Is the Titans’ offense a mismatch for Miami?

The Miami Dolphins’ offense has struggled this season, unable to find their rhythm early in games - and sometimes throughout entire games. When they find that rhythm, they are able to put points up on the board and they look like a machine. Until that time, however, they are clearly a week point of the team.

Does that mean they are mismatched by the Tennessee Titans’ offense in this afternoon’s Week 5 contest?

Titans blog Music City Miracles wrote earlier this week that the team should have a “reason for confidence” because of the offensive mismatch:

Much has been made of the Titans' offensive struggles here, but the same conversation is taking place in Miami. The offense has been atrocious so far. Their hurry-up approach has proved to be ineffective, leading to quick 3 and outs, and sending the defense back out onto the field quickly. Ryan Tannehill has also struggled tremendously, along with the run game. Even against potent offenses like Oakland, the Titans' defense has performed very well. It would not be a surprise to see another strong defensive performance.

Tennessee is currently 18th in the league in total offense, gaining 348.0 yards per game, while Miami is 26th at 329.8 yards per game. Tennessee is dead last in the league in scoring offense, averaging 15.5 points per game, with Miami not much better at 28th in the league with a 17.8 points per game average.

Where Tennessee does shine, and it could play into Miami’s weakness, is on the ground, where they are fourth in the league with 127.0 rushing-yards per game. Miami is 29th in the league in rushing yards allowed, averaging 129.8 yards allowed on the ground a game. Tennessee’s DeMarco Murray is seventh in the league with 340 yards on the ground this year.

The Titans’ passing attack is 13th in the league, with receiver Rishard Matthews, a former Dolphins receiver, leading the way with 180 yards. Tajae Sharpe is second with 172 yards. That ranks them 64th and 68th in the league.

This could be a danger area for Miami, but it is not one that is not unknow. The Dolphins seemed to improve their rush defense last week, allowing just 77 rushing yards last week to the Cincinnati Bengals. Has Miami figured out where the issues are for their rush defense and corrected them, as signaled by the Bengals game? Or, will the Titans be able to expose the issues Miami had in their first three games?

Can Miami’s defense force the Titans to be one-dimensional?

Miami’s defense has struggled this year, allowing 401.8 yards per game, ranking 28th in the league. The Titans are better, allowing exactly 50 fewer yards per game than the Dolphins at a 14th ranked 350.8 yards per game.

Can the Dolphins’ offense take advantage of the Titans’ defense? Will they have the rhythm that seems to avoid them at times?

Titans fans see this game as a sure-win for their team, just like Miami fans see it as a sure-win for the Dolphins. One fan base will be disappointed this afternoon. Will it be Miami or Tennessee? It could come down to which offense is more in rhythm this week. Is the Titans’ offense a mismatch for Miami?