Two of the NFL’s highest-paid quarterbacks go head-to-head when the Miami Dolphins host the Jacksonville Jaguars this weekend.
The countdown to Super Bowl LIX in New Orleans officially gets underway with every team hoping to stop the Kansas City Chiefs from completing a historic three-peat.
However, before that, quarterback rivals Trevor Lawrence and Tua Tagovailoa will battle for bragging rights in their season opener.
The Jags are vying to bounce back from their stunning collapse at the end of 2023, having been tipped to be the NFL’s biggest surprise.
Head coach Doug Pederson oversaw five defeats in their final six games that saw his side miss the postseason despite leading the AFC South for two months with an 8-3 start.
Returning to the playoffs with a revamped defence would represent a step forward, but the Dolphins are expected to be a stern test.
The Miami outfit are playing in front of their home crowd against their Florida neighbours but lost their last three games last season.
Miami Dolphins vs Jacksonville Jaguars: talkSPORT coverage
This opening weekend NFL clash will take place on Sunday, September 8.
It will be played at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida.
talkSPORT 2 will have also live commentary of the game with kick-off set for 6pm.
To tune in to talkSPORT through the website, click HERE for the live stream. Listen via the talkSPORT app here, or on DAB digital radio, through your smart speaker and on 1089 or 1053 AM
The game is also being broadcast live on Sky Sports in the UK. Fans can watch on TV or via the Sky Go app on tablet and mobile devices.
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Miami Dolphins vs Jacksonville Jaguars: Team news
The hosts are sweating on the fitness of linebacker Jaelan Phillips, who sustained a torn Achilles tendon last season.
Receivers Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle are both expected to overcome their fitness issues but projected starting center Aaron Brewer is struggling with a troublesome hand injury.
Former Wales rugby star Louis Rees-Zammit was handed a lifeline by the Jags after failing to make the Chiefs’ 53-man roster.
The 23-year-old running back is ineligible to play however until he is elevated to the active roster from the practice squad.
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Miami Dolphins vs Jacksonville Jaguars: What has been said?
Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel was understandably overjoyed after franchise quarterback Tagovailoa signed a new contract this summer.
Tagovailoa has penned a major four-year, $212.4 million contract to become the fourth-highest-paid player and quarterback in the NFL – two spots below Jags counterpart Lawrence.
“I’m happy but I also expected it to get done and now that it’s done it’s about moving forward,” McDaniel said.
“It’s maybe a handshake and a smile but it’s not a celebration.
“I’m fired up for the organization, really fired up for Tua and the work he’s done to receive something like that. It’s a cool validation of that.”
Wide receiver Hill said, via the Miami Herald: “This is the best team we’ve had since I’ve been here.
“Great time to be alive. We are all excited. We’ve got a lot of weapons, lot of playmakers on this team. Everyone is on the very edge of their seats, waiting for this moment. . . . Tua has done a great job overcommunicating exactly what he wants as far as details on routes.
“Mike has given him the keys to the car. That gives all of us the ability to play free and be ourselves and be creative in our routes.”
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Elsewhere, Jaguars boss Shahid Khan has fired a warning to the squad after dubbing their 2023 season an ‘organizational failure’.
In a video shared on the Jag’s YouTube channel, Khan said to his roster: “About a month ago we celebrated the city’s partnership with the Jaguars and the approval of funding for the new stadium of the future.
“So, I met with the reporters and the discussion obviously quickly turned to football and I was quoted, ‘For us, winning now is the expectation.’ So really I (have) been looking forward to tonight to set the record straight. I was not misquoted. And let me just repeat, winning now is the expectation.”
He added: “Make no mistake, this is the best team assembled by the Jacksonville Jaguars, ever. Best players, best coaches. But most importantly, let’s prove it by winning now.”