense wait for another turn. The Dolphins also need their defensive backs to reduce the number of plays that turn a manageable possession into a quick touchdown.

Detroit’s health prevents this from being a matchup to evaluate casually, particularly if the final availability report removes important contributors from the defense. Even with that uncertainty, the Lions should have the stronger path to repeated scoring opportunities. I expect Miami to produce some productive possessions but struggle to match Detroit’s consistency over four quarters. My score prediction is Lions 30, Dolphins 20, with Detroit creating enough explosive plays to separate after a competitive opening stretch.

Visit our Lions coverage and Dolphins coverage for more reporting. Our Week 9 power rankings compare both teams with the rest of the NFL. Miami’s official viewing guide confirms the broadcast information, and the NFL schedule lists the full slate.