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The Miami Dolphins released their 2026 schedule this past week as a new era for the team begins under a new regime, featuring new general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan and head coach Jeff Hafley.
One interesting detail that caught attention immediately about the Dolphins schedule is they will not see any primetime action. On top of being snubbed from primetime, the Dolphins' schedule is not an easy slate of games, including a tough 5-game stretch to finish the season.
In addition, there will be multiple games that stand out as pivotal moments for the Dolphins in 2026. The ability to capture winnable games, play in cold weather and compete in the division will define success for the Dolphins this year.
Here is a list of six games that could decide whether or not the season was a success for the Dolphins.
While it's only the first game of the regular season, Week 1 at Las Vegas will be a tone setter for the Dolphins. Coach Hafley, quarterback Malik Willis and an abundance of newcomers on the roster will have their first opportunity to show what they have built following an eventful off-season.
The Raiders are coming off a 3-14 record in 2025 which landed them the first pick in the draft, allowing them to select QB Fernando Mendoza No. 1 overall. But chances are Las Vegas will open the season with veteran Kirk Cousins under center as the team is still in the midst of a rebuild and won't want to put Mendoza in a tough situation.
This game should be seen as a winnable matchup for the Dolphins. However, Miami is widely projected to be one of the worst teams in the NFL, so no game will be viewed as an easy win early in the season. Expectations will remain low for the Dolphins early in the season, but starting 1-0 will be the first step in changing the narrative.
The Week 3 home opener against Kansas City is extremely important considering the landscape of the Dolphins' schedule. Miami plays three out of the first four games on the road, and the first two home opponents are the Chiefs and Bengals.
It is unclear whether Kansas City quarterback Patrick Mahomes will be ready for the start of the season coming off of a torn ACL and LCL suffered last year. Chiefs head coach Andy Reid gave an injury update on Mahomes during an interview on the "Rich Eisen Show." "I would tell you he's doing very well, but it's a day-to-day thing, maybe you have a chance to see him first game," Reid said.
Regardless, with or without Mahomes the Dolphins should have this game circled as a must win. Starting the season 0-4 or 1-3 will be hard to overcome if the Dolphins hope to contend for playoff contention in 2026.
Following the Dolphins' Week 6 bye, they will play their first divisional matchup against the New York Jets. Miami has dominated the Jets in recent years, winning five out of the last six matchups. Divisional wins will be vitally important in measuring the success of the new regime.
Like the Dolphins, New York is also projected to be one of the worst teams in the league. After a 3-14 in 2025, Jets' head coach Aaron Glenn looks to turn this franchise around with new starting QB Geno Smith and the No. 2 overall pick in the draft, edge rusher David Bailey.
Capturing a home win against the Jets will help propel the Dolphins to a big Week-8 matchup against the defending AFC East champion Patriots.
Games against Buffalo are highly anticipated and pivotal for the Dolphins. Over the last couple years, games against Buffalo have consisted of both crushing defeats for Dolphins, and some of the sweetest wins the team has earned. A Week-10 win over Buffalo last season helped spark a four-game winning streak for the Dolphins.
The Bills have dominated the AFC East in the 2020s. Prior to the Patriots winning the division last season, the Bills won five consecutive AFC East titles from 2020-2024. Bills quarterback Josh Allen has dominated the Dolphins since entering the league in 2018. Allen owns a 14-3 record against Miami along, including playoffs.
How an AFC East team competes against Buffalo has become a measuring stick of how close it is to competing in the playoffs. The 2026 Dolphins will have their first opportunities in Week 11 on the road and Week 17 at home to show what they are made of.
Sullivan, Hafley and Willis will all return to Green Bay where they spent last season for Week 15. Whether or not this Dolphins team is in playoff contention by Week 15, this matchup in Green Bay should draw attention.
This could also be the coldest game of the season. For years the Dolphins have shown an inability to play in cold weather environments. Green Bay in December is bound to be one of the coldest games of the years, making if a perfect test for how this Dolphins team can handle the elements.
Winning on the road in the cold has to be something the Dolphins prove they are capable of doing if the team ever hopes to contend for championships. Hopefully Sullivan, Hafley and Willis learned some strategies for playing through cold weather during their time in Green Bay.
More Dolphins: Dolphins coach called Day-2 pick their "No. 1 ranked guy" in the draft
This article originally appeared on Dolphins Wire: Dolphins schedule: 6 games that could decide Miami's 2026 season
Continue reading...
