Early guess on Dolphins 8-8 season sounds right
The Dolphins’ season is fifive months away, but with the schedule released Thursday night, it’s time to get a jump start on predicting how they’ll do.
At the moment, the
2018 slate looks like a major challenge for a Miami team that saw topshelf talent in Ndamukong Suh, Jarvis Landry and
Mike Pouncey depart this offffffffffffseason.
Based on how the upcoming season stacks up, Miami has a chance to get some early momen
tum since that half of the schedule looks lighter
than what lurks in November and December. Here’s an admittedly optimistic prediction for each game as the Dolphins try to surprise the NFL with a bounce-back season:
Week 1 vs. Tennessee: Loss (0-1)
The Titans, who look like one of the stronger
non-Patriots teams in the AFC, are too much too soon for the Dolphins.
Tennessee is a rough
opener.
Week 2 at New York Jets: Win (1-1)
This looked like a gimme last year, but Miami staggered around in a 20-6 loss at MetLife Stadium. It’s still hard to buy that the Jets are defifin
itively better than the Dolphins.
Week 3 vs. Oakland: Win (2-1)
The Raiders edged Miami last year, but it’s going to be a big disadvantage for them playing a 1 p.m. game on the East Coast.
Week 4 at New England: Loss (2-2)
The Patriots’ dominance at home against Miami has to end eventually — maybe — but it won’t be this year.
Week 5 at Cincinnati:
Loss (2-3)
For some reason this already feels like it’s going to be a really ugly game. The Bengals aren’t anything special, but they’re playing at home against what fifigures to be a so-so Dolphins team.
Week 6 vs. Chicago: Win (3-3)
The big, bad Bears are still bad. Adam Gase pounded on one former team in the Broncos last year and will do the same against Chicago this season.son .
Week 7 vs. Detroit: Win (4-3)
The Lions are a little unpredictable, but the Dolphins should be able to handle them at home.
Week 8 at Houston: Loss (4-4)
Every team has to play one Thursday night game, and this is the fourth straight time the Dolphins will do it on the road.
That means they get three full days between games, one of which includes travel to Houston, and won’t be able to have a single normal practice.
Week 9 vs. New York Jets: Win (5-4)
Maybe the Jets have Baker Mayfifield and he’s setting the world on fifire for them by this point in the year, but more likely, they’re probably still the Jets.
Week 10 at Green Bay: Loss (5-5)
As long as Aaron Rodgers is playing, there’s not much to say about the Dolphins’ chances in Green Bay in November.
Week 12 at Indianapolis: Win (6-5)
Remember how bad the Dolphins’ minus-112 point difffffffffffferential looked last year? The Colts were even worse at minus-141.
Week 13 vs. Buffffffffffffalo: Win (7-5)
Were the Bills actually good last year? Are they good now? Is A.J. McCarron an upgrade over Tyrod Taylor? With all the uncertainty, the Dolphins get the benefifit of the doubt at home.
Week 14 vs. New England: Loss (7-6)
Last year’s Monday Night Football surprise was fun, but it’ll be nearly impossible to duplicate.
Week 15 at Minnesota: Loss (7-7)
The Dolphins’ great ambition for 2018 is to sneak into the playoffffffffffffs. Minnesota’s is to win it all.
Week 16 vs. Jacksonville: Win (8-7)
The Jaguars have a terrifific defense, but they’re a shaky team to believe in with Blake Bortles at quarterback. This will be a winnable game for Miami.
Week 17 at Buffffffffffffalo: Loss (8-8)
The stadium in Orchard Park might look like something out of bad sci- fifi movie this late in the year. There could be 3 feet of snow. There could be subzero temperatures. There could be unbearable wind-chill. Good luck, Dolphins.