Miami’s First Month Has Been a Nightmare Schedule

The Miami Dolphins haven’t won a game yet, but they also haven’t played a team that has lost one.

Miami’s first three opponents, the Las Vegas Raiders, San Francisco 49ers and Kansas City Chiefs, are all 3-0 entering Week 4. The Dolphins opened with a 27-13 loss in Las Vegas, followed it with a 35-13 defeat in San Francisco and fell 24-10 to Kansas City in their home opener.

Things don’t get any easier. Miami travels to Minnesota next Sunday to face a Vikings team, led by ex-head coach Brian Flores, that is also 3-0 after beating Tampa Bay in Week 3. 

That means the Dolphins’ first four opponents currently own a combined 12-0 record.

My Take

Miami has plenty of legitimate problems. An 0-3 record shouldn’t simply be blamed on the schedule, especially when two of those losses came by more than 20 points. Still, context matters.

The Dolphins haven’t had a soft landing anywhere on this schedule. Every team they’ve faced has emerged from September looking like a legitimate contender or playoff threat, and now another undefeated opponent is waiting. Miami needs wins eventually.

For now, though, the Dolphins might not be quite as hopeless as 0-3 record makes them look.