The Miami Dolphins went 8-9 last season, their fifth consecutive season with eight-plus wins, despite a myriad of injuries on both sides of the ball. Heading into the 2025 NFL season, head coach Mike McDaniel seems to be on the NFL coaching hot seat and potentially needs a playoff spot to keep his job.
Let’s dive into our game-by-game Dolphins schedule predictions.
Week 1 @ Indianapolis Colts: Win (1-0)
The Dolphins schedule opens with a chance at some revenge against the Indianapolis Colts. It will be the Jaylen Waddle and De’von Achane show early, but second-year edge rusher Chop Robinson delivers some key pressures. The duress created by the Dolphins’ front seven creates a pick-six, helping Miami walk out of the season-opener with a two-score victory.
- Prediction: Miami Dolphins 28, Indianapolis Colts 17
Week 2 vs New England Patriots: Win (2-0)
Miami’s humidity still provides a nice home-field advantage in September. It’ll prove helpful in Week 2 against the New England Patriots. With Stefon Diggs still not at 100 percent, the Patriots’ offense really won’t be able to take advantage of the Dolphins’ secondary either. After suspending a lot of time under the Miami sun, New England’ defense starts to tire and that’s when Achane puts the game on ice.
- Prediction: Miami Dolphins 24, New England Patriots 21
Week 3 @ Buffalo Bills: Loss (2-1)
While the Dolphins have the skill players to get into it with the Buffalo Bills, they still lack the talent and cohesion to hold up for all four quarters against this defensive front. Meanwhile, Keon Coleman will burn Miami multiple times downfield, setting up Josh Allen and James Cook for a lot of red-zone success. It’ll be a competitive game, but the better roster wins.
- Prediction: Buffalo Bills 31, Miami Dolphins 24
Week 4 vs New York Jets: Win (3-1)
Once again aided by the Miami humidity, the Dolphins jump out to a 3-1 start. With the New York Jets’ offense still trying to gel in a new system and with a lot of young personnel, Miami’s defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver takes advantage. Likewise, Jaylen Waddle comes through with his first 100-yard game of the season by exploiting matchups away from Sauce Gardner.
- Prediction: Miami Dolphins 27, New York Jets 21
Week 5 @ Carolina Panthers: Win (4-1)
The Dolphins’ schedule starts out fairly favorably, and they should have a great shot at coming out of it with a 4-1 record early. This will be the Tyreek Hill game, with the All-Pro wideout looking like his old self as he burns the Carolina Panthers‘ secondary for multiple 40-yard touchdowns. Bryce Young will make it interesting, but a critical sack late in the fourth quarter seals the Dolphins’ victory.
- Prediction: Miami Dolphins 34, Carolina Panthers 28
Week 6 vs Los Angeles Chargers: Loss (4-2)
High-end quarterbacks are going to have a field day with the Dolphins’ secondary. It also doesn’t help Miami that the Los Angeles Chargers have the tackle tandem to slow down Miami’s pass rush. That will make the biggest difference in this matchup, allowing Los Angeles to sustain a few more scoring drives in a tight game.
- Prediction: Los Angeles Chargers 27, Miami Dolphins 21
Week 7 @ Cleveland Browns: Win (5-2)
The Dolphins’ offense will likely struggle to create explosive plays against the Cleveland Browns defense. Fortunately for Miami, this can be a defensive-driven win. Cleveland simply doesn’t have the quarterback to consistently exploit the vulnerabilities in the Dolphins’ secondary, and its offensive line can be inconsistent. In a low-scoring game, Miami kills the clock late to ice away a seven-point win.
- Prediction: Miami Dolphins 17, Cleveland Browns 10
Week 8 @ Atlanta Falcons: Loss (5-3)
This will be a pivotal game on the Dolphins schedule this season and it’s a matchup that could go either way. Coming through with a win would mean a 6-2 record and a lot of momentum heading into a daunting second-half schedule. Unfortunately, we believe Michael Penix Jr. Bijan Robinson and Drake London will carve up the Dolphins’ defense. Tua Tagovailoa can make it a bit of a shootout, but the Falcons win in overtime.
- Prediction: Atlanta Falcons 31, Miami Dolphins 28 (OT)
Week 9 vs Baltimore Ravens: Loss (5-4)
Here’s where Miami’s defense really starts running into problems. It’s a slate of three consecutive matchups against MVP-caliber quarterbacks, starting with Lamar Jackson and the Baltimore Ravens. It will be close for a quarter and then the Ravens’ offense takes a two-score lead, allowing the defense to just pin its ears back and wreak havoc. Tagovailoa is picked off twice as Miami loses an ugly one.
- Prediction: Baltimore Ravens 35, Baltimore Ravens 24
Week 10 vs Buffalo Bills: Loss (5-5)
From one All-Pro quarterback to another, Miami has the misfortune of facing Josh Allen just a week after its defense gets torched by Jackson and Derrick Henry. Once again, Josh Allen and a superior Bills roster comfortably walk out with a victory.
- Prediction: Buffalo Bills 27, Miami Dolphins 17
Week 11 vs Washington Commanders: Loss (5-6)
The Dolphins’ secondary will prove to be their undoing this season. Kliff Kingsbury will provide Jayden Daniels with ample opportunities to attack Miami downfield, and more often than not, the second-year quarterback will convert on those chances. Once again, the Dolphins’ offense delivers a performance that merits a win, but it just won’t be enough because this team can’t stop the passing game.
- Prediction: Washington Commanders 34, Miami Dolphins 28
Week 13 vs New Orleans Saints: Win (6-6)
It’s not going to be a thrilling game to watch, but Miami claws its way back to the .500 mark. With the New Orleans Saints’ secondary incapable of sticking with Hill and Waddle, McDaniel’s offense goes to work. Miami also does a great job of pressuring rookie quarterback Tyler Shough, leading to a much-needed win.
- Prediction: Miami Dolphins 24, New Orleans Saints 14
Week 14 @ New York Jets: Loss (6-7)
On paper, the Dolphins are certainly a better team than the Jets. However, Miami will be making this trip to MetLife Stadium in December and this team’s dropoff late in the season is undeniable at this point in the McDaniel-Tagovailoa era. Garrett Wilson comes through with over 100 yards and a score, while the Jets’ defense wins with its front seven generating a lot of pressure and mixing its looks to disrupt the rhythm of the Dolphins’ offense.
- Prediction: New York Jets 20, Miami Dolphins 17
Week 15 @ Pittsburgh Steelers: Win (7-7)
Miami snaps its slump. It’s the Dolphins’ pass rush that sets the tone in this one, sacking Aaron Rodgers three times and forcing an interception. Short fields and one extra possession set up Miami’s ground game, proving just enough in a momentum-changing victory.
- Prediction: Miami Dolphins 24, Pittsburgh Steelers 21
Week 16 vs Cincinnati Bengals: Win (8-7)
It would be the biggest win of the Dolphins’ season and feel like a turning point that gives the team a real shot at making the playoffs. The Cincinnati Bengals offensive line struggles early, opening the door for Miami to take an early lead. Joe Burrow gets his chances eventually versus the Dolphins’ secondary, but the effort falls just short in a high-scoring shootout.
- Prediction: Miami Dolphins 38, Cincinnati Bengals 35
Week 17 vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Loss (8-8)
Baker Mayfield, Chris Godwin, Mike Evans and Emeka Egbuka just prove to be far too much for Miami in this Week 17 draw. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ offensive line gives Mayfield a clean pocket for most of the day, with Evans and Godwin both finding the end zone in a blowout victory.
- Prediction: Tampa Bay Buccaneers 35, Miami Dolphins 21
Week 18 @ New England Patriots: Loss (8-9)
If the dominoes fall a certain way, a Week 18 victory gets the Dolphins into the playoffs. Instead, a January trip to the frigid Gillette Stadium ends the Dolphins’ season in heartbreak. McDaniel will keep his job, with the offense showing more consistency in 2025, but the secondary is the Achilles’ heel that takes this club down.
- Prediction: New England Patriots 27, Miami Dolphins 21
