What will the Miami Dolphins’ 2020 season look like? The Dolphins’ roster is drastically different than the last one that took the field in Foxborough against the New England Patriots for a successful final contest of 2019. Will it yield results on the field? This season will not be a true “evaluation” year as much as what 2019 was. But it will serve as a critical year of growth for Miami in their bid to transition from a rebuilding underdog into a young contender.
Here is our final forecast for the Miami Dolphins’ 2020 season!
Week 1: @ New England Patriots
The Dolphins have the advantage of familiarity with the Patriots’ coaching staff thanks to Brian Flores’ time in New England. But the Dolphins have a ton of new pieces to work with and have not had a lot of time to gel, especially up front on the offensive line against Bill Belichick’s pressure looks.
Prediction: Patriots – 20, Dolphins – 17 (0-1)
Week 2: vs. Buffalo Bills
The Bills have to come south to play in one of the toughest home-field climates in football. The Dolphins are wearing all-white for this game, which will put Buffalo in the baking hot South Florida sun — and after getting swept by the Bills last year, the Dolphins will be eager to grab a win here.
Prediction: Dolphins – 20, Bills – 17 (1-1)
Week 3: @ Jacksonville Jaguars
If you’re going to have to travel for a Thursday game, drawing the 2020 Jacksonville Jaguars as your road game is a good break. Jacksonville is much like the Dolphins last season, which gives the Dolphins a good bid to steal a road win.
Prediction: Dolphins – 28, Jaguars – 17 (2-1)
Week 4: vs. Seattle Seahawks
The Seahawks are consistently a strong football team but they’re not a team that is above playing down to competition from time to time. Having to come all the way across the country to play the Dolphins is a tough ask and the Dolphins’ added size in the trenches gives them the ability to go toe to toe with Seattle. A stunning home win to move the Dolphins to 3-1.
Prediction: Dolphins – 21, Seahawks – 20 (3-1)
Week 5: @ San Francisco 49ers
The Dolphins now get their turn to travel to the far side of the country and face the defending NFC Champions. The 49ers are deep in the trenches and have a top-tier ability to run the football. The Dolphins are a much improved team, but we’re still early in the season and we’re not here yet. A lack of points scored is becoming a concern for the Dolphins with Ryan Fitzpatrick at the helm.
Prediction: 49ers – 31, Dolphins – 17 (3-2)
Week 6: @ Denver Broncos
Another 17-point performance, another road loss for the Dolphins. Miami has a humid home field advantage but the Broncos have an altitude advantage that simply can’t be replicated. And given Miami’s 3-1 start, a loss here will prompt the Dolphins to turn to Tua Tagovailoa after this contest to take over as the team’s primary signal caller.
Prediction: Broncos – 24, Dolphins – 17 (3-3)
Week 7: vs. Los Angeles Chargers
The legend of Tua Tagovailoa begins with a home win and a 4th-quarter comeback win against the Chargers. Los Angeles has lost Derwin James on defense and Miami’s physical trench play will give the Chargers a