The Dolphins will face a very difficult schedule in the upcoming season and their new coach Jeff Hafley will also have to juggle to assemble a competitive team.
Miami’s squad changed fundamentals compared to last season: general manager, coach, quarterback, wide receivers; and he got rid of his super millionaires like Tua Tagovailoa, Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle, among others.
He kept the most efficient ones like defensive tackles Zach Sieler and Kenneth Grant, chosen by the Dolphins in their first round in the 2025 draft; hired a new quarterback, Malik Willis; and he chose well in the 2026 draft.
Hafley’s big challenge with all these new elements is putting together a consistent team.
Nobody expects him to perform miracles in his first season, but there is a need to have a decent campaign and meet the fans’ expectations.
The 20-7 defeat against the Washington Commanders, in the preseason debut on August 14, and the group’s performance with ups and downs, does not worry anyone in the Surflorida franchise. At this point we don’t look at the results, but rather see how each player responds, especially the rookies.
Each of the three preseason games will help Hafley define his 53-man roster for the regular season.
path with thorns
The Dolphins will debut against the Raiders in Las Vegas on September 13, in the first match of a schedule that, although difficult, can allow the Surfloridans to grow as the campaign progresses.
A favorable example of this schedule is that the divisional return games against the New York Jets and the Buffalo Bills, at the end of the year, when the weather in the north of the country is terribly cold, will be in Miami and that is a huge advantage.
It is true that the closing of the regular season will be in New England, the other rival in the Eastern Division of the American Conference, but it will be only one of three.
It is also true that in December it will be the Dolphins’ turn to play in Denver and Green Bay, as safe as possible with snow, but this is the NFL and it is inevitable to clash at some point with these strong teams in their own conditions.
The rest of the road offers dangerous opponents such as the San Francisco 49ers and the Kansas City Chiefs, then the Vikings in Minnesota and the Cincinnati Bengals in Miami.
The Jets have not raised their head for a long time and it will be a great opportunity for Hafley’s pupils to gain confidence.
On the other hand, the Patriots will be fearsome. They played in the Super Bowl last season and have their team assembled, with the same coach and almost all of his figures.
The Detroit Lions and the Indianapolis Colts are solid rivals and can surely be a thorn in the side for the Dolphins.
For their part, the Buffalo Bills, who have reigned in the current decade, changed their coach and it is not known how much it will affect having removed the man who transformed the franchise.
In general terms, the Dolphins took the necessary steps to change course, after the four years of work of their previous coach Mike McDaniel did not bear results. At the beginning of the season there is always optimism and that is what is seen right now in the Miami franchise.
2026 Calendar
Match Date
Preseason
14 – 08 Washington 20, Dolphins 7
22 – 08 NY Giants vs. Dolphins
28 – 08 Atlanta vs. Dolphins
regular season
13 – 09 Dolphins vs. vegas
20 – 09 Dolphins vs. San Francisco
27 – 09 Kansas City vs. Dolphins
04 – 10 Dolphins vs. Minnesota
11 -10 Cincinnati vs. Dolphins
18 – 10 Rest
25 – 10 Dolphins vs. New York Jets
01 – 11 New England vs. Dolphins
08 – 11 Detroit vs. Dolphins
15 – 11 Dolphins vs. Indianapolis
22 – 11 Dolphins vs. Buffalo Bills
29 – 11 NY Jets vs. Dolphins
06 – 12 Dolphins vs. Denver
13 – 12 Chicago vs. Dolphins
20 – 12 Dolphins vs. Green Bay
27 – 12 LA Chargers vs. Dolphins
01 – 03 Buffalo Bills vs. Dolphins
01 – 10 Dolphins vs. New England
