With the regular season fast approaching, Last Word on Pro Football is analyzing the schedules of all 32 NFL teams. Each team’s 16-game slate will be split into its most difficult (1-8) and easiest games (9-16). For this article, the Miami Dolphins most difficult games on the 2019 schedule are under the microscope.
Check out the eight easiest games of the Dolphins 2019 schedule.
Miami Dolphins Most Difficult Games of 2019
1. Week 13: vs Philadelphia Eagles
The Eagles will travel to Hard Rock Stadium in December and the NFC East favorites will be heavily favored. Eagles fans always travel well and are sure to take over the stadium in South Florida during the cold winter months in the North. The Eagles are not only favorites to win their division but a hot Super Bowl pick if Carson Wentz can stay healthy. This will be a tough one for the young and rebuilding Dolphins.
2. Week 17: at New England Patriots
The Dolphins have not won a game in Foxborough since the 2008 “Wildcat” game. If that is not enough, the Patriots are again Super Bowl contenders and the Dolphins are number one pick contenders. Plus during week 17, the Patriots may be fighting for playoff positioning and the cold weather will also be an advantage.
3. Week Three: at Dallas Cowboys
The Cowboys come off a playoff season returning a good defense and a solid offense who will look to break out under new coordinator Kellen Moore. The Dolphins traveling early in the season will be tested by this Cowboys team because the Dolphins offense is the worst part of the team. Their offensive line looks lackluster in the preseason and the quarterback situation is an unknown. This looks like a matchup where the Cowboys front-seven can feast on the Dolphins offense.
4. Week One: vs Baltimore Ravens
Since 2008, the Dolphins have only defeated the Ravens once in eight matchups. This matchup is similar to the Cowboys matchup, with a top defense facing off versus a lowly offense. Look for the Ravens to start their season on a strong note and beat up the Dolphins offense and control the clock by running the football.
5. Week 12: at Cleveland Browns
The new-look Browns host the Dolphins in an end of November matchup, in which weather may play a factor. This game will be intriguing for a couple of reasons. First, Jarvis Landry will play against his former team for the first time. Second, at this point in the season, we will have more clarity on the Browns hype. This is not a typical Browns team of the past, so this matchup in Cleveland will be a difficult one for the Dolphins.
6. Week Four: vs Los Angeles Chargers
Even though the Chargers travel across the country, they have Super Bowl aspirations. Melvin Ingram and Joey Bosa will wreak havoc on the weak Dolphins offensive line. This is another instance where the team talent level and matchups doom the Dolphins in this early season home game.
7. Week Eight: at Pittsburgh Steelers
A road game to a colder climate is always tough for the Dolphins but with inexperience on their roster and coaching staff, a matchup versus the Steelers will be tough. The new-look Steelers will show off an improved defense and a balanced offensive attack, looking to keep the Dolphins on their heels the whole game.
8. Week Two: vs New England Patriots
The Dolphins are usually pretty good versus the Patriots in South Florida, but this team is expected to be worse than in years past and the Patriots are still the Patriots. This game is last in the most difficult games list because of the Dolphins success against the Patriots in South Florida, the coaching staff ties, and it comes early in the season when the Patriots tend to drop a game or two.
