Miami Dolphins: 1 storyline for each game on the 2022 schedule

Miami Dolphins storylines Weeks 16, 17, & 18

Week 16: vs. Packers

The Dolphins will be home for the holidays in 2022 and will be playing in just their fourth Christmas Day game in franchise history. They’ll be doing so against Aaron Rodgers and the visiting Green Bay Packers, which will mark the final non-divisional game of the season for Miami.

The Dolphins certainly hope to be in contention when they arrive at this Week 16 matchup, and it will be the last of a brutal 3-4 game stretch that could make or break the season. Bookending that portion of the schedule with a win against the reigning MVP and future hall of famer could solidify a playoff appearance for Miami.

Week 17: @ Patriots

The final away game for Miami in 2022 will come in New England, where the Dolphins have proved that they can be victorious in recent years. The jury is still out on what the Patriots are going to look like this coming season, but there is a chance that they are out of contention by this point.

But that won’t stop Bill Belichick from pulling out all of the stops to defeat a division rival. There have been multiple occasions in which the Dolphins have played spoiler to the Patriot’s late-season playoff seeding efforts, and New England could be in a position to try and turn the tables on that trend.

Week 18: vs. Jets

Fun fact: the Dolphins and Jets haven’t met in the final week of the season in eight years. But after a seemingly endless barrage of Week 17/18 games against Buffalo and New England, Miami will finally draw New York to wrap up the season, and they’ll do so in the friendly confines of Hard Rock Stadium.

Wouldn’t it be nice if Miami could rest their starters in this game? It would benefit the legs or Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle to have an extra week’s rest after a long season’s grind.

But these are the Dolphins we’re talking about, and if they do happen to qualify for the playoffs, it will probably be in the most excruciating fashion possible. That would entail Week 18 being a win-and-you’re-in game, and the home team should have the upper hand.

But there’s plenty of football to be played between now and then.