Kelly: Early Outlook and Prediction for Every Dolphins 2023 Game
The Miami Dolphins face one of the toughest NFL schedules this upcoming season as the franchise looks to produce its first back-to-back playoff berths since the 2000-01 seasons.
With the 2023 NFL schedule out, let’s go a little deeper to examine the plot lines and the possible outcomes we could experience in the upcoming season.
Week 1: at Los Angeles Chargers
This game is our Dan Marino vs. John Elway series. Tua Tagovailoa and Justin Herbert forever will be tied together because they went back-to-back in the 2020 NFL draft. Tagovailoa takes the edge in this one, benefiting from an healthy offensive line, and Miami’s strong West Coast fan base. Prediction: Win Record: 1-0
Week 2: at New England Patriots
The Patriots finally ruin Tagovailoa’s perfect record against Bill Belichick and New England after benefiting from a little Foxborough home cooking the refs usually provide the Patriots. Remember, the league is better when New England is still a power in the Northeast. Prediction: Loss Record: 1-1
Week 3: vs. Denver Broncos
New Dolphins defensive coordinator Vic Fangio still knows plenty of the personnel for his former team, and that gives Miami an edge against a Broncos team still finding its footing. It doesn’t hurt that Bradley Chubb has a breakout performance in his first game against his former team. Prediction: Win Record: 2-1
Week 4: at Buffalo Bills
Miami’s secondary isn’t at full strength because of some nagging injuries and Josh Allen is dropping dimes on the Dolphins defense in this one. The last time Miami beat the Bills in Buffalo was 2016, which shows how challenging it is to win this AFC East game on the road. Prediction: Loss Record: 2-2
Week 5: vs. New York Giants
This showdown between two of the NFL’s most aggressive offensive play-callers produces the highest-scoring game of the season. The Dolphins are fortunate enough to take advantage of the hot and humid South Florida climate, outlasting the Giants in the fourth quarter. Prediction: Win Record: 3-2
Week 6: vs. Carolina Panthers
Miami’s defense feasts on Bryce Young’s inexperience. Xavien Howard and Jalen Ramsey each pulls down an interception, reminding the world they’re still two of the NFL’s best cornerbacks. Prediction: Win Record: 4-2
Week 7: at Philadelphia Eagles
Alabama fans have waited four seasons for this showdown between Tagovailoa and Jalen Hurts, and it doesn’t disappoint anyone but Dolphins fans, who watch Miami’s offensive line get bullied by the Eagles defensive front. Prediction: Loss Record: 4-3
Week 8: vs. New England Patriots
The tables turn in this series, and Miami receives a bit of home cooking from the referees, which allows the Dolphins to deliver a fourth-quarter comeback win against the Patriots. Prediction: Win Record: 5-3
Week 9: at Kansas City Chiefs (Germany)
Patrick Mahomes uses this international game as a stage to elevate his worldwide profile, carving up the Dolphins defense on a day when Miami’s offense is handcuffed by a injury-decimated offensive line that allows Tagovailoa to get roughed up. Prediction: Loss Record: 5-4
Week 10: Bye
Week 11: vs. Las Vegas Raiders
By this point in the season, the Raiders have learned Jimmy Garoppolo isn’t that dude,and that things are beginning to unravel for head coach Josh McDaniels just like they did in his second season in Denver more than a decade ago. Miami pummels the Raiders on the ground to produce a 10-point win. Prediction: Win Record: 6-4
Week 12: at New York Jets
By this point in the season, Aaron Rodgers is past the growing pains and has New York’s offense purring. Miami’s offense struggles to keep pace on the road while the defense gets carved up by Rodgers and his weapons. Prediction: Loss Record: 6-5
Week 13: at Washington Commanders
Ron Rivera is fired the week before because the Commanders'd quarterback troubles have Washington lost in the wilderness. The team is turned over to Jake Fromm that week and the former Georgia standout is a disaster against Miami. Prediction: Win Record: 7-5
Week 14: vs. Tennessee Titans
Call it Ryan Tannehill’s revenge because the former Dolphins starting quarterback saves his best game of the season for his former team. Tannehill somehow finds a way to upstage Tagovailoa again. Prediction: Loss Record: 7-6
Week 15: vs. New York Jets
With a playoff berth on the line, Miami finally gets its act together, delivering a convincing win over a Jets squad that wilted on a humid December day in South Florida. Prediction: Win Record: 8-6
Week 16: vs. Dallas Cowboys
December football is when the wheat gets separated from the chaff, and the Dolphins use a fourth-quarter win over Dak Prescott’s Cowboys to make a case they are legitimate playoff contenders. Prediction: Win Record: 9-6
Week 17: at Baltimore Ravens
Lamar Jackson carves up the Dolphins defense on the ground, and through the air, accounting for 400 all-purpose yards in a win that locks in the Ravens' playoff berth and forces Miami to play a winner-takes-all AFC East showdown with the Bills the next week. Prediction: Loss Record: 9-7
Week 18: vs. Buffalo Bills
The Dolphins muster up every ounce of fight left in the team to dethrone the Bills, but fall short because of fourth-quarter heroics from Allen. The win produces Buffalo’s fourth straight AFC East division crown, but the Dolphins sneak into the playoffs because of tiebreakers. Prediction: Loss Record: 9-8
