We already knew which opponents the Dolphins would face in 2011, but tonight we learned when they would play those teams. The 2011 NFL season is still about five months away and who knows how long the lockout will continue to jeopardize the year. But the new schedule gives the Dolphins a clean slate and a renewed sense of optimism after the bitter taste last year’s 7-9 record left in our mouths. Let’s take a look at the brand new schedule.
Week 1: Monday, Sep. 12 7:00 p.m.
Dolphins vs. Patriots
Week 2: Sunday, Sep. 18 4:15 p.m.
Dolphins vs. Texans
Week 3: Sunday, Sep. 25 1:00 p.m.
Dolphins at Browns
Week 4: Sunday, Oct. 02 4:15 p.m.
Dolphins at Chargers
Week 5: Bye
Week 6: Monday, Oct. 17 8:30 p.m.
Dolphins at Jets
Week 7: Sunday, Oct. 23 1:00 p.m.
Broncos at Dolphins
Week 8: Sunday, Oct. 30 1:00 p.m.
Dolphins at Giants
Week 9: Sunday Nov. 06 1:00 p.m.
Dolphins at Chiefs
Week 10: Sunday, Nov. 13 1:00 p.m.
Redskins at Dolphins
Week 11: Sunday, Nov. 20 1:00 p.m.
Bills at Dolphins
Week 12: Thursday, Nov. 24 4:15 p.m.
Dolphins at Cowboys
Week 13: Sunday, Dec. 04 1:00 p.m.
Raiders at Dolphins
Week 14: Sunday, Dec. 11 1:00 p.m.
Eagles at Dolphins
Week 15: Sunday, Dec. 18 1:00 p.m.
Dolphins at Bills
Week 16: Saturday, Dec. 24 1:00 p.m.
Dolphins at Patriots
Week 17: Sunday, Jan. 01 1:00 p.m.
Jets at Dolphins
The first thing that stands out is obviously the big Monday Night Football opener Week 1 against the Pats and the other MNF game Week 6 at the Jets. For the second year in a row the NFL has given the Dolphins a golden opportunity to make a strong early season push in the AFC East race on primetime. Last year Miami squandered away a great opportunity to jump out to any early lead in the division with back-to-back losses to the Jets and Patriots at home on primetime. They surely can’t afford to the same in 2011 if they want to be a legitimate contender in one of the league’s toughest divisions.
Thanksgiving provides another exciting opportunity for the Dolphins. In a game that has provided some memorable moments in years past, the Dolphins get to travel to Dallas to play the Cowboys on Thanksgiving. Football on Thanksgiving is one of the league’s most meaningful traditions, and it’s always more special when the Dolphins get to be a part of that.
On a concerning note, the Dolphins will have a difficult road in the season’s final three weeks. The Dolphins will face all three of their AFC East rivals in consecutive weeks and will be forced to travel to Buffalo in Week 15 and to Foxboro in Week 16, games that figure to produce frigid conditions if not snowstorms.
In what is basically a meaningless statistic, the Dolphins have the 11th hardest schedule in 2011, as their opponents were a combined 132-124 in 2010.
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