Dolphins vs. Texans Predictions, Picks & Odds: NFL Week 15, Sunday 12/15
Just about any team would welcome some extra rest at this point in the season, and that is exactly what the Houston Texans got to enjoy in Week 14. Now, they host the Miami Dolphins, who are looking to keep their playoff hopes alive. This is an important matchup for both teams, so we’ve provided our top Dolphins vs. Texans predictions.
That includes not only a best bet from our Dolphins vs. Texans picks, but also a unique 10-part Caesars Sportsbook sign up bonus!
Dolphins vs. Texans Predictions For NFL Week 15, Sunday 12/15
Since dropping to 2-6 on the season, the Dolphins have been in desperation mode in terms of keeping their chances alive at a playoff berth. With the Buffalo Bills also securing the AFC East nice and early and the AFC Wild Card race as tight as ever, there were already plenty of fans writing them off as well.
As for the Texans, they’ve been atop of the AFC South all season, but that isn’t saying much given that the division is also home to two 3-10 teams. While their playoff chances look much brighter, Houston certainly needed their bye week given how shaky they have looked.
Therefore, we’re predicting an explosive game all around, especially with Miami’s offense finding its groove since the return of QB Tua Tagovailoa. Be sure to keep that in mind as we continue transitioning into the best bet from our Dolphins vs. Texans predictions!
Miami Dolphins: Keeping Hope Alive
We know that we’ve been harping on it, as we also broke this down last weekend, but in South Beach, it truly is all about the Dolphins keeping playoff dreams alive. Something that we’ve also noted in the past is their favorable schedule down the stretch, but they almost ruined that advantage this past Sunday.
Miami was extremely close to falling to the then 3-9 New York Jets at home but were able to pull off the comeback and get one step closer to a .500 record. This game against the Texans looks as though it should be their toughest one remaining, and they’re underdogs in the process, so it could genuinely make or break their season.
Houston Texans: Building Postseason Confidence
It’s certainly not a foregone conclusion, but all signs are pointing to the Texans winning the AFC South. That fact, along with them just having had their bye week, means that now is the time for them to start building momentum heading into the playoffs. We’ve all heard fans and analysts say how important that is, and Houston has needed it in general.
Although the Texans won their most recent game, it was a narrow 23-20 escape over the lowly Jacksonville Jaguars. Prior to that was a home upset loss to the just-as-lowly Tennessee Titans, demonstrating that they are far from as feared as expected prior to this season. With the Kansas City Chiefs and Baltimore Ravens looming, this is a huge get-right spot for Houston.
Dolphins vs. Texans Odds, Spreads, Total & Betting Lines
We’ve used the Dolphins vs. Texans odds at Caesars Sportsbook to provide you with the best value, and you can see the latest lines below:
- Point Spread: Miami Dolphins +2.5 (-110) vs. Houston Texans -2.5 (-110)
- Money Line: Miami Dolphins (+120) vs. Houston Texans (-140)
- Game Total (Over/Under): Over 47.5 (-110) vs. Under 47.5 (-110)
Dolphins vs. Texans Best Bet: Miami Team Total Over 22.5 Points (-105 at Caesars Sportsbook)
Before we break down the best bet from our Dolphins vs. Texans predictions, if you prefer the standard markets only, we’d consider backing Miami in this spot. Our projections make this game a pick ‘em, but unless we see the point spread tick to that key number of three, we’re going to take a slightly different approach.
While the Dolphins absolutely have the firepower to pull off the outright upset, we don’t love what we saw from their defense against a struggling Jets team this past Sunday. Instead, we’ll just trust their offense to do their part. After all, that’s been a profitable approach since Tua returned from injured reserve.
Although their record is just 3-3 since that return, the Dolphins are averaging just barely under 28 points per game. That combination is yet another reason as to why the focus of our Dolphins vs. Texans predictions is Miami’s team total rather than them to win this matchup.
Houston has also struggled on defense as of late. Whether it’s primarily due to LB Will Anderson Jr. being banged up or otherwise, the fact remains that in the aforementioned upset loss to the Titans, the Texans allowed 32 points to one of the worst offenses in the entire NFL.
With Miami having just scored 32 points this past Sunday, we envision another 30-point game from them this weekend. Don’t get discouraged if you see Houston looking better early, as they’ve been strong in first halves of games - we’re still confident locking in the best bet from our Dolphins vs. Texans predictions on Miami’s team total over 22.5 points (-105 at Caesars Sportsbook).
Dolphins vs. Texans Injury Report & Latest News
Now that Tua has been back healthy for some time, he is no longer the biggest injury news for this matchup. We’ve seen Miami WR Tyreek Hill be limited at practice, the same for Houston RB Joe Mixon and others, which means keeping track of the Fantasy Alarm NFL injury report for the biggest injury news is a must!
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Player News
Free agent Gabe Davis will visit the New York Giants.
Cut by the Jaguars after one season last week, Davis visited the 49ers on Monday. New York would be a reunion of sorts, as he played for Giants coach Brian Daboll in Buffalo. The G-Men already have several wideouts capable of stretching the field, but 26-year-old Davis could still be a decent role player in a strong offense. The problem, of course, is that the Giants profile as anything but, but rookie QB Jaxson Dart is comfortable throwing down the field.
Ravens S Ar’Darius Washington has been diagnosed with a torn achilles suffered during offseason training.
The fifth-year pro became a weekly starter for the first time last season, earning elite PFF marks in the process. He was a restricted free agent this spring but had yet to sign his $3.26 million tender. That’s a tough break, to put it mildly. Achilles timelines have shortened significantly in recent years, but Washington will probably still miss the entire 2025 campaign. The Ravens are protected in part by their first-round selection of fellow S Malaki Starks, but May is not the month you already want to be dipping into your depth. Going on 26, Washington’s career future is murky after he worked so hard to finally become a regular contributor last season.
Chiefs signed fourth-round WR Jalen Royals to a four-year contract.
Royals doesn’t have an obvious and open spot in the receiving corps to build short-term fantasy value with Xavier Worthy, Hollywood Brown, and Rashee Rice operating in the opening 11-personnel package. He may or may not play his way into WR4 duties depending on how the team feels about JuJu Smith-Schuster. Royals has plenty of talent and Brown is on a one-year deal, so there is a future where Royals is more than a bit player for the Chiefs. It likely won’t happen in his first season without injuries in front of him.
Matthew Judon said he “probably” won’t return to the Falcons in 2025.
The Falcons, of course, drafted both Jalon Walker and James Pearce in the first round. In an exclusive interview with CardPlayer.com — not to be confused with our PokerNews.com James Cook scoop a few days ago — Judon said that his sack total was down because “I dropped (into coverage) on 60 percent of the plays. It’s hard to get a pick and a sack on the same play.” Judon also told Kyle Odegard that “a couple” teams had expressed interest in him but he was in no rush to sign.
Jets released P Thomas Morstead.
Austin McNamara and Kai Kroeger will compete for the Jets punter job this year. The 39-year-old former Saint was the league’s oldest punter last season. If he wants to keep punting, he can absolutely join the tryout circuit or a competition elsewhere. But this is probably a sign that the Morstead’s 16-year career is close to an end at this point.
Lions offensive coordinator John Morton said it’s “going to be a breakout year” for Jameson Williams.
Morton said he’d never “been around someone that fast,” then quickly corrected himself to note that Jhamyr Gibbs is also that fast. Williams came on strong last year with a 58/1001/7 receiving line, but offensive coordinator praise could mean even more targets are coming. It would likely come at the expense of Amon-Ra St. Brown’s production if Williams were to truly break out, though there’s plenty for St. Brown to give and still be a top-flight fantasy wideout. It’s risky to read too much into statements like this in the offseason, but the new offensive coordinator telling you he thinks it’ll be a breakout year for Williams is certainly noteworthy.