This 6 week stretch will determine season for Miami Dolphins

The Miami Dolphins have one of the easier schedules next season, but they must capitalize on this 6-game stretch in order to qualify for the playoffs.

It is impossible to know what the must-win games are going to be for an NFL team three months before the season starts. But in looking at the schedule for the Miami Dolphins, a stretch of six games starting in early November will likely determine whether they qualify for the post season.

The stretch of games will actually be the softest part of the Dolphins’ schedule, as five of their six opponents finished in the bottom 10 in the league standings last season. Not only that, but five of the six games will be played at Hard Rock Stadium, as the Dolphins only leave home once during a seven-week stretch thanks to the late bye week. This portion of the schedule looks like this:

Nov. 7th vs Texans
Nov. 11th vs Ravens
Nov. 21st @ Jets
Nov. 28th vs Panthers
Dec. 5th vs Giants
BYE
Dec. 17th vs Jets

The Dolphins will have to capitalize. Even if they happen to stumble through a more difficult portion of games at the beginning of the season, they have the opportunity to pick up some much-needed victories during this stretch. The short week against a Ravens team that demolishes the Dolphins seemingly every meeting will certainly be troublesome. But being at home, especially as the weather turns and winter approaches, will be a huge advantage for Miami.

So how well do the Dolphins have to play through this stretch in order to make good on their goals? An optimistic look could see the Fins going 5–1, likely dropping the game against Baltimore. But Miami should be careful about overlooking opponents. The game against the Texans just four days before the meeting with the Ravens has “trap game” written all over it, and Houston is always dangerous if Deshaun Watson is at the helm. The Dolphins had a similar trap game last season against the Broncos, one that ultimately cost them their chance at a playoff berth.

The Dolphins will also face off against the Jets twice, and division matchups are always tough, no matter how lackluster the opponent. The Panthers and the Giants have spent the last couple of years retooling and could be ready to make some noise of their own.

But Miami, on paper, is more talented and better equipped for a playoff run than essentially each one of their six opponents in November and early December. A 4-2 finish during this part of the schedule would be an acceptable one, and anything less would likely be seen as a failure and could keep the Dolphins out of contention when all is said and done.