After finishing the 2020 season with a 10-6 record, the Miami Dolphins are coming off their best season since 2016. Additionally, after making four top 50 draft picks this past spring along with having a full offseason with quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, the Dolphins will be looking to make significant strides this season. However, with both the New York Jets and New England Patriots adding first-round quarterbacks as well as the Buffalo Bills looking to make another deep postseason run, the AFC East division could turn out to be a tight race. Yesterday, the NFL released each team’s 2021 schedule, here is every Dolphins game ranked in order from easiest to most difficult. Furthermore, it is important to note that I am anticipating the Houston Texans will be without Deshaun Watson this season for reasons which have been well documented over the past several months.
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Miami Dolphins 2021 Schedule Breakdown
17th: Week 15, Home New York Jets
While rookie quarterback Zach Wilson has potential, it’s more than likely that he will struggle throughout his rookie season as the Jets continue their rebuild. Furthermore, as the Jets have an entirely new coaching staff along with Miami coming off a week 14 bye, this matchup should be the Dolphins easiest.
16th: Week 9, Home Houston Texans
Again, if Watson were under center for the Texans this matchup would be ranked higher. However, I highly doubt he will be and as the Texans enter this season in rebuild mode, the Dolphins should not struggle all that much with this game on their home field.
15th: Week 11, At New York Jets
Miami will be traveling to New York for this matchup which is why it is ranked higher than their week 15 matchup with the Jets.
14th: Week 17, At Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans lost a lot of talent this past offseason and it would not surprise me one bit if they took a step back this season. Miami will need to travel to Tennessee, but this game is far from one of the Dolphins more difficult matchups.
13th: Week 18, Home New England Patriots
Despite New England adding several top free agents along with drafting a first-round quarterback, the Dolphins have always been able to compete hard with the Patriots when they come to Maimi’s home field late in the season. This matchup is no walk in the park for Miami, but historically they have always played well in this game.
12th: Week 12, Home Carolina Panthers
The Carolina Panthers could end up being fairly decent this season in which case this matchup would deserve to be ranked higher. However, it is also completely possible that with a new quarterback and a second-year head coach, the Panthers will still be working through growing pains. This game being in Miami should favor the Dolphins.
11th: Week 13, Home New York Giants
Like the Panthers game, this matchup could look much different by the time week 13 actually rolls around. Although, as it stands now, the New York Giants will compete hard under Joe Judge which should make for a good game, but given the location, Miami should have the advantage.
10th: Week 16, At New Orleans Saints
Given the New Orleans Saints lack of quarterback talent this game may turn out to be ranked higher than it deserves to be by the time it is actually played. Nevertheless, the Saints still boast one of the most talented rosters within the NFL coupled with one of the league’s best head coaches. Miami having to travel to New Orleans is another aspect the Dolphins will need to overcome in this matchup.
9th: Week 4, Home Indianapolis Colts
The Indianapolis Colts will have a revamped offense this season with Carson Wentz along with a solid defense. Given that this matchup is early in the season, both teams should be fairly healthy as well which should make for a competitive game. Home field advantage should give the Dolphins a slight edge, but not by much.
8th: Week 3, At Las Vegas Raiders
This game would be ranked lower on the list if it were being played later in the season. However, over the last two seasons the Las Vegas Raiders have gotten off to good starts before turtling late in the season. Furthermore, Miami having to travel to Las Vegas will make this matchup more difficult for the Dolphins and they will need to come ready to play.
7th: Week 7, Home Atlanta Falcons
After making Kyle Pitts the highest-ever drafted tight end this past spring, the Atlanta Falcons should have a top-tier offense. Additionally, while this is a home game for Miami, the Dolphins will be coming off their London trip from the week prior and all that travel may not make for the best days of practice leading up to this game. That, coupled with Atlanta’s offensive firepower should make for one of Miami’s more difficult games this season.
6th: Week 1, At New England Patriots
This game has little to do with Miami and everything to do with the fact that Bill Belichick rarely loses week one games at home. With Belichick having months to prepare and gameplan for this matchup, traveling to New England should be one of the tougher games for the Dolphins this season.
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5th: Week 6, Jacksonville Jaguars
The only reason for this game being ranked here has little to do with the Jacksonville Jaguars and a lot to do with the location. By all evaluations, Trevor Lawrence is a generational talent at the quarterback position, but he will likely struggle throughout his rookie season. Having to travel to London after playing the Tampa Bay Buccaneers the week prior will take its toll on the Dolphins and should make for one of their toughest games of the year.
4th: Week 2, Home Buffalo Bills
The Bills are coming off an impressive season in which they made it to the AFC Conference Championship. Despite falling short of a Super Bowl appearance, the Bills are bringing back much of their same team from a year ago and they will be motivated to make another deep postseason run.
3rd: Week 10, Home Baltimore Ravens
This game being in Miami evens the playing field a bit, but the Baltimore Ravens are a tough and physical football team with one of the most electric quarterbacks in NFL history in Lamar Jackson. This game will be a grind and one of the toughest for the Dolphins.
2nd: Week 8, At Buffalo Bills
Again, the Bills will be out for blood this season and are motivated to establish themselves as a consistent winner in the league. This game ranks higher than the Dolphins week two matchup with the Bills simply because Miami will have to travel to Buffalo.
1st: Week 5, At Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Tom Brady are coming off a Super Bowl win with the scary part being they may not have fully hit their ceiling yet. With another full offseason and having brought back all of their players, Tampa Bay at home is by far Miami’s toughest matchup this season.
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