Miami Dolphins’ schedule gets tougher with Eagles next

MIAMI GARDENS — Now, the schedule starts to get tough for the Miami Dolphins.

They breezed through the back-to-back home games against the struggling New York Giants and Carolina Panthers, as they were supposed to as double-digit favorites in each game.

Two of the next three games for the Dolphins (5-1) are against last year’s two Super Bowl teams, starting with the Eagles (5-1) in Philadelphia. Following a home game against the New England Patriots (1-5), they then get the Kansas City Chiefs (5-1) in Germany.

“It is a journey, the NFL season,” Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel said Sunday after the 42-21 win over the Panthers. “Any time that you can find valuable lessons, you can have different things happen to your team, it’s a residual win. It better prepares you for what’s in store for you.”

Miami, while cruising in its last two victories that served as a rebound from the 48-20 defeat the last time it hit the road in Buffalo, was still able to find some of those valuable lessons.

Against the Giants, the Dolphins escaped while turning the ball over three times. They learned their lesson, and didn’t turn the ball over against Carolina.

Yet, against the Panthers, the Dolphins fell behind early, 14-0, a rare slow start of the likes Miami hasn’t had under McDaniel. Having been put in that situation against winless Carolina can now better suit the Dolphins next time they find themselves in a hole.

“The one thing you learn in this league is you can’t all of a sudden turn up,” McDaniel said. “You’d better keep it up or you’ll have a rude awakening. The games will get tougher. We’ll have good teams every week really is the way I look at it.”

The combined records of teams Miami has beaten this season is 5-23 entering Monday.

The Dolphins head into another week practically owning league leaderboards offensively. And that offense will be challenged against a tough Eagles defense that has playmakers at every level — for a team that is surely eager to rebound after being dealt its first loss Sunday against the New York Jets.

Miami remains the No. 1 passing offense, rushing offense, scoring offense and total offense as a team.

Quarterback Tua Tagovailoa leads the NFL in passer rating (114.1), passing yards (1,876), yards per attempt (9.5) and is tied with Minnesota’s Kirk Cousins with 14 passing touchdowns. He has reclaimed his spot atop MVP betting odds.

Running back Raheem Mostert is the league leader in total touchdowns (11) and rushing touchdowns (nine). He is carrying the backfield workload as NFL leader in yards per carry, rookie De’Von Achane, will miss at least three more games while on injured reserve.

Wide receiver Tyreek Hill leads the league in receiving yards (814), which puts him on pace for an NFL record, yards per catch (19.4) and receiving touchdowns (six).

This story will be updated.