NFL executives and coaches confirm one of your worst suspicions about the Miami Dolphins’ 2026 NFL season

The 2026 Miami Dolphins season is especially unforgiving in one major way.

Kyle Crabbs — NFL National Writer
Add as preferred source on Google
Sep 12, 2024; Miami Gardens, Florida, USA; Miami Dolphins linebacker Jordyn Brooks (20) pressures Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen (17) the second half at Hard Rock Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jasen Vinlove-Imagn Images

The Miami Dolphins‘ 2026 season is stocked with plenty of adversity. Miami’s own in-house operation is in the midst of a sweeping change. The salary cap is loaded with past debt. And it all makes for a challenging year ahead.

But then you look at the schedule. And while it’s true that no team is the same year over year, Miami is certainly facing their share of 2025 heavyweights. And, thanks to a poll from ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler about the top quarterbacks in the NFL in 2026, that suspicion lingering in your mind about Miami’s 2026 schedule is more affirmed than ever. The 2026 quarterback gauntlet is a steep hill to climb.

NFL executives and coaches confirm your suspicions about the Miami Dolphins’ 2026 NFL season

Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid quarterback Patrick Mahomes
Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15) and Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid pre game against the Jets at MetLife Stadium.USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect

Two games against Buffalo and Josh Allen. Allen was voted as the No. 1 overall quarterback in the league in the ESPN poll. The Dolphins’ first home game of the season is against the No. 3 quarterback — Kansas City Chiefs’ Patrick Mahomes. Their next home game? The No. 4 quarterback, Joe Burrow.

The Dolphins are also scheduled to face every quarterback ranked 7th through 10th in the ESPN poll. Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert, New England’s Drake Maye (twice), and NFC North signal callers Jared Goff and Caleb Williams.

In total, it’s nine games on a 17-game schedule against quarterbacks ranked in the top-10 this season by NFL executives, coaches, and scouts. On one hand, you’d love to see a little more forgiveness on the schedule. But on the other hand, a team getting coddled with a softer schedule isn’t going to make them any better in the long run. And, additionally, you also never know what injuries are going to come down the pipeline. So yes, the 2026 quarterback gauntlet is brutal. But this young Dolphins team is either going to rise to the occasion or be better for it. As unpleasant as that may sound here and now.

Related Articles