The last time the Miami Dolphins won a playoff game, one of the biggest concerns in the world was Y2K (Google it). Since that last playoff win 23 years ago, the Dolphins have gotten back to the playoffs, including last season. However, their attempts to win those games were dismal and futile at best. With the 2023 schedule out, could this be the year that the Miami Dolphins finally win a playoff game and potentially hoist the Lombardi trophy for the first time since the 1973 season?
Miami Dolphins Record: Predicting Every Game on the Schedule
Week 1: At Chargers
The Miami Dolphins kick off their schedule with a familiar foe. In last season’s matchup against the Los Angeles Chargers, commentator Chris Collinsworth stated he would not be surprised to see the Dolphins in the Super Bowl. The Dolphins went on to lose that game to the Chargers 23-17 and that is where their season really started to unravel. Can Tua Tagovailoa get the best of Justin Herbert and finally put an end to Herbert is better than Tagovailoa, chatter? It will be tough to do on the Chargers turf, but Miami pulls out the win, 27-24.
Dolphins Win, 1-0 Record
Week 2: At Patriots
Coming off their win against the Chargers, the Dolphins face a very familiar opponent and nemesis in the New England Patriots. These are not the Patriots of old, however, and while they may be the weakest team in the AFC East (on paper), they should still be taken very seriously. If there is one thing people have learned from Bill Belichick and company over the years, is to never underestimate them. Miami wins in a dog fight, 21-17.
Dolphins Win, 2-0 Record
Xavien Howard picks off Mac Jones and takes it to the house 💪
Dolphins have a early 14-0 lead on the Pats 👀
(via @NFL)
pic.twitter.com/jpHY15N9qt— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) January 9, 2022
Week 3: Vs Broncos
Welcome back to the NFL, Sean Payton! Will the new coach be able to help bring back the Russell Wilson of old who had so much success with the Seattle Seahawks? Wilson will likely play better than he did last season, but he is not the whole team. While Payton is a great coach, it will take more than one season to turn the Denver Broncos around. Miami wins their home opener, 28-10
Dolphins Win, 3-0 Record
Week 4: At Bills
Week 4 takes the Dolphins to the Empire State for a battle with one of the NFL’s elite teams and conference foes: the Buffalo Bills. Can the Dolphins play well enough to beat Josh Allen and company and avenge the playoff beatdown they received last year? Miami fights hard but sees its first loss of the 2023 season, 21-20.
Dolphins Lose, 3-1 Record
Week 5: Vs Giants
Brian Daboll has done a fantastic job in turning around the New York Giants, especially with the play of quarterback Daniel Jones. If this game were to be played in the Meadowlands, the Giants would likely be victorious. However, since the game is being played in Miami, Tua, Tyreek Hill, Jaylen Waddle, and company continue to fight hard and pull out another close game. Dolphins over the Giants, 24-21.
Dolphins Win, 4-1 Record
Week 6: Vs Panthers
The Carolina Panthers have a new head coach in Frank Reich and a new face of the franchise in quarterback Bryce Young. Much like Payton in Denver, it is going to take longer than one season for Reich to turn things around, in Carolina. Miami over the Panthers, 35-14.
Dolphins Win, 5-1 Record
Week 7: At Eagles
Last year’s NFC champions do not look like the same team as last year, with many players leaving in free agency. The Philadelphia Eagles still have Jalen Hurts and head coach Nick Siranni. They also have a whole new wave of young talent who they drafted in the 2023 NFL Draft, including former Georgia Bulldogs Jalen Carter, Nolan Smith, and Kelee Ringo. With other new faces including former Detroit Lion D’Andre Swift, look for the Eagles to be just as competitive as they were last season. It will be a close game but in the end, the Miami Dolphins will lose their second game on the schedule, 23-20.
Dolphins Lose, 5-2 Record
Week 8: Vs Patriots
Look for a big game from the defense, especially Jaelan Phillips along with a revamped secondary. The Dolphins beat up on the Patriots in this one, largely due to the home feel advantage, and win by a score of, 33-14.
Dolphins Win, 6-2 Record
Week 9: At Chiefs (In Germany)
Willkommen is what the Kansas City Chiefs, Patrick Mahomes, and Travis Kelce will be saying as they welcome the visiting Dolphins to a matchup in Germany. The defending Super Bowl champs are the defending Super Bowl champs for a reason; they are simply on a completely different level than every other NFL team. Miami has trouble stopping Mahomes from scrambling and completing passes (Mainly to Kelce), and are manhandled by the Chiefs, 45-20.
Dolphins Lose, 6-3 Record
Week 11: Vs Raiders
Are the Las Vegas Raiders any better with Jimmy Garoppolo than they were with Derek Carr? Maybe slightly, but not enough to beat the Dolphins in Miami. Look for a big game from the overloaded Miami running backs department, and the Dolphins win this one, going away, 34-13.
Dolphins Win, 7-3 Record
Week 12: At Jets
This may be the Miami Dolphins most anticipated matchup on the schedule, and the first-ever NFL game to be held on Black Friday, sees the Aqua and Orange head North for their second visit to the Empire State to take on Aaron Rodgers and the new-look New York Jets. Much like the Patriots, one should never count out or underestimate the talent and football IQ of Rodgers, regardless of age. In another close game, the Dolphins lose in the final seconds, 27-24.
Dolphins Lose, 7-4 Record
Week 13: At Commanders
The Washington Commanders can put anyone they want at quarterback and while they played .500 football last season, this season will see a drop in their record as well as play at the quarterback position regardless if it is Jacoby Brissett, Sam Howell, Jake Fromm, or Tim Demorat. Look for a big game from the defense for the Dolphins especially the secondary including Xavien Howard and Jevon Holland. Dolphins win in a romp, 42-7.
Dolphins Win, 8-4 Record
Week 14: Vs Titans
As the end of the 2023 season draws nearer, there will be more pressure on the Tennessee Titans to win down the stretch. Ryan Tannehill does not perform well under pressure, and this match-up against his old team will not be any different. Despite a big game from Derrick Henry, the Titans will still lose by a large margin, 31-10.
Dolphins Win, 9-4 Record
Week 15: Vs Jets
A motivated and persistent Dolphins team will be poised to avenge their Week 12 loss at the Meadowlands. This will still be a close game but with a different ending. The Dolphins defense comes up big on the Jets final drive, intercepting Rodgers and hanging on to win, 24-20.
Dolphins Win, 10-4 Record
Week 16: Vs Cowboys
Much like the aforementioned Titans, the Dallas Cowboys have a penchant for choking (not only in the playoffs), but down the stretch as well. History will repeat itself here. Look for the Miami defense to get at Dak Prescott early and often. The Dolphins intercept three of Prescott’s passes and sack him four times en route to a 28-13 victory.
Dolphins Win, 11-4 Record
Week 17: At Ravens
Assuming Lamar Jackson plays (It is a game near the end of the season, after all), this will be another tough game for the Dolphins to win, largely because they are playing the Baltimore Ravens in Baltimore, arguably one of the toughest venues in the NFL. In another close game, the Dolphins lose a heartbreaker 21-20, thanks to a 56-yard field goal by Justin Tucker in the waning seconds.
Dolphins Lose, 11-5 Record
Week 18: Vs Bills
Can the Dolphins beat the Bills in Miami two years in a row and make up for their loss in Week 4? In what is sure to be a battle to the very end, Tagovailoa outperforms Josh Allen, (this time around) and finds Durham Smythe in the corner of the end zone with zeros on the clock, Jason Sanders boots through the decisive extra point and the Dolphins celebrate a 31-30 victory over Buffalo.
Dolphins Win, 12-5 Record
