Dolphins Key Games

By Mike Rifkin

On Thursday, the NFL schedule was released. The Miami Dolphins in 2022 made the playoffs for the first time since 2016. Here are some of the key games on the Dolphins’ schedule, minus the games in what should be an ultra-competitive AFC East. 

Week 1: AT Chargers: Two AFC wildcards from last season will open the season against each other. Tua Tagovailoa vs. Justin Herbert, the fifth and sixth overall picks in the 2020 draft, will head to head-again. Last year the Chargers defeated the Dolphins 23-17. Justin Herbert threw for 367 yards and a touchdown. Tua had one of his worst games of the season by completing 10 of 28 passes for 145 yards and a touchdown. 

WEEK 3: VS Broncos: The Dolphins’ home opener will come against the Broncos. The Broncos were one of the biggest disappointments in 2022 and hired former Saints head coach Sean Payton in the offseason. Before hiring Mike McDaniel, the Dolphins were interested in hiring Payton and pairing him with Tom Brady. 

WEEK 7: AT Eagles: The Dolphins will visit the NFC Champs on Sunday Night Football. This will also be the first meeting between former Alabama teammates Tua Tagovailoa and Jalen Hurts. Tagovailoa replaced Hurts during the 2018 National Championship game. 

WEEK 9: VS Chiefs (Germany): Lass Uns Gehen, to quote Ric Flair, “To be the man, you have to beat the man.” Well, the Chiefs are the reigning Super Bowl Champs, and the Dolphins, like the rest of the NFL, are chasing them. In 108 games for the Chiefs, including 91 starts, Tyreek Hill had 598 catches for 8,340 yards and 56 touchdowns. Patrick Mahomes and Tua Tagovailoa both threw for 300 yards and two touchdowns; the Dolphin defense intercepted Mahomes three times in that game. The last time these two teams played, the Chiefs won 33-27 in 2020. 

Week 16: Vs. Cowboys: In a late-season showdown against the Dallas Cowboys, both teams could be playing for playoff positioning. 

Week 17; AT Ravens: The game of the year last season was the Dolphins’ comeback against the Ravens in week 2. Baltimore has finished the Lamar Jackson deal and brought in Odell Beckham Jr. This game could have a lot of implications for the AFC Playoff picture.