The NFL sends the Miami Dolphins a clear message with their 2026 schedule
The NFL doesn’t leave much room for imagination about the Miami Dolphins’ expectations with their 2026 schedule.
The Miami Dolphins are a team that not many are expecting much from in 2026.
Miami has a promising future under the leadership of head coach Jeff Hafley and general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan. But the reality is Miami is playing this season with one hand tied behind their back. Over 60% of this year’s salary cap allotment is being eaten by players who are no longer on the Dolphins’ roster. That’s a tough way to compete across a 17 game schedule. Coach Hafley and his team will put their best foot forward regardless. But with the 2026 schedule now released, the NFL has sent a clear message to Miami about the expectations of their football team.
Miami has been awarded zero primetime games this season.
Miami Dolphins completely left off primetime schedule in 2026
Zero. Zip. Zada. Zilch. None! Not a throwaway Thursday Night Football contest against a division rival. Not a compelling revenge game matchup or a reunion spotlight between all of the former Green Bay Packers now in Miami and Green Bay themselves. The NFL gave this Miami Dolphins teams zero standalone products.
Granted, the Miami Dolphins have a number of games in the 4PM slate on Sundays, which gives them a larger audience than the logjam at 1PM. But every game the Miami Dolphins are scheduled to play this season is set to be played on a Sunday afternoon. (Barring flex scheduling.) That is quite the statement of what the schedule makers seem to think of Miami’s upcoming outlook this season.
The Dolphins will have every opportunity to prove them wrong, of course. They’ll get a few opportunities for a declarative statement early this season with games against the San Francisco 49ers, Kansas City Chiefs, and Cincinnati Bengals in the first five weeks of the season. Win a few of those and the narrative will shift real quick. But for now, the NFL schedule decision makers have left little imagination for their perception of the 2026 Dolphins.
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