All Dolphins

Connecting the Dots for Dolphins Schedule Nuggets

The Miami Dolphins could find out their 2024 regular season schedule this week

Alain Poupart

Jevon Holland and his pick-six at MetLife Stadium last season
Jevon Holland and his pick-six at MetLife Stadium last season / Chris Pedota / USA TODAY NETWORK
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The NFL hasn't announced its 2024 regular season schedule yet, nor has it even announced when the release date will be.

But that hasn't stopped speculation from popping up about things like the number of prime-time games each team, like the Miami Dolphins, will get.

While that's more conjecture based on a team's popularity and expected performance next season, there are some clues when it comes to a couple of specific weeks for the Miami Dolphins.

COULD DOLPHINS CLOSE ON THE ROAD AGAINST THE JETS?

Let's start with the end, specifically the Dolphins' Week 18 matchup.

What we do know for sure is that based on the scheduling formula that's been in place since 2010, it will be against an AFC East opponent.

In the 14 seasons the format has been in place, the Dolphins have faced every scenario possible for a season finale except for one: Dolphins at New York Jets.

The teams have faced each other four times in the final week of the regular season in that span, but every time in Miami.

Then we add the fact the Dolphins closed at home each of the past three seasons — against the Buffalo Bills last year, against the Jets in 2022 and against the New England Patriots in 2021 — and maybe the law of average kicks in.

Of course, this is where we could point out that the NFL did give the Dolphins five consecutive finales at home from 2013-17, so four in a row wouldn't be unprecedented.

TAYLOR SWIFT TAKES OVER HARD ROCK STADIUM

More of a strong likelihood is the Dolphins being on the road or on their bye in Week 7.

And that will be because of Taylor Swift.

She will be performing at Hard Rock Stadium three consecutive nights, Friday Oct. 18 through Sunday, Oct. 20, so no Dolphins home game on those days. And it's hard to envision the Dolphins being given a Thursday prime-time home game the night before the first of her three concerts.

For reference purposes, the Dolphins haven't had a bye scheduled that early in the season since 2019 when their bye came in Week 5. The Dolphins did end up with their bye in Week 7 in 2020, but that was the result of the NFL shuffling the schedule after the start of the regular season because of the complications caused by COVID-19.

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Alain Poupart

ALAIN POUPART

Alain Poupart is the publisher/editor of AllDolphins.com and co-host of the All Dolphins Podcast. Alain has covered the Miami Dolphins on a full-time basis since 1989 for various publications and media outlets, including Dolphin Digest, The Associated Press, the Dolphins team website, and the Fan Nation Network (part of Sports Illustrated). In addition to being a credentialed member of the Miami Dolphins press corps, Alain has covered three Super Bowls (for NFL.com, Football News and the Montreal Gazette), the annual NFL draft, the Senior Bowl, and the NFL Scouting Combine. During his almost 40 years in journalism, which began at the now-defunct Miami News, Alain has covered practically every sport at one time or another, from tennis to golf, baseball, basketball and everything in between. The career also included time as a copy editor, including work on several books such as "Still Perfect," an inside look at the Miami Dolphins' 1972 perfect season. A native of Montreal, Canada, whose first language is French, Alain grew up a huge hockey fan but soon developed a love for all sports, including NFL football. He has lived in South Florida since the 1980s.