Key Games For The Dolphins in 2025

Key Games For The Dolphins in 2025

Final roster cuts have been made, and for much of the country, the weather has started to turn. NFL football is nearly upon us. In less than a week, we’ll be allowing the Miami Dolphins to dictate our mood for the better part of the next four months, and I could not possibly be more excited!

A lot of digital ink has been spilled about the future of the Dolphins this offseason, with many hot-take experts ranting into their microphones about how this is a defining season for the current iteration of the team. 

Personally, I think this team is well-positioned to surprise people and make a playoff run, but if they’re going to do that, they’ll need to win in these key games. A “key game” for this blog features a team that will likely not win its division but will instead be fighting for a wildcard spot alongside Miami.

I said I think this team could surprise people, but I believe that the Buffalo Bills will once again win the division crown unless Josh Allen gets abducted by aliens or something. 

Weeks 2 and 18 Dolphins vs Patriots 

Living in Massachusetts, I’ve observed an excitement about this team that hasn’t been seen at least since they made the playoffs in Mac Jones’s rookie year, if not back when Tom Brady was under center. I don’t think the excitement is without merit, if all goes well New England should look to challenge for a playoff spot and as such it is imperative that the Dolphins at least split their head to head matchups if not sweep. 

Week 6 Dolphins vs Chargers 

Tua and Herbert will forever be linked as the 5th and 6th picks in the 2020 NFL draft. Tua has the edge record-wise between the pair in head-to-head matchups at 2-1, but Herbert has impressed in the stats department. With the Chiefs likely to take the division title in the AFC West this early in the season, the matchup could prove important for end-of-season tiebreakers. 

Week 9 Dolphins vs Ravens 

As with Herbert, Tua has a 2-1 record head-to-head against Lamar Jackson. We all fondly remember his 6 TD performance in the Dolphins’ come-from-behind victory in 2022, but the last time they faced off, the Ravens routed the Dolphins 56-19. The Ravens may win the division, but if not, this could loom large. 

Week 16 Dolphins vs Bengals 

The only time Tua has faced off against Joe Burrow was that Thursday night football game, which saw him left unconscious on the field. The Bengals will once again field a potent offense and a lackluster defense, if the Dolphins can get some key stops it will go a long way to helping them secure a playoff spot. Like the Ravens, this may not be as important if the Bengals win the AFC North. 

Of the five games we’ve reviewed, I think that a 3-2 record is possible, but if the Dolphins want to make a statement, then going 4-1 will do just that. At the end of the season, I’ll revisit this blog and assess the importance of these matches and how the team performed in each of them.

For now, I’ll try to live in the moment and enjoy the Dolphins’ first game of the season against the Indianapolis Colts this upcoming Sunday. 

You can follow me on YouTube @WickedGoodEverything and X @TheFakeBMarr