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Dolphins vs Falcons Line

This is a very intriguing Week 1 NFL match-up between the Miami Dolphins and the Atlanta Falcons. These teams combined for 27 losses in 2007, but the Falcons and Dolphins proved to be the surprise teams in 2008 in the NFC and AFC, respectively. Both squads turned things around in a big way, each winning 11 games and earning trips to the NFL playoffs. On Sunday, both teams want to go out and prove that last season was no fluke. The lines have installed Atlanta -4 over Miami with a total set of 44 points.

It was only two years ago that Michael Vick was quarterbacking the Falcons, and head coach Bobby Petrino left the team before season’s end to go back to coaching college ball. Expectations were very low after a 4-12 season in 2007, because Atlanta broke in rookie head coach Mike Smith and rookie quarterback Matt Ryan. But Ryan wasted no time making his presence felt, completing a 62-yard touchdown pass on his first snap under center. He went on to throw for 3,440 yards and 17 touchdowns to 11 interceptions, good for Offensive Rookie of the Year honors. He led the Falcons to 11 wins and a trip to the playoffs, which resulted in a 30-24 first-round loss to Arizona. Getting back to the postseason wont’ be easy, especially considering Atlanta has never made back-to-back trips to the Playoffs in the history of the franchise. Ryan has even more weapons at his disposal this year, as management brought in TE Tony Gonzalez from Kansas City, the best to ever play the position. He’ll team with Roddy White and Michael Jenkins in the receiving corps. These guys will have several opportunities to make plays considering opposing teams have to try and stop running back Michael Turner, who rushed for 1,699 yards and 17 touchdowns a year ago. The defense loses veteran linebacker Keith Brooking, but John Abraham remains a force at defensive end.

As stunning as Atlanta’s turnaround was, the Miami Dolphins’ turnaround proved to be even more impressive. This team was on the verge of an 0-16 season in 2007, but they managed to pick up an overtime win for a 1-15 season. Miami brought in Bill Parcells to make the important decisions, and they hired Tony Sparano who is in the Parcells mold to take over as head coach. The two played a key role in the Dolphins winning the AFC East title with an 11-5 record in 2008. Despite losing 27-9 to Baltimore in the playoffs, it was a step in the right direction because the Dolphins had not been to the playoffs since 2001. Nobody wanted Chad Pennington last year except for the Dolphins, and the veteran delivered. Pennington threw for a career-best 3,653 yards and 19 touchdowns with only 7 interceptions, earning the NFL’s Comeback Player of the Year award. Ironically, it was the second time he has taken down that trophy. The problem for Pennington is that he can’t ever seem to put together back-to-back solid seasons, so that’s the task he’ll face heading into the opener Sunday. Miami lives and dies by its defense, a unit that ranked ninth in scoring at 19.8 points/game and forced 30 turnovers. The Dolphins led the league in turnover margin last year. Pro Bowl linebacker Joey Porter had a monster year, and Miami brought back DE Jason Taylor from the Redskins to take some of the attention away from Porter and provide even more of a pass rush this season.