Predicting the Miami Dolphins 2017 schedule
By Brian Miller
The Miami Dolphins and the rest of the NFL will know their schedule tonight. So why not try and have some fun and predict it.
What is known is the who and where of the 2017 schedule. The Dolphins will in addition to playing both home and away games against their division opponents, play on the road against the Panthers, Falcons, Chiefs, Chargers, and Ravens.
The Dolphins will play home games against the Titans, Broncos, Raiders, and Buccaneers. They will also host the Saints in London.
UPDATE: We can throw this prediction out the window already as it’s being reported by the New York Daily News that the Jets will open at hoe against the Bills. So I am swapping the Buccaneers for the Bills.
Little is known thus far about the schedule so predicting it won’t be an easy task.
Week 1: Tampa Bay – previously the Bills but a leaked report says Bills open in NY vs. the Jets.
We know the Falcons are hoping to open their stadium in week one and New England opens on Thursday night. I think Miami will open this year at home after opening with two consecutive road games each of the last two seasons. With only the Raiders, Broncos, and the division games left as well as the Buccaneers at home, the Dolphins will likely open against the Buc’s or a divisional opponent.
Week 2: @ New York Jets
The Dolphins have some traveling to do in 2017 but with London in week 4 Miami is likely going to stay close to home. New York isn’t close but it’s close enough. The Metlife Takeover crew will be happy with nicer weather.
Week 3: @ Baltimore Ravens
It’s hard to believe that the NFL would put the Dolphins on the road for three consecutive weeks with one of those games in London but the problem is the Dolphins only have seven home games this year and the NFL typically doesn’t schedule a bunch of home games in Miami’s September heat.
Week 4: New Orleans
This has been known since before the Super Bowl.
Week 5: Denver Broncos
Miami has requested that their bye week come later in the year. That would mean they will play after London. It would be a home game and I think the NFL would like to see how playing a game the following week would work out. I expect Miami to not have a bye week in week 5.
Week 6: @ Atlanta Falcons
Should be a quick trip for Miami against a very good football team. Gonna find out how good Miami is or isn’t.
Week 7 – Bye
Week 8: @ New England
The NFL seems to enjoy putting teams on the road in back to back weeks and divisional games are popular. I also think that this will be a primetime game.
Week 9: Bills – see week 1
Week 10: @ Kansas City
The Dolphins have a trip to make to the midwest and another to the west coast. The west coast trip will get the later date on the schedule.
Week 11: New York Jets
Prime Time possibility.
Week 12: Oakland Raiders
With the schedule the way it is with Miami being out of the country the west coast teams are going to come in what might look like groups.
Week 13: @ Carolina Panthers
Miami won’t be too upset with a visit to Charlotte in week 13 as the typical temps are around 50-60 degrees in winter.
Week 14: @ Los Angeles Chargers
Miami is not going to like the late season trip to the west coast.
Week 15: Tennessee Titans
The Titans embarrassed the Dolphins in 2016.
Week 16: @ Buffalo Bills
The Dolphins will have to play the Bills late this year and it should be a very cold game but at least they will get warm in week 17.
Week 17: New England Patriots
The Patriots have played the Dolphins to wrap the season in 2016 and that is likely going to continue but very well could swing the other way with a final road trip to New England this time around.
CONCLUSION: This of course is not the official schedule and to be honest, wasn’t much fun to predict. With the London game in week 4 the Dolphins will have a lot of travel this year and one less actual home game in Miami.