The 2026 NFL schedule is finally here, and for Miami Dolphins fans, it's a mixed bag of challenges and opportunities. With 17 games spread across 18 weeks, the Dolphins are facing a tough road ahead—and the league seems to have already written them off.

For the first time in recent memory, Miami has zero nationally televised or standalone games. That's a clear signal the NFL doesn't expect the Dolphins to be a major draw this season. FanDuel Sportsbook agrees, setting the team's over/under win total at just 4.5. The odds are slightly in favor of the under (-130), meaning the betting world isn't holding its breath for a breakout year. But can Miami prove the doubters wrong?

The Dolphins have one of the toughest schedules in the league, and it starts with a brutal opening stretch. Miami kicks off the season with back-to-back road games—but there's a silver lining. Both games are in the Pacific time zone, starting with the Raiders and then the 49ers. The team is expected to stay out west between games, cutting down on cross-country flights. That's a smart move for a squad that will log the most air miles in the NFL this season without a single international game.

Speaking of Week 2, there's an interesting twist: Bruno Mars is scheduled to perform in Miami the Friday and Saturday nights before that game. That likely explains why the Dolphins are on the road—no home game could be squeezed in around the concerts.

Week 3 brings the home opener, and it's a big one: the Kansas City Chiefs come to town. The Chiefs are coming off a disappointing 2025 campaign (they finished 6-11), so this early-season matchup gives Miami a chance to use the South Florida heat and humidity to their advantage. At the very least, it'll be a lot more comfortable than that freezing playoff game in Kansas City a couple of years ago.

But the road doesn't get easier. In Week 4, Miami heads to Minnesota to face the Vikings. That's a rough start to the season, but if the Dolphins can weather this storm, they might just surprise everyone.