The 2026 NFL schedule is officially out, and the Miami Dolphins are staring down one of the toughest roads in the league. With the second-hardest slate in the NFL—trailing only the Chicago Bears based on 2025 opponent win percentages—the Dolphins will need to be at their best from the very first snap.
Miami kicks off the season with a challenging west coast road trip, opening against the Las Vegas Raiders in Week 1 before facing the San Francisco 49ers in Week 2. This marks the seventh time since 2000 that the Dolphins have started with back-to-back away games, a pattern that also occurred in 2023, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2013, and 2010.
The early schedule doesn’t let up. After a Week 3 home clash with the Kansas City Chiefs, the Dolphins hit the road again in Week 4 to take on the Minnesota Vikings and their defensive coordinator, Brian Flores—a familiar face who served as Miami’s head coach from 2019 to 2021. In total, three of Miami’s first four games will be played away from Hard Rock Stadium.
Adding to the challenge is an early Week 6 bye, which means the Dolphins will play 12 consecutive games to close out the regular season. For a team breaking in first-year head coach Jeff Hafley, this stretch will test both the squad’s depth and its mental toughness.
The Dolphins won’t face an AFC East opponent until Week 7, when they travel to face the New York Jets after the bye. That’s the latest start to divisional play since 2013—a season that, interestingly, also featured two road games to open the year, three away games in the first four weeks, and a Week 6 bye before hosting the Buffalo Bills. That 2013 team finished 8-8 under then-head coach Joe Philbin.
Perhaps the most surprising twist? The NFL didn’t schedule the Dolphins for a single primetime game in 2026. Miami joins the Arizona Cardinals, Tennessee Titans, Las Vegas Raiders, and New York Jets as the only teams without a national night game. The last time the Dolphins went without a primetime slot was after their 1-15 season in 2007—yet they bounced back to win the AFC East in 2008 under a first-year head coach. History suggests this team knows how to rise when the spotlight is off.