Just because the 2016 Miami Dolphins will be headed to the postseason as one of the two wild-cards in the AFC, doesn’t mean fans can’t look ahead to the 2017 season. The schedule for next season won’t be out for a few months, but the Dolphins opponents for 2017 have already been determined.
Here are the teams the Dolphins will play in 2017:
The Bold indicates playoff teams
Home opponents: Buffalo Bills, New England Patriots, New York Jets, Oakland Raiders, Tennessee Titans, Denver Broncos, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, New Orleans Saints (in London)
Away opponents: Buffalo Bills, New England Patriots, New York Jets, Kansas City Chiefs, Carolina Panthers, Atlanta Falcons, San Diego Chargers, Baltimore Ravens
It appears the Dolphins will have a tough road if they want to return to the playoffs next season. The team will play four 2016 playoff teams and it is possible the Dolphins will play nine teams that had eight wins or more in 2016.
Miami will play the AFC West, which has three teams with at least eight wins or more this season.
They will also play the NFC South, which not only has a division winner in the Falcons but an up-and-coming Buccaneers team. Carolina had a disappointing 2016 season, but they could return to the form that won them three straight division titles from 2013-2015.
Miami will also have to travel to Baltimore again this season to take on the Ravens. On December 4, Baltimore crushed Miami 38-6 at M&T Bank Stadium. This will be the fifth straight season that the Dolphins and Ravens have played each other in the regular season.
Another trip to the west coast is also in store for the Dolphins as they will travel to take on the Chargers. With the uncertainty of the team’s future in San Diego, the Chargers may be playing the Dolphins in the Los Angeles area next season.
Arrowhead Stadium is arguably one of the toughest places to play in the NFL and the Dolphins will be traveling there for the first time since 2011. Kansas City still could win the AFC West and have a first round bye, so this game will not be easy by any means. Miami will also host the Raiders, who along with the Chiefs made the playoffs and could win the AFC West.
Miami will also have to give up another home game as they will travel to London to play the New Orleans Saints in either Week 3 or Week 4. The 2020 Super Bowl will be played at Hard Rock Stadium and the NFL requires any team that wants to host a Super Bowl to give up a home to play in London, so this was expected. This will be the fourth time the Dolphins have played in London and the third time they’ve given up a home game.
Also on the Dolphins home schedule is a rematch against the Tennessee Titans. Earlier this season, the Titans defeated the Dolphins 30-17 on October 9 as the final score wasn’t close even that close. This was the game that dropped the Dolphins to 1-4 and was the final game they would lose before their shocking six-game winning streak that would help propel them to the postseason.
