Miami Dolphins handed a brutal final stretch of games by the NFL by the NFL once again

The Dolphins, to be clear, have a pretty reasonable run of things through the season's first two and a half months.  Miami gets 6 of their first 11 games at home.  They get the Patriots twice and the Cardinals and Raiders at home. 

However, things take a turn for the challenging starting in Green Bay on Thanksgiving.  The Packers were one of the hottest teams in the league last year.  With a surging Jordan Love under center, the Packers knocked off the Cowboys in the playoffs before falling in a close game to the Niners. 

After Green Bay comes Aaron Rogers and the Jets, C.J. Stroud and the Texans, the 49ers, the Browns on a frigid night on the road in primetime, and then at the Jets and Rodgers again to end the year.  That's a very challenging stretch of games for the Dolphins.  And yes, while the Dolphins handled the Jets both times last year, Rodgers' presence should make them significantly better this year. 

Miami has struggled down the stretch the last two years, as Miami fans know well, just barely making the playoffs each time.  The Fins lost five in a row in 2022 before winning the season finale against the Jets in super ugly fashion 11-6 to claim a wild card spot.  The team blew a big divisional lead on the Bills by losing 3 of their last 5 last year, coming from ahead to lose in the fourth quarter against both the Titans and the Bills.  The Dolphins' final three games included Dallas at home, at Baltimore, and at home against Buffalo.  

This year, the challenge will be there again down the stretch without question.  And McDaniel, his staff, and the leaders inside the locker room are going to have to figure out how to change that trend against some challenging foes.