Dan Quinn said earlier in the week that his team would treat this week as a "dress rehearsal" for the regular season. The starters on both teams will likely play the first half and maybe even into the third quarter.
The Falcons enter the game at 1-1 coming off a road loss to the New York Jets and the Dolphins remain winless. Don't let the combined records between the two teams deceive you as both Miami and Atlanta's first-team units have dominated when on the field. Matt Ryan and the Falcons' starting offense have given the team a lead at the beginning of every game. Ryan has posted nearly perfect numbers as he has completed 10-of-11 passes for 161 yards and two touchdowns.
The Dolphins' offense led by Ryan Tannehill has also looked sharp. Tannehill has completed 18-of-22 passes for 158 yards and two touchdowns this preseason.
This game features intriguing matchups all over the field that will provide Quinn and Dolphins head coach Joe Philbin a solid evaluation of their players, with the first round of roster cuts coming Sunday. Here are a few things to you can expect to see and should keep an eye out for on Saturday:
Battle at the Line Of Scrimmage: Atlanta's starting offensive line has looked impressive so far and will be given the tough assignment of stopping Ndamukong Suh and Miami's dynamic defensive front. The Dolphins' defensive line is stacked with talent as they also have Cameron Wake and Olivier Vernon, who combined for 18 sacks during the 2014 season. The performance of James Stone and Chris Chester on Saturday night could likely decide both starting guard spots for the Falcons.
Who Fills in for Roddy White at No. 2 Wide Receiever?
Roddy White missed the Falcons' second preseason game against the New York Jets last week and on Monday underwent an elbow scope procedure. White will miss the remainder of the preseason, creating a spot for other receivers to fill. The good news is that the Falcons are loaded with depth at this position. Based off the unofficial depth chart it looks like Leonard Hankerson will get the start on Saturday. But, you should expect to see a lot from Nick Williams, Justin Hardy, and Devin Hester as they should all see a significant amount of playing time.
The Return of Tevin Coleman:
One of the hottest topics currently swirling through Atlanta is who the starting running back will come Week 1. Both Tevin Coleman and Devonta Freeman injured their hamstrings during XFINITY Training Camp and were sidelined for quite some time. Neither Coleman nor Freeman has participated in a preseason game so far, and this will change for Coleman on Saturday. Quinn announced that, barring any set backs, he expects the rookie out of Indiana to play against Miami. Although we don't how many carries he will get, we do know that Coleman will see time.
Did You Know: -Defensive tackle Paul Soliai was drafted by the Dolphins in 2007 and played in Miami until he signed with the Falcons in the spring of 2014.
-This matchup will be the 14th time the two clubs have met in the preseason, with the Falcons leading the all-time preseason series 7-6.
-Dolphins CB Brent Grimes played for the Falcons from 2007-12.
- WR Coach Terry Robiskie was the WR Coach for the Dolphins in 2007
