Three 2026 Miami Dolphins matchups that would be worth a primetime slot for the storylines alone

Any Miami Dolphins selections for a primetime game in 2026 may be more about the storylines than the expected contest.

Kyle Crabbs — NFL National Writer
Add as preferred source on Google
January 27, 2026; El Segundo, California, USA; Los Angeles Chargers offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel speaks at introductory press conference at The Bolt. Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

It’s probably a safe assumption to expect little in the way of primetime opportunities for the 2026 Miami Dolphins. We’ll find out the full schedule this week. So temper your expectations now.

The book is out on the Fins. They’re in a rebuild. Those usually require some time and patience before getting back into a competitive window. And that usually doesn’t make for great standalone competition in year one. Perhaps this Dolphins team will outperform the consensus expectations. It’d be super fun if they did. But even with the expectations where they are, several of Miami’s 2026 opponents could make for good television based on the storylines alone. Or, as the kids are saying these days, for the vibes.

Three 2026 Miami Dolphins opponents who could be worth a primetime slot based off the storylines

January 27, 2026; El Segundo, California, USA; Los Angeles Chargers offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel. Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

The Los Angeles Chargers

Here’s to this year bringing the last of the Justin Herbert/Tua Tagovailoa discourse in South Florida. The Miami Dolphins have moved on, for better or for worse. They’ve also moved on from the man who helped put some zest into the argument for a while: Former Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel.

McDaniel was dismissed this offseason abruptly with the team mid-way through a general manager search. He promptly landed on his feet. With the Chargers. And the quarterback Miami passed on to draft Tua Tagovailoa, instead.

If you don’t think there’s television executives hoping to get to sell this storyline in McDaniel’s return to South Florida…I’m not saying this will be a primetime game. But I am saying the storyline has juice.

Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell reacts to a play.Junfu Han / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

The Detroit Lions

Speaking of former Miami Dolphins and their returns to South Florida. Dan Campbell was once the (interim) head coach of the Miami Dolphins. His final game as the man in charge of the Dolphins was a 20-10 boots to asses thumping of Bill Belichick, Tom Brady, and the New England Patriots. Campbell’s 6-10 Dolphins team doubled the Patriots up on yardage that day in Miami Gardens. And, shortly thereafter, Miami passed on giving Campbell the job full time.

Campbell has been back to Miami once. It came in 2017 as an assistant for Sean Payton’s Saints. And Campbell has served as the head coach against the Dolphins once, too. THat came in 2022, when Miami stormed back to beat the upstart Lions 31-27 in Detroit after falling behind 21-7.

But Campbell has never been back to Miami as a head coach since that win against the Patriots in 2015.

Green Bay Packers defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley, left, talks with head coach Matt LaFleur before their game against the Houston Texans Sunday, October 20, 2024 at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wisconsin.
Green Bay Packers defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley, left, talks with head coach Matt LaFleur. Mark Hoffman/Milwaukee Journal Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

The Green Bay Packers

It won’t take Miami Dolphins head coach Jeff Hafley a decade to return to his old stomping grounds as an opposing head coach. As a matter of fact, he’ll do it in his first season with the team.

Amid the “Packers South” jokes this winter, as Miami tabbed a general manager, a head coach, a starting quarterback, and several other coaches/assistants/scouts/players from Green Bay? There’s no shortage of student vs. the master storylines to tap into for this contest.

Related Articles