During July, the Last Word On Sports NFL department will be analyzing the schedules of every team in the NFL and ranking each game in order of difficulty (with one being the most difficult). This series will be split up into the eight most difficult games (ranked 1-8) and the eight easiest games (ranked 9-16) for each team. In this article, the Miami Dolphins easiest games are the focus.
Miami Dolphins Easiest Games in 2016
9. Week 15 at Buffalo Bills
Since 2012 the Dolphins are 2-6 against the Bills. This includes two losses last season, one of which was a catastrophic 41-14 loss at home. This game will have special meaning for defensive end Mario Williams, who was released by the Bills after a tough 2015 season where he only registered five sacks. Although a winnable matchup, a trip to upstate New York is never easy, especially in frigid December weather.
10. Week 13 at Baltimore Ravens
The Dolphins stole a win at home last season against Baltimore in an ugly 15-13 game. Coming off an atrocious 5-11 season, Joe Flacco and the Ravens are coming into 2016 looking to return to the AFC’s upper echelon.
11. Week 7 vs Buffalo Bills
Thanks to the Deflategate sega, the AFC East early-season race could be wide open by Week 7, with the Dolphins, Bills and New York Jets all coming into the season believing that they can compete with a Tom Brady-less, Jimmy Garoppolo-led New England Patriots squad. Unlike their Week 15 matchup, which could be played in blustery winter conditions in late December; a home game against the Bills could be the perfect recipe for a massive division victory.
12. Week 11 at Los Angeles Rams
The then-St. Louis Rams finished 7-9 in 2015 and showed signs of a potential rise. Now with 2016 first overall draft pick Jared Goff behind center, the Rams will look to establish a footprint in Southern California in their inaugural season in Los Angeles. The Dolphins and Rams haven’t met since 2012, so the organizational animosity won’t be there. But look for the trio of Ndamukong Suh, Mario Williams and Cameron Wake to make Goff’s date with the Dolphins an unpleasant one.
13. Week 10 at San Diego Chargers
On paper, this game is a toss up between two teams that could very well flirt with .500 records. For the first time in nine seasons, the Chargers will be without Pro Bowl free safety Eric Weddle, who signed a deal with the Baltimore Ravens. Look for Joey Bosa to play an imposing role in the Chargers defense, pressuring Ryan Tannehill at every turn. If the Dolphins are going to seriously contend in the AFC in 2016; a win at Qualcomm Stadium would be huge.
14. Week 5 vs Tennessee Titans
The Titans had the worst record at the end of 2015 NFL season. While they’ve accumulated future draft picks, they didn’t make a major imprint this off-season. While the Titans are depending heavily on Marcus Mariota to develop into a superstar quarterback, they are a few years away from truly contending in the AFC. For now, they provide teams like Miami with an easy match during an otherwise grueling season.
15. Week 12 vs San Francisco 49ers
The 49ers, who struggled mightily under Jim Tomsula, are looking to improve on their 5-11 record last season. The innovative and enigmatic Chip Kelly has been brought in to revolutionize the 49ers offense. He will look to capitalize on the Dolphins defensive aggressiveness in this cross-conference matchup.
16. Week 3 vs Cleveland Browns
The Cleveland Browns come into the 2016 season with a familiar situation; an inexperienced coach in Hue Jackson, a less-than-ideal quarterback situation, and a roster that looks to have little hope of exceeding four wins in the campaign. While the Browns received good on-field news in the conditional reinstatement of Josh Gordon, the Dolphins won’t have to worry, as Gordon will be suspended for the first four games of the season. Hopefully Northeastern Ohio is still buzzing from that Cavaliers NBA Championship, because the Browns won’t provide much excitement.
Check out the Miami Dolphins Most Difficult Games in 2016.
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