Why We Should Expect the Miami Dolphins to Blow Out the Washington Commanders in Week 13

Dan Favale
By , Updated on: Nov 28, 2023 12:00 AM
The Miami Dolphins have a chance to seize control of the AFC East title in Week 13.

Are you among those waiting to see whether the Miami Dolphins can pick up a trademark victory against a team with legitimate odds to win the Super Bowl. Well, get ready to keep waiting. Miami’s Week 13 matchup will see them face off against the Washington Commanders, on Sunday, December 3, at 1 p.m. eastern standard time, on FedEx Field in Landover, Maryland

By now, every single NFL fan should know Washington is not a serious team. After beginning the year by piling together some impressive wins and a handful of close losses, they have settled into a 4-8 record. What’s more, they enter their tilt against the Dolphins on a three-game losing streak. Not surprisingly, this is reflected in the latest NFL online betting odds:

FavoriteBovadaBovadaUnderdog
Miami Dolphins-480+370Washington Commanders

Please remember to double-check these online NFL betting odds until you actually submit your wager. Our Dolphins vs. Commanders Week 13 betting odds are accurate entering Tuesday, November 28. That gives the best NFL online betting sites plenty of time to make adjustments leading into opening kick-off on Sunday afternoon.

Miami enters as one of just eight teams with at least eight victories as well as with the league’s best offense. But they have proven to be a little rickety on the road at points. Then again, all of the Dolphins’ road losses have come against squads above .500. The Commanders certainly aren’t that. Are we in store for a blowout? Let’s get to some Dolphins vs. Commanders predictions.

The Miami Dolphins Continue to Beat the Teams They’re Supposed to Beat

Only one of the teams Miami has beaten this season is currently .500 or better. Ironically, that team is the Denver Broncos (6-5), who the Dolphins throttled 70-20 in Week 3. There is real concern to be discussed as it pertains to Miami’s Super Bowl viability. The Buffalo Bills, Kansas City Chiefs and Philadelphia Eagles all cut them down to size. 

Well, we’re not sure who needs to hear this, but the Commanders aren’t the Eagles, Bills or Chiefs. They’re worse. Much worse. Washington enters Week 13 dead last in points allowed per game having lost their past two games by a combined 47 points

Figuring out the Dolphins feels like an impossibility for the Commanders. They are 31st in net yards allowed per passing attempt and 32nd in total passing touchdowns allowed. Their defense is going to be catnip for the Dolphins, who rank second in points scored per game and second in net yards per passing attempt. Miami can get a little loose with the football, but that likely doesn’t matter against Washington. The latter is among the worst teams in the league at forcing turnovers.

To be completely honest, it’s a minor miracle sportsbooks are still letting you bet on this moneyline. This game’s outcome feels like a foregone conclusion.

OSB Prediction: Miami Dolphins (-480)

Miami Dolphins To beat the Washington Commanders
Bovada
-480

Are the Washington Commanders Still Built to Keep Games Relatively Close?

For a while, it felt like every Commanders game came down to the final quarter—if not the final drive. So many of their games have been determined by a touchdown or less. In recent weeks, however, that’s all changed. And it seems the latest NFL Week 13 point spread betting odds are taking this into account:

  • Miami Dolphins, -9.5 (-110)
  • Washington Commanders, +9.5 (-110)

Washington lost to the lowly New York Giants by 13 points in Week 11. They followed that up with a 35-point loss in Week 12 at the hands of the Dallas Cowboys

Another double-digit letdown seems likely in Week 13. The Dolphins’ past five victories have come by an average of 15.7 points. What’s more they have absolutely carved up bottom-10 defenses. Miami beat the Giants, Carolina Panthers and New England Patriots by a combined 50 points—16.7 points per victory. And this doesn’t even factor in that they just dismantled the New York Jets, a top-10 defense, by 21 points in Week 12. 

Playing on the road could inject some variance into the Dolphins’ performance. But the Commanders aren’t much better in Washington than on the road. If Miami doesn’t win by more than 10 points, there’s a good chance it’s because they lost outright.

OSB Prediction: Miami Dolphins, -9.5 (-110)

Miami Dolphins To cover the point spread against the Washington Commanders
Bovada
-110

Will an Improved Dolphins Defense Suppress the Final Score Against the Commanders?

Despite the Dolphins improving a great deal on the defensive end, NFL online betting sites continue to inflate their over/under odds, as you can see below:

  • Over 49.5 (-110)
  • Under 49.5 (-110)

It is pretty tempting to go with the “over” here. The Dolphins score points like “whoa,” and their defense has proven flimsy for long stretches. However, Miami has recently started flipping the script. They are allowed 16 points per game over their last four outings, during which time they’ve forced nine total turnovers.

Of course, the Dolphins have for the most part capitalize on playing bottom-feeder offenses. But that’s exactly the sort of attack the Commanders are putting on the field. Washington is 21st in points scored per game and has hit 25 points just once in the past four weeks. 

While we fully recognize Miami can flip the “under” on its head by rattling off 40 points by themselves, this seems more like a game they’ll win 34-9 or even 41-3. If this winds up hitting the over, then so be it. But the Dolphins haven't been part of a 50-point final score since Week 6.

OSB Prediction: Under 49.5 (-110)

Dolphins and Commanders To score under 49.5 combined points
Bovada
-110

Take a look at this list of the top online sportsbooks so you can find one that works for all of your 2023 NFL betting:

Meet the author

Dan Favale

Dan first began writing about sports back in 2011. At the time, his expertise lied in the NBA and NFL. More than one decade, that remains the case. But he's also expanded his catalog to include extensive knowledge and analysis on the NHL, MLB, tennis, NASCAR, college ba...

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