How many games in the Dolphins’ schedule will they win in 2021? The back end of a season is crunch time in the NFL. So how a team performs down the stretch makes their schedule that much more important.
In my previous article, I looked at the first nine games of the Dolphins’ schedule in 2021. I predicted them to go 4-5.
How will the final eight games of the Dolphins’ schedule will they win?
Week 10: vs. the Baltimore Ravens (Thursday Night Football)
Miami faces a shortened week with a trip to Baltimore on Thursday Night Football.
The Ravens are one of the contenders for the AFC with the talent of their quarterback Lamar Jackson and the talent they have on defense, namely Calais Campbell and Patrick Queen.
Jackson’s ability to run will cause problems for a Miami defense that was 16th against the run in 2020.
It is unclear how Tua Tagovailoa will progress throughout the 2021 season by the time this game comes around.
Things may change before the trade deadline, but Baltimore may have too much for Miami at the time of writing.
Prediction: Ravens Win
Week 11: at the New York Jets
The Jets drafted well in 2021 but there are still massive areas for improvement.
Zach Wilson and Alijah Vera-Tucker are two brilliant picks, alongside a new head coach in Robert Saleh who impressed during his time as a coach for the San Francisco 49ers.
However, Miami is further ahead in its rebuild. With the speedy wideout draft pick Jaylen Waddle alongside DeVante Parker, Will Fuller, and Mike Gesicki, the Dolphins will cause huge problems for the jets secondary, who are still trying to replace Jamal Adams.
Prediction: Miami Win
Week 12: vs the Carolina Panthers
Carolina is one of the more up-and-coming teams, with an impressive and exciting head coach in Matt Rhule.
He will be going into his second season as head coach, eager to improve their 5-11 record in 2020.
We will see the true Sam Darnold now he is away from an Adam Gase system. Whether this is a good performing quarterback or not is yet to be determined.
If Carolina get the Darnold we saw in New York, this will be a much easier game for Miami. On the other hand, if Darnold has a resurgence for the Panthers, this could cause the Dolphins issues.
Running back Christian McCaffrey will cause issues for the run defense should Darnold struggle, with draft picks Chubba Hubbard and Spencer Brown likely to fill in should McCaffrey have the same health issues we saw in 2020.
Miami’s secondary will need to be at their best to stop Robby Anderson, who had an excellent 2020 campaign.
Miami should win, but this could be the Dolphins’ most narrow of winning margins in 2021.
Prediction: Miami Win
— DolphinsTalk.com (@DolphinsTalk) May 20, 2021
Week 13: vs the New York Giants
The Giants acquired a wide receiver plenty of Dolphins fans wanted in Free Agency in Kenny Golladay. The addition of him and the risk-free addition of Bengals bust John Ross can provide some speed on the Giants offense.
Saquon Barkley will hope for an injury-free 2021, something that could be a massive threat for any team that faces Joe Judge’s team in 2021.
Daniel Jones has come under fire ever since the moment he was drafted sixth overall in 2019. However, the Giants’ organisation is doing everything they can to help Jones succeed. This is evident in the Kadarius Toney pick 20th overall and in their public confirmation that they wanted Devonta Smith.
One of the draft’s biggest steals was when the Giants picked up defensive end Azeez Ojulari in the second round. The Georgia edge rusher recorded 12.5 sacks during his final season in college.
Miami’s offensive line are going to need to protect Tua at all costs from both Ojulari and Leonard Williams, who recorded 11.5 sacks for the Giants in 2020.
Prediction: Miami Win
Week 14: BYE
This bye will be bittersweet for the Dolphins. If the predictions made come true, then this bye will come with Miami on a three-game winning streak. However, this is also a perfect time for a bye if a team is looking to get to the playoffs and further.
It will give players time to rest before the final push in the season.
Week 15: vs. the New York Jets
This will be Miami’s third game in a row against a New York team. The Dolphins will be at home to the Jets and nothing will have changed since the game in Week 12.
Prediction: Miami Win
ICYMI: https://t.co/ZKuAnc8z9x
— DolphinsTalk.com (@DolphinsTalk) May 20, 2021
Week 16: at the New Orleans Saints (Monday Night Football)
This game all depends on New Orleans’ quarterback situation. If Drew Brees was in his prime then this would be an easy Saints win. Now that Brees has retired, it will likely be either Taysom Hill or Jameis Winston who lineup under centre for the Saints.
Jameis Winston will give Miami more issues than Taysom Hill, who is yet to prove he can be a franchise QB. Winston was also an interception machine for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and will hope to perform better under Sean Payton.
With Cameron Jordan on the defensive line, Alvin Kamara at running back, and Michael Thomas at wide receiver, this presents on paper a tough challenge for the Dolphins.
Despite this, the uncertain quarterback situation will haunt the Saints in their first season post-Brees.
Prediction: Miami Win
Week 17: at the Tennessee Titans
This is where Miami’s five-game winning streak will come to an end. Tennessee has a running back beast in Derrick Henry, receiver A.J Brown, quarterback Ryan Tannehill and a brilliant head coach in Mike Vrabel. This is a team that should have gone a lot further in the playoffs last season.
They have also had a great offseason. Bud Dupree’s season ended last season with the Pittsburgh Steelers 11-0. They lost their next three games and went out in the wildcard to the Cleveland Browns despite winning the AFC North.
He was a massive miss for the Steelers and will be a massive addition for the Titans. Cornerback Caleb Farley, who fell in the draft in 2021 due to injury concerns, is a high-risk high reward player.
Miami will struggle to be able to cope with Henry in this game and could be in for a long day.
Prediction: Titans Win
Week 18: vs the New England Patriots
Unlike in Week One, Cam Newton is likely to be a backup to Mac Jones, a very different player.
Jones may still be in the development stage dependent on how New England’s season goes. He is a pocket passer, who may struggle to find open receivers with the secondary talent of Byron Jones and particularly Xavien Howard.
The Patriots’ defense will once again be an area to be wary of, but Tua showed in the home game last season that he can be elusive in the pocket and secure those rushing touchdowns.
New England will be a much different proposition in 2021 than in 2020, but Miami should go into this game at the Hard Rock Stadium with plenty of confidence.
Prediction: Miami Win
These results would leave the Dolphins with a 10-7 record. This will likely mean the Dolphins either edge in as a wildcard team, or narrowly miss out in a similar fashion to the 2020 season.
Missing out once again would be a bitter pill to take, but equally, a playoff spot would signal a brilliant season. This would be another great step in the team’s progression under Brian Flores, one of the best young head coaches in the entire NFL.