One interesting detail that caught attention immediately about the Dolphins schedule is they will not see any primetime action. On top of being snubbed from primetime, the Dolphins' schedule is not an easy slate of games, including a tough 5-game stretch to finish the season.
In addition, there will be multiple games that stand out as pivotal moments for the Dolphins in 2026. The ability to capture winnable games, play in cold weather and compete in the division will define success for the Dolphins this year.
Here is a list of six games that could decide whether or not the season was a success for the Dolphins.
Week 1 at Las Vegas Raiders
While it's only the first game of the regular season, Week 1 at Las Vegas will be a tone setter for the Dolphins. Coach Hafley, quarterback Malik Willis and an abundance of newcomers on the roster will have their first opportunity to show what they have built following an eventful off-season.
The Raiders are coming off a 3-14 record in 2025 which landed them the first pick in the draft, allowing them to select QB Fernando Mendoza No. 1 overall. But chances are Las Vegas will open the season with veteran Kirk Cousins under center as the team is still in the midst of a rebuild and won't want to put Mendoza in a tough situation.
This game should be seen as a winnable matchup for the Dolphins. However, Miami is widely projected to be one of the worst teams in the NFL, so no game will be viewed as an easy win early in the season. Expectations will remain low for the Dolphins early in the season, but starting 1-0 will be the first step in changing the narrative.
Week 3 vs Kansas City Chiefs
The Week 3 home opener against Kansas City is extremely important considering the landscape of the Dolphins' schedule. Miami plays three out of the first four games on the road, and the first two home opponents are the Chiefs and Bengals.
It is unclear whether Kansas City quarterback Patrick Mahomes will be ready for the start of the season coming off of a torn ACL and LCL suffered last year. Chiefs head coach Andy Reid gave an injury update on Mahomes during an interview on the "Rich Eisen Show." "I would tell you he's doing very well, but it's a day-to-day thing, maybe you have a chance to see him first game," Reid said.
Regardless, with or without Mahomes the Dolphins should have this game circled as a must win. Starting the season 0-4 or 1-3 will be hard to overcome if the Dolphins hope to contend for playoff contention in 2026.
Week 7 at New York Jets
Following the Dolphins' Week 6 bye, they will play their first divisional matchup against the New York Jets. Miami has dominated the Jets in recent years, winning five out of the last six matchups. Divisional wins will be vitally important in measuring the success of the new regime.
Like the Dolphins, New York is also projected to be one of the worst teams in the league. After a 3-14 in 2025, Jets' head coach Aaron Glenn looks to turn this franchise around with new starting QB Geno Smith and the No. 2 overall pick in the draft, edge rusher David Bailey.
Capturing a home win against the Jets will help propel the Dolphins to a big Week-8 matchup against the defending AFC East champion Patriots.
Weeks 11 and 17 vs Buffalo Bills
Games against Buffalo are highly anticipated and pivotal for the Dolphins. Over the last couple years, games against Buffalo have consisted of both crushing defeats for Dolphins, and some of the sweetest wins the team has earned. A Week-10 win over Buffalo last season helped spark a four-game winning streak for the Dolphins.
The Bills have dominated the AFC East in the 2020s. Prior to the Patriots winning the division last season, the Bills won five consecutive AFC East titles from 2020-2024. Bills quarterback Josh Allen has dominated the Dolphins since entering the league in 2018. Allen owns a 14-3 record against Miami along, including playoffs.
How an AFC East team competes against Buffalo has become a measuring stick of how close it is to competing in the playoffs. The 2026 Dolphins will have their first opportunities in Week 11 on the road and Week 17 at home to show what they are made of.
Week 15 at Green Bay Packers
Sullivan, Hafley and Willis will all return to Green Bay where they spent last season for Week 15. Whether or not this Dolphins team is in playoff contention by Week 15, this matchup in Green Bay should draw attention.
This could also be the coldest game of the season. For years the Dolphins have shown an inability to play in cold weather environments. Green Bay in December is bound to be one of the coldest games of the years, making if a perfect test for how this Dolphins team can handle the elements.
Winning on the road in the cold has to be something the Dolphins prove they are capable of doing if the team ever hopes to contend for championships. Hopefully Sullivan, Hafley and Willis learned some strategies for playing through cold weather during their time in Green Bay.
More Dolphins: Dolphins coach called Day-2 pick their "No. 1 ranked guy" in the draft
This article originally appeared on Dolphins Wire: Dolphins schedule: 6 games that could decide Miami's 2026 season
Continue reading...
