With the NFL’s 2022 schedule now released, Last Word on Sports NFL is analyzing the schedules of all 32 NFL teams. Each schedule for all 32 teams will be split into the most difficult games (1-8) and the easiest games (9-17). These are the Miami Dolphins easiest games in 2022. They are ranked in order with 17 being the easiest.
READ MORE: Dolphins Hardest Games
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Easiest Games for Dolphins in 2022
9. Week 10: Cleveland
This could have easily fallen into the category of one of the most difficult games for the Dolphins. But the outside noise surrounding the Deshaun Watson fiasco will play as much of a part for the Cleveland Browns this year as it did for the Dolphins last year. At this point, nobody knows the fate of Baker Mayfield. And if Watson can’t play, that leaves Jacoby Brissett as the starter. The Browns signed Amari Cooper during the off-season, but his health has been an issue. Nick Chubb was the second-leading rusher in the NFL last season, but Dolphins defensive tackle Christian Wilkins had the second-highest run stop win rate according to ESPN Analytics. The noise was around the Watson trade rumors in Miami last season. But fans, teammates, and coaches of Tua Tagovailoa will be cheering for him to be the better quarterback against Watson for the Dolphins and their home crowd.
10. Week 2: At Baltimore
A long history is on the side of the Baltimore Ravens. It has been 20 years since the Ravens have lost a week two home game. But recent history is on the side of the Dolphins. Last season, the Dolphins defeated the Ravens by 12 points. And that was with Hollywood Brown. But the Ravens will have to play the Dolphins without Brown this season. Outside of Mark Andrews, Lamar Jackson doesn’t have elite offensive playmakers. Jackson is still a good quarterback, but he hasn’t been able to return to his MVP form in a couple of years. If the Ravens depend on Jackson to do it all to win, the game comes easy for the Dolphins.
11. Week 1: New England
Tua Tagovailoa has never lost a game against the New England Patriots during his NFL career. This will be the third consecutive season the Dolphins open their season against the Patriots. But it will be the first time in those three seasons that the Dolphins will have home-field advantage. The Dolphins also have the same defensive players that helped win games against the Patriots last season. Even though the Patriots have some defensive playmakers on the front, they lost Pro-Bowler J.C. Jackson in the secondary. With three new speedy running backs and new speedy receivers, the Patriots will see a stronger team than they saw last season.
12. Week 6: Minnesota Vikings
The Minnesota Vikings do have a passing and run game. However, their defense was among the worst in the NFL in 2021. The Vikings gave up the third-most total yards last season. That yardage accounted for the fifth-most passing yards and the seventh most rushing touchdowns allowed in the NFL. This game is in Miami and some of the NFL’s fastest running backs and fastest receivers will outmatch Minnesota’s defense.
13. Week 8: At Detroit
Jameson Williams and Aidan Hutchinson may become franchise playmakers for the Detroit Lions, but they are still rookies. Even though they may have strong seasons, the Lions can’t win the game if they prove to be their only playmakers. The Lions were tied with Jacksonville last year with only three wins as the two worst teams in the NFL last season. The secondary gave up the ninth-most passing yards in the NFL in 2021. They also were tied for the fifth-least number of interceptions and gave up the third-most passing touchdowns in 2021. Besides the addition of Mike Hughes, the Lions won’t have the playmakers to stop Tua Tagovailoa’s accurate passes to Tyreek Hill, Jaylen Waddle, and Mike Gesicki.
14. Week 9: At Chicago
If Darnell Mooney and David Montgomery can’t top last season’s numbers for the Chicago Bears, then this will be one of the easiest games for the Dolphins this season. Justin Fields still has to prove that he’s the future for the Chicago Bears. In the 12 games Fields started last year, he was only able to win 2 games and threw 10 interceptions to seven touchdowns. Those numbers won’t be good enough for one of the NFL’s best defenses going into Chicago.
15. Week 12: Houston
The Houston Texans have only been able to win eight games in the past two years. The Texans were ranked near the bottom in the NFL for both offense and defense for the 2021 season. Even though the Texans attempted improvement in the 2022 Draft, the Texans will have to play this game in Miami against some of the best veteran playmakers in the NFL.
16. Week 5: At New York Jets
The New York Jets were statistically the worst defensive team in the NFL in 2021. They gave up the most points, most total yards, the most first downs, and the most rushing touchdowns. They also gave up the third-most passing yards, were tied for the second-least number of interceptions, fourth-most rushing yards, and were tied for second in the most yards allowed per play. The Jets tried to improve their defense in the 2022 Draft, but the rookies will have to have time to adjust to the speed of the NFL. Even if Sauce Gardner excels at his position, he won’t be able to cover all of the offensive playmakers Miami will have on the field at one time.
17. Week 18: New York Jets
The Jets will know more by this game if Zach Wilson is the answer for their quarterback position. Last season, Wilson was only able to win three games with a poor 55.6% completion percentage and 11 interceptions to just nine touchdowns. The Miami Dolphins will end the season at home with by far the easiest game on their schedule.
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