Sun Sentinel Palm Beach Edition
Ready for kickoff?
Dolphins host Titans in Sept. 9 opener.
The Miami Dolphins open the 2018 season Sept. 9, hosting Tennessee at Hard Rock Stadium. But it’s the December games — against Buffalo (Dec. 2), against New England (Dec. 9), at Minnesota (Dec. 16), against Jacksonville (Dec. 22 or 23) and at Buffalo (Dec. 30) — that might cause the most concern for those glimpsing the schedule, which was released Thursday night.
Each of Miami’s five December opponents made the playoffs last year, and three — New England, Minnesota and Jacksonville — made their respective conference championship games.
The Dolphins’ bye week is Nov. 18, which is Week 11, relatively late in the season.
Miami plays its only nationally-televised Thursday night game on Oct. 25 at Houston.
Last season Miami played five national TV games — one against New Orleans in London, a Thursday night game, a Sunday night game and two Monday night games. The Dolphins were 1-4 in those games with
the lone victory being the 27-20 win over New England at Hard Rock Stadium in December.
On a side note, color rush uniforms won’t be a fixture for Thursday night games in the 2018 season now that FOX has taken over the broadcast.
Miami doesn’t have an extended stretch at home or on the road in 2018.
The Dolphins play backto-back road games at New England (Sept. 30) and Cincinnati (Oct. 7).
The Dolphins play backto-back home games against Chicago (Oct. 14) and Detroit (Oct. 21) and against Buffalo (Dec. 2) and New England (Dec. 9).
All of Miami’s games are in the Eastern or Central time zones, and all start at 1 p.m. except for the Thursday night game.
After opening at home against Tennessee, the Dolphins travel to the New York Jets (Sept. 16), then host Oakland (Sept. 23) and close the month at New England (Sept. 30).
Miami opens October at Cincinnati (Oct. 7), then hosts Chicago (Oct. 14) and Detroit (Oct. 21) before visiting Houston to close the month.
In November, the Dolphins host the Jets (Nov. 4) and visit Green Bay (Nov. 11) before the long-awaited bye week. Miami concludes its November schedule at Indianapolis (Nov. 25).
The Dolphins then have their brutal December stretch to close the season.
Coach Adam Gase is entering his third season with a 16-16 regular season record and an 0-1 playoff record. Gase led the Dolphins to a 10-6 record in 2016 and their first playoff appearance since the 2008 season, but stumbled to a 6-10 finish last year that included a crippling five-game losing streak.
Thursday’s schedule release didn’t have much built-in drama.
Two years ago the big deal on schedule release night was seeing whether the Dolphins would face New England during quarterback Tom Brady’s four-game suspension. They didn’t.
Last year, there was optimism about playing a schedule with quarterback Ryan Tannehill returning from the left knee injury that sidelined him for the final three games of 2016 and the wild-card playoff loss at Pittsburgh.
This year, there’s that same optimism about playing the schedule with Tannehill under center.
There’s also optimism about playing the season opener on the scheduled date.
Last year’s opener, scheduled for Sept. 10 against Tampa Bay at Hard Rock Stadium, was postponed to Nov. 19 because of Hurricane Irma.
Whether this year’s schedule allows for a fast start is up for debate. What isn’t up for debate is that Miami has had slow starts since going 3-0 in 2013.
In each of the last four years the Dolphins have started 1-2.
Miami has two December cold-weather games in 2018 — Minnesota and Buffalo — but the Vikings game is indoors.
Anecdotal evidence is mixed when it comes whether to cold-weather road games in December adversely affecting the Dolphins.
In the last four years they’re 3-4 in December games in cold weather cities.
Miami was at Buffalo and at Kansas City last year in December. The Dolphins went 0-2.
In 2016, Miami traveled to Baltimore, the New York Jets and Buffalo in December. The Dolphins were 2-1.
In 2015, Miami only played at San Diego (and lost) in December; the Dolphins played four games in South Florida in December.
In 2014, Miami played at the Jets and New England in December. The Dolphins went 1-1.
As for a few other notable scheduling nuggets:
Running back Frank Gore visits his previous team, Indianapolis, on Nov. 25;
Guard Josh Sitton faces his previous team, Chicago, on Oct. 14;
Wide receiver Danny Amendola visits his previous team, New England, who he faces twice, on Sept. 30;
Miami won’t face any of the big-name players that departed, including center Mike Pouncey (Los Angeles Chargers), defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh (Los Angeles Rams) or wide receiver Jarvis Landry (Cleveland Browns).
The Dolphins game against the Jaguars could be played on Saturday, Dec. 22 instead of Dec. 23.
Miami plays its only nationally televised Thursday night game on Oct. 25 at Houston.