Carolina Panthers vs Miami Dolphins NFL Preview: Team news, betting, tickets, live stream, Fantasy Football and more

Week 5 brings us a battle of 1-3 squads as the Miami Dolphins head to Charlotte to take on the Carolina Panthers at Bank of America Stadium.

For Carolina, it's been a rocky ride so far. The Panthers are buried in third place in the NFC South and are fresh off a humbling 42-13 drubbing at the hands of the Patriots. Now they've got a brutal stretch ahead with the Cowboys and Jets looming, so this matchup feels like a must-steal opportunity if they want to keep their season afloat.

On the other side, Miami finally caught a break last week. The Dolphins snapped their skid with a 27-21 victory over the Jets at home, a win that keeps them hanging around in the AFC East race despite sitting in third place. But with the Chargers and Browns on deck, Miami can't afford to let its foot off the gas here.

Carolina Panthers vs Miami Dolphins kick-off time

NFL

Bank of America Stadium

The Panthers and the Dolphins will meet in Week 5 of the NFL season at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, North Carolina on Sunday, October 5, starting at 1:00 pm ET.

Team news & squads

Carolina Panthers team news

The Panthers' practice report featured a handful of notable absences. Chuba Hubbard (calf), Taylor Moton (rest/non-injury), Ja'Tavion Sanders (ankle), Tershawn Wharton (toe), and Chau Smith-Wade (chest) all sat out, leaving fans to wonder about their availability for Sunday's clash.

D.J. Wonnum (hip) was a limited participant, taking part in drills but not at full capacity.

On the bright side, several key contributors hit the field at full throttle. Patrick Jones II (hamstring), Cade Mays (knee), Xavier Legette (hamstring), Tetairoa McMillan (calf), Cam Jackson (knee), and LaBryan Ray (ankle) all participated fully, signaling that the core of Carolina's offense and defense is in position to make an impact.

Bryce Young has been the heartbeat of Carolina's passing attack, throwing for 753 yards while connecting on just over 60 percent of his passes. On the ground, Chuba Hubbard has been the workhorse, piling up 217 rushing yards, while Tetairoa McMillan has emerged as the go-to target with 18 grabs for 278 yards. Defensively, safety Tre’von Moehrig has been everywhere with a team-leading 29 tackles (18 solo), Patrick Jones II has managed the lone sack, and Jaycee Horn owns the Panthers’ only interception.

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Miami Dolphins team news

The Dolphins suffered a devastating setback on Monday night when star wideout Tyreek Hill exited with a reported dislocated knee, a serious injury that’s expected to sideline him for the rest of the season. Beyond the obvious emotional hit for the team, Miami now faces the enormous challenge of replacing one of the NFL’s most explosive playmakers.

Enter Jaylen Waddle, the natural go-to for Tua Tagovailoa when stretching the field. The duo's chemistry dates back to their Alabama days, and it's translating in the pros. Waddle has been steady, averaging 46.25 receiving yards per game, including a three-catch, 48-yard showing against the Jets.

But the real story of Miami's receiving corps post-Week 4 might be tight end Darren Waller. With Waller healthy and back in full swing, he's shifting the offense's focus, especially in the middle of the field. On Monday, 60% of his routes were in-breaking, a strategy that paid off with both of his touchdowns.

Meanwhile, running back De'Von Achane continues to be a cornerstone of Miami's ground game. Entering his third season, Achane is on pace for a career milestone, and Monday night was a statement game: 99 rushing yards and a touchdown, reinforcing his status as one of the Dolphins' most reliable offensive weapons.

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Watch and live stream Panthers vs Dolphins in the USA

The Panthers vs Dolphins game in Week 5 of the 2025 NFL season will be broadcast live on FOX. Fans can catch the coverage onFubo (Try for free today!).

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More details on where to watch the game in the United States, including streaming options, will be released soon, so keep an eye out for our dedicated coverage.

Watch and live stream Panthers vs Dolphins worldwide

For fans outside the U.S. looking to stay plugged into the action,NFL Game Pass on DAZN is the ultimate ticket. It serves up more than 200 regular-season and playoff matchups, complete Super Bowl coverage, plus access to NFL Network, NFL RedZone, and plenty more to keep you locked in all year long.

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To bypass regional restrictions or to access the game if you are travelling abroad, you can watch the action using a Virtual Private Network like ExpressVPN.

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How to buy Panthers vs Dolphins tickets

The showdown between the Panthers and the Dolphins is set for Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, North Carolina, a venue that packs in up to 74,867 fans and promises a fiery atmosphere on game day.

Tickets are already up for grabs on StubHub, with entry starting at $386. From there, prices climb through the tiers — $300, $400, $500, $600, $700, $800, $900, $1,000, and stretching all the way into the premium ranges of $2,000, $3,000, $4,000, $5,000, $6,000, and topping out at $10,406 for the best seats in the house.

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Panthers vs Dolphins Fantasy Football

Tua Tagovailoa (15.2 projected Week 5 fpts) hasn't exactly been a fantasy headliner so far, but he’s quietly delivered a steady floor. Through four weeks, he's yet to crack the top half of weekly QB scoring, though he's only dipped below QB19 once. That makes him the kind of safe but unspectacular QB2 you can plug in without sweating bullets. The yardage totals haven’t been eye-popping — he's cleared 177 passing yards just once — but he has tossed multiple touchdown passes in three straight contests. That steady production keeps him firmly planted in the mid-range QB2 bucket for Week 5. The wrinkle here? With Tyreek Hill sidelined, it'll be fascinating to see how defenses shift their coverage against Miami.

Enter De’Von Achane (15.2 projected Week 5 fpts), who suddenly looks like Miami's golden ticket in fantasy. Analysts are nearly unanimous that his role is about to balloon — more carries, more touches, more scoring chances — all thanks to Hill’s absence. For managers, that makes him an elite play this week, and frankly, one of the juiciest running back options on the entire slate. 

Meanwhile, Jaylen Waddle (8.8 projected Week 5 fpts) now inherits the WR1 role in this offense. His target volume is set to spike, which vaults him into strong WR2 territory with legitimate WR1 upside. Even if the Dolphins’ air attack has been hot and cold, Waddle’s opportunity alone makes him a must-start.

On the other side, it was another long afternoon for Bryce Young (15.0 projected Week 5 fpts) and the Panthers' offense in New England. The rookie went 18-of-30 for 150 yards (5.0 Y/A) with a touchdown, numbers that scream "checkdown city" more than "franchise quarterback." Through four games, Young has averaged 5.0 Y/A or worse in three of them. Only Joe Flacco (5.1) and Cam Ward (4.9) have been less efficient by that metric, which is hardly the company Carolina wants him keeping. Right now, he’s almost unplayable in single-QB formats, better suited as a desperation QB2. 

That said, with fantasy managers scrambling after losing Lamar Jackson, Jordan Love, and Caleb Williams to byes this week, Young does have a glimmer of matchup appeal but make no mistake, you're rolling the dice if you start him. Rookie wideout Tetairoa McMillan was back in the mix on Wednesday, logging a full practice and looking ready to roll. Meanwhile, running back Chuba Hubbard continues to gut it out while nursing a nagging calf issue — something he's been battling for a bit now.

Panthers vs Dolphins Game Predictions

On paper, this matchup looks like a coin flip. The Panthers remain one of the league's biggest wild cards, one week they look lively, the next they look like they've forgotten the playbook. The Dolphins, meanwhile, steadied themselves a bit, and with Tyreek Hill shelved, logic says they'll lean heavily on their backfield to carry the load.

Expect fireworks in this Week 5 afternoon tilt. Carolina's offense has been inconsistent at best through the first month, but don't be fooled — there's enough speed and creativity in that scheme to carve up a Miami defense that's been soft both on the ground (145 rushing yards per game allowed) and through the air (an ugly 128.9 QB rating against). On the flip side, the Panthers lack the teeth in their pass rush to truly rattle Tua Tagovailoa, which means Miami should move the ball just fine themselves.

This one feels destined to come down to crunch time. In the end, I'm calling my shot: Bryce Young strings together a late, surgical drive in the fourth quarter to put Carolina on top, snagging their second win of the year in dramatic fashion.

Panthers vs Dolphins Betting Odds

Spread

Dolphins -1.5 (-105)

Panthers +1.5 (-115)

Moneyline

Dolphins: -120

Panthers: +100

Total

45.5 (Over -105/Under -115)

Form

Head-to-Head Record

CAR

Last 5 matches

MIA

3

Wins

0

Draws

2

Wins

• Miami Dolphins

  42

  -

  21

  Carolina Panthers

• Miami Dolphins

  33

  -

  10

  Carolina Panthers

• Carolina Panthers

  27

  -

  20

  Miami Dolphins

• Carolina Panthers

  45

  -

  21

  Miami Dolphins

• Carolina Panthers

  31

  -

  30

  Miami Dolphins

Useful links

• Panthers 2025 NFL schedule: TV channel, livestream & where to watch the games
• Dolphins 2025 NFL schedule: TV channel, livestream & where to watch the games
• How to watch and live stream NFL football for free and without cable
• 2025 fantasy football rankings: Running back (RB) | Wide receiver (WR) | Tight end (TE) | Quarterback (QB)