2023 Miami Dolphins schedule analysis

On Thursday night, the NFL released the complete Dolphins schedule. Per NFL Research, Dolphins' opponents had a 158-127-2 record in 2022, making their 2023 schedule the second-most difficult in the NFL. 

Circle the date: Week 18 vs. Buffalo (Jan. 7)

The Dolphins have invested heavily in their roster over the past few years and have the opportunity to establish themselves as a potential Super Bowl contender this season. Nevertheless, no matter how talented the roster appears on paper, they'll have to prove it against the Bills, who are still the team to beat in the AFC East. 

The last time the Dolphins played Buffalo in Miami, they won 21-19. However, Bills quarterback Josh Allen blamed his team's sluggish performance on Miami's scorching heat, as several players needed IVs or dealt with cramping during the game. With the temperature likely to be cooler, perhaps it'll be an even closer contest in what could ultimately decide the division crown. 

Toughest stretch: Weeks 15-18

Miami's Week 18 tilt with Buffalo will cap an exhausting final stretch that features four of the top five defenses in terms of points per game allowed last season. In Week 15, Miami will face Aaron Rodgers' Jets before welcoming the Dallas Cowboys on Christmas Eve.

On New Year's Eve, the Dolphins will take on another former MVP quarterback in Baltimore's Lamar Jackson in a rematch of last season's Week 2 thriller. Miami wraps up the regular season with the previously noted matchup against the Bills. 

Easiest stretch: Weeks 11-14

Luckily for the Dolphins, the team has a favorable string of games following their Week 10 bye just before the schedule tightens up for the stretch run. In Week 11, they'll host the Las Vegas Raiders before getting their first glimpse of the revamped Jets in Week 12, which is also the NFL’s first Black Friday game.

After their game at MetLife Stadium, the Dolphins travel to Landover, Maryland, to face the Commanders before returning home to play the Titans in Week 14. It'll be intriguing to see if it'll be a Ryan Tannehill homecoming or if rookie Will Levis has assumed the starting role by then. 

Either way, Tennessee should be a winnable game for the Dolphins, who must pick up as many victories as they can during this span to afford any late-season losses.  

Potential for more overseas heartache: Week 9 "at" Kansas City

Unfortunately for Tyreek Hill, the first time he faces his former Chiefs team won't be at Arrowhead Stadium but rather in Frankfurt, Germany, as part of the NFL's International Series. Regardless of the game's location, the defending Super Bowl champions should provide an excellent test for the championship-hopeful Dolphins.

But even so, the Dolphins' track record abroad may not instill confidence that they'll succeed. While this will be their first game in Germany, the Dolphins have played five games in London, compiling a 1-4 record.