NFL releaased pre-season schedule, Dolphins open at home

The NFL on Wednesday night released the entire 2018 pre-season schedule but dates and times will be released later. The Miami Dolphins will open at home.

Miami will host a home opener in 2018 whether or not another home opening game will be granted to start the regular season is unknown This years first pre-season game will be against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

The irony of course is that the Dolphins were supposed to open the regular season against the Buc’s in 2017 but Hurricane Irma postponed the game. The Dolphins will host their in-state rivals in week following the Hall of Fame game which will be played a week earlier.

After the Buc’s come to town the Dolphins will travel to Carolina in week two to face the Panthers. Miami played the Panthers in 2017 as well. They were blown out on a Monday night game by double digits.

Another familiar team will visit the Dolphins in week three when the Ravens play Miami in the dress rehearsal game. Miami seems to play the Ravens every year in some way.

Finally the Dolphins will wrap up their exhibition season with a visit to the Atlanta Falcons. Miami played Atlanta both in pre-season and the regular season in 2017.

More from Phin Phanatic

• Tua Tagovailoa practicing with teammates is everything a leader does
• 4 offensive tackles Miami Dolphins could draft at 51
• Miami Dolphins don’t need CB help but these 5 could be available at 51
• 4 players that could replace Wilkins if Miami Dolphins don’t re-sign him
• Miami Dolphins have a starting point with Wilkins after Simmons deal

All of the Dolphins 2018 pre-season opponents are not on their regular seasons schedule. Miami has three NFC South teams on this years slate but Miami played the NFC South in 2017. The Ravens who have played Miami the last several years during the regular season will not play Miami in 2017.

The Dolphins also will not play a single primetime pre-season game. It is likely that any primetime appearances during the regular season will be relegated to a Thursday night game. Miami will not likely get anything close to the primetime lineup they saw in 2017.

The NFL is expected to release the full slate of regular season games before the start of the draft and that schedule could come as early as April 19th. Miami will face their division rivals both home and away and will also face the Bears, Jaguars, Titans, Lions, and Raiders at home. Their away games will have them playing the Bengals, Packers, Vikings, Colts, and Texans on the road.