The Dolphins Make Me Cry.com - Forums

I've included the predictions but they always crack me up this time of year. Strength of scheules rarely turn out correct and we don't even know who the QBs for teams like Indy and Cleveland will be let alone if players like Michael Penix Jr. will be studs. It's just too early to know much except that we play some cold games to end the season. and didn't get a favorable home schedule for September once again. 



Dolphins 2025 regular-season schedule

Week 1: Sept. 7 at Indianapolis Colts

Week 2: Sept. 14 vs. New England Patriots

Week 3: Sept. 18 at Buffalo Bills (TNF)

Week 4: Sept. 29 vs. New York Jets (MNF)

Week 5: Oct. 5 at Carolina Panthers

Week 6: Oct. 12 vs. Los Angeles Chargers

Week 7: Oct. 19 at Cleveland Browns

Week 8: Oct. 26 at Atlanta Falcons

Week 9: Oct. 30 vs. Baltimore Ravens (TNF)

Week 10: Nov. 9 vs. Buffalo Bills

Week 11: Nov. 16 vs. Washington Commanders (Madrid)

Week 12: BYE

Week 13: Nov. 30 vs. New Orleans Saints

Week 14: Dec. 7 at New York Jets

Week 15: Dec. 15 at Pittsburgh Steelers (MNF)

Week 16: Dec. 21 vs. Cincinnati Bengals (SNF)

Week 17: Dec. 28 vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Week 18: Jan. 3 or 4 at New England Patriots

Strength of schedule: The Dolphins are tied for the 11th-easiest schedule in the league (opponents had a 0.474 winning percentage in 2024).

Over/Under: 8.5 wins

Two Thursday night games?   Are you kidding me?

I see this part of the schedule as the critical part of the season. That's 3 tough opponents in a row, but all 3 are technically home games even if one is in Spain. Losing all 3 would really hurt their playoff chances so that can't happen, they need to win at least 1 of these 3 games and then hit the bye week for the stretch run. I think there are a lot of winnable games on the rest of the schedule.

It is a myth that hot weather favors home teams in warm climates.  While cold does favor cold weather teams heat doesn't benefit Miami.  However high heat has a negative impact for both teams the following week. 

If it is 110 degrees on Sept 14, it will have little to no impact on that game.  But it will benefit the Steelers on 9/21 when they play a NEP team that was more focused recovery than game planning during the prior week.  And it will really benefit the Bills on 9/18 when they play Dolphins that have still not recovered.

 

It's not a myth and I will die on that hill. I've been to too many September games in Miami Gardens to not believe it. I've seen teams like Super Bowl Champion Denver completely collapse by the end of the third quarter against a mediocre Miami team. It's not uncommon at all to see the opposing teams vomiting on the field and sidelines. Players get injured by "heat illness" or cramping.  Fans in the sun are literally carried out of the stadium all game because of dehydration not too mention the players get IVs during the game. Most teams cannot endure that torture for 4 quarters. We haven't had that advantage since Buffalo complained about it 3 years ago. Prior to that Ross requested we not have 1:00pm game here in September because of the heat. Never figured that one out.

I don't watch a lot of Miami games when they aren't playing NE, but I do recall one when I was a kid in which the announces were commenting that the New England Players seemed better prepared to play in the heat than the Dolphins as they showed the Miami sideline with multiple people taking oxygen. 

A road Thursday night game in Buffalo sucks, but probably gonna lose that one anyways. Then another Thursday night game against another tough opponent, Baltimore.  Probably should just play the second string in the Baltimore game and take the loss and prepare for Buffalo the week after.  Following the Buffalo Thursday night game with a Monday night Game, getting an extended break, is just a waste of a day off, these shouldn't follow each other.

At least they have winnable games in December and January, but that just leads to more disappointment.

JAX had to play in the September Miami heat last year, DEN the year before.
NE will have to this year.

"Fans in the sun are literally carried out of the stadium all game because of dehydration not too mention the players get IVs during the game."
Sounds like a pretty good reason!

Prior to the canopy, my understanding was that fans did not want to attend the early-season 1pm games.  I haven't heard anything about Ross requesting non-1pm games since the canopy went up.

I don't remember that at all. In fact, there is a reason you guys struggle in Miami even during some of our worst years.

Jax is a wash as they are a Florida team. No advantage there. Historically the fans never had an issue when the team was winning but yes, that was Ross' excuse. 

The canopy doesn't cover the whole stadium and in fact, much of the visitors side stays in the sun. The team sideline always does. there is a huge difference in temp between the two sides.

Where are the seats in the shade and sun at Hard Rock Stadium?
Generally, the seats in the shade at Hard Rock Stadium are located:

South Sideline (Home): Shaded on the Dolphins home side of the field
Upper Deck: Shaded in seats directly under the canopy roof
And the seats in the sun at Hard Rock Stadium are located:

North Sideline (Visitors): Sun soaked on the visitors’ side of the field
End Zones: Sunny in sections closer to the field

(https://shadedseats.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/hardrock-stadium-shadows-2.webp)

But it is not heat, because that happens in Nov/Dec too. 

Not Miami but  i just read this about Travis Kelce complaining about having to play in Brazil in September. It supports my point for sure as Miami is a little worse than Jax.

"There's just something about getting close to the equator, I don't want to put on a football uniform doing that," Kelce said. "I've been in Jacksonville in September, and that's (expletive) miserable."

- Travis Kelce

I found it interesting that Omar Kelly said he was surprised to find out the players love Thursday night games. Said they don't practice that week, you are typically playing a team you are very familiar with, and you get a long weekend. Said they treat is as like having extra bye weeks.

Are you claiming there is "no advantage" to being in the shade?

You’re absolutely right and I’d love to see our historical win/loss record at home in September.

We have tended to start out strong because of the advantage and collapse later in the year because we have to face cold weather teams.

I really wish we would play buffalo at home in September but as you said they bitched about it.

Yeah that’s insane.

I know lll be burned again but we should make the playoffs and have a shot at the division.

Just have to win the games we are favored too and and get a few upsets.

I can’t wait for football season.