Miami Dolphins' 2024 NFL Schedule: Release date, opponents, biggest games, and predictions

With the 2024 NFL Draft over, the biggest offseason event is now in our rearview mirror.  There will still be offseason activities and roster moves, but the offseason is about to hit a lull for awhile.  

Although, with that being said, there's still an event to come that has grown largely in popularity in recent years, and that's the NFL schedule release.  What was once a formality is now a full-fledged televised event with analysis and social media hype.  

With that being said, let's take a look at what we know so far about the Miami Dolphins' 2024 schedule. 

Dolphins' Schedule Release Date

The NFL teased during the draft that schedules will be released in May, although it didn't give us an exact date.  However, if history is any indication, it will go down during the second week of May.  The release dates over the last two years were May 12, 2022 and May 11, 2023.  

This will be supplemented with the Dolphins' full schedule when released. 

Home and Away Opponents

Games played at Hard Rock Stadium: Buffalo Bills, New York Jets, New England Patriots, Tennessee Titans, Jacksonville Jaguars, Arizona Cardinals, San Francisco 49ers, Las Vegas Raiders

Away games: Buffalo Bills, New York Jets, New England Patriots, Indianapolis Colts, Houston Texans, Los Angeles Rams, Seattle Seahawks, Cleveland Browns, Green Bay Packers

Biggest Games on the Dolphins' 2024 Schedule

vs. Buffalo Bills: This goes without saying, right?  The giant that the Dolphins cannot slay to reach the top of the AFC East suffered a number of roster losses, but they still have Josh Allen and enough still left on the roster to win the division again.  Have to beat them this year, particularly at home.  

vs. New York Jets: Provided Aaron Rodgers is back healthy this year, the Jets will be a handful for the Dolphins and every other team in the division.  Not saying they win it.  Just pointing out that they're going to be a factor.  The Jets-Dolphins rivalry should kick up a notch this fall. 

vs. San Francisco 49ers: The defending NFC champions will be a measuring stick for how far the Dolphins are from being on or close to the same level as the league's best.  The Dolphins weren't close to that ilk last year.  We'll see if the 2024 version is closer against the Niners. 

Predicting Primetime Matchups and Week 1/Week 18 opponents

Which games will be primetime viewing?

If you include the Thursday night football, the Black Friday game, Thanksgiving, Christmas, Sunday night games, and Monday Night Football, I will say the Dolphins get four primetime games including the Thursday night game. 

The Packers bring in a huge viewing audience, so it seems like that one will end up in front of a bunch of eyeballs. One or both of the matchups against the Bills and Jets could be in there.  The Houston Texans are a very exciting young team, so the Dolphins' high-flying offense against C.J. Stroud could be good for business for the league.  Lastly, the 49ers and Dolphins are two classic franchises with competing styles, so that could draw some significant viewing interest too. 

Who are the Week 1 and Week 18 opponents?

Given the league ends with divisional matchups and the Dolphins are division contenders, it seems like a pretty decent chance that the Jets or Bills will end up as the last game on the Dolphins' 2024 schedule.  Take your pick which one, home or away.  As far as the first, the slate could start off with either the Jets or Bills, or perhaps another interesting intra-conference foe.  Perhaps the Texans.  

Strength of Schedule (based off Vegas win totals, not 2023 record)

Warren Sharp of Sharp Football Analysis has a logical system where he bases teams' strengths of schedule based on Vegas' betting win totals for each team.  Given those odds take into account offseason moves, that's a much more logical system than going on the prior year's record, especially since the NFL is a cyclical league.  The draft picks haven't been factored in the foregoing chart, as Sharp hasn't update them post-draft yet.  As of now, the Dolphins have the eighth-easiest schedule in the league.