The NFL schedule release has become a major event in the football calendar, and this year's announcement on Thursday, May 14, promises plenty of intrigue for Miami Dolphins fans. According to analyst Warren Sharp, the Dolphins are projected to face the second-toughest schedule in the league based on opponents' win-loss records. That means every game will count, and the team will need to be at its best from Week 1.
Before the full schedule drops, the NFL will announce its International Games on Wednesday, May 13, at 9 a.m. ET on NFL Network's "Good Morning Football." There's a strong possibility the Dolphins could be heading to Mexico City to face the San Francisco 49ers, adding an exciting international flavor to their season.
As usual, Miami will play their AFC East rivals—Buffalo, New England, and the New York Jets—twice each. Beyond that, the home slate features some heavy hitters: the Kansas City Chiefs, Los Angeles Chargers, Cincinnati Bengals, Chicago Bears, and Detroit Lions. On the road, the Dolphins will travel to face the Denver Broncos, Las Vegas Raiders, Indianapolis Colts, Green Bay Packers, Minnesota Vikings, and the aforementioned 49ers (potentially in Mexico City).
The schedule release will also reveal how the NFL views Miami in terms of national television exposure—a key indicator of the team's perceived star power and competitiveness. But beyond the primetime slots, the Dolphins have a critical concern: rebuilding their cornerback position. That's no small task given the caliber of quarterbacks they'll face.
Here's a look at the 14 signal-callers Miami is scheduled to face, ranked by The Palm Beach Post:
At the top of the list is Josh Allen, who holds a commanding 13-3 career record against the Dolphins. Justin Herbert follows closely, with a 2-2 mark against Miami. The Dolphins will also face a former Green Bay defensive coordinator in Jeff Hafley, now leading an opponent's defense. Meanwhile, New England's Drake Maye made headlines by leading the Patriots to Super Bowl LIX in just his second season. On the other end of the spectrum, Geno Smith has a 3-2 record against Miami, and one quarterback posted a career-low QBR of 47.2 in five starts with Arizona in 2025.
With such a challenging schedule ahead, the Dolphins will need breakout performances from emerging stars like Chop Robinson to stay competitive. Stay tuned as the full 2026 slate is revealed—this is shaping up to be a season that tests every facet of the team.