A have a look at the primary 4 video games on the Miami Dolphins’ schedule makes the regular-season opener towards the New England Patriots on Sept. 11 look as very similar to a must-win as may be for a crew in Week 1.
With a visit to Baltimore, the place the Dolphins traditionally wrestle, a house recreation towards the Super Bowl favourite Bills and a highway recreation at Cincinnati on a brief week to face the reigning AFC champion Bengals to observe, Miami higher deal with its enterprise towards New England when the season kicks off at Hard Rock Stadium.
Especially since, if the Bills determine to run away with the AFC East once more, the Dolphins might want to safe No. 2 within the division over the Patriots in the event that they wish to attain the postseason in a aggressive AFC.
Hosting Buffalo and New England in South Florida’s warmth and humidity in September, Miami has video games in Orchard Park and Foxborough late within the 12 months as a part of one other daunting stretch that’s preceded by the two-game West Coast swing on the San Francisco 49ers and Los Angeles Chargers and has a Christmas house recreation towards the Green Bay Packers sprinkled in.
With what number of playoff-caliber groups are within the convention, it’s important the Dolphins end forward of the Patriots within the division. New England ended up a recreation forward of Miami in 2021, regardless of getting swept by the Dolphins, and that was the distinction for a playoff berth.
On paper, the Dolphins ought to be higher than the Patriots. Frankly, the rosters don’t evaluate.
Miami returns its protection that anchored the crew the second half of final season and utterly revamped its offense round quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, including broad receiver Tyreek Hill, left deal with Terron Armstead and operating backs Chase Edmonds and Raheem Mostert.
The Patriots’ largest offseason transfer was buying and selling for a Dolphins castoff in broad receiver DeVante Parker, who we all know in Miami is succesful when wholesome. But it was an underwhelming offseason in New England when he was the highest acquisition and second is between security Jabrill Peppers off {a partially} torn ACL, linebacker Mack Wilson or the questioned first-round draft decide of Chattanooga guard Cole Strange.
Then, you additionally need to issue that the Patriots misplaced cornerback J.C. Jackson and offensive linemen Shaq Mason and Ted Karras. Quarterback Mac Jones, albeit a Pro Bowl choice as a rookie after the Bills’ Josh Allen and Ravens’ Lamar Jackson opted out of the sport, must be thought of no less than on comparable footing as Tagovailoa till one takes his subsequent stride to distance himself, and Tagovailoa now has the assistance round him.
Where New England is all the time harmful is that it nonetheless has Bill Belichick teaching this crew. He normally will get essentially the most out of his roster and has one thing up his sleeve. But even Belichick is making odd strikes of late, like going with out an offensive coordinator this season whereas it’s broadly reported that Matt Patricia, again as Belichick assistant after a failed head teaching tenure with the Detroit Lions, will work his offense.
Elsewhere within the convention, the complete AFC West will compete for playoff spots. The Kansas City Chiefs, regardless of buying and selling Hill to the Dolphins, ought to stay a power. The Los Angeles Chargers are on an upward trajectory underneath quarterback Justin Herbert, an already-electric offense and protection that added Jackson and go rusher Khalil Mack. The Las Vegas Raiders, off a playoff look, gave quarterback Derek Carr a prime receiver in Davante Adams. And the Denver Broncos mix a stout protection with quarterback Russell Wilson, over from the Seattle Seahawks.
In the AFC North, the Bengals shored up the offensive line in entrance of quarterback Joe Burrow, coming off a Super Bowl look in his second season. The Baltimore Ravens are one of many convention’s most well-rounded groups and ought to be wanting to bounce again after being significantly affected by accidents in 2021. The Cleveland Browns acquired quarterback Deshaun Watson within the offseason, however he’ll be suspended for the primary 11 video games, which probably takes them out of the image. And the Pittsburgh Steelers, whilst they transition after quarterback Ben Roethlisberger’s retirement, can by no means be counted out underneath coach Mike Tomlin. Whoever finishes second within the AFC South between the Indianapolis Colts and Tennessee Titans may also be within the combine for a wild card spot.
That’s plenty of groups vying for 3 playoff spots after the 4 division winners.
While the Dolphins are improved, it might be troublesome to ascertain them rising to the purpose of catching Buffalo within the division. The Bills added edge rusher Von Miller to a protection that was already tops within the NFL and nonetheless have Allen throwing the ball round to receivers Stefon Diggs and Gabriel Davis and tight finish Dawson Knox.
The New York Jets may very well be an upstart crew in years to come back. The draft picks of cornerback Sauce Gardner, broad receiver Garrett Wilson, defensive finish Jermaine Johnson and operating again Breece Hall may result in a promising future if quarterback Zach Wilson develops, however the Jets will probably nonetheless end final within the AFC East.
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Source: www.bostonherald.com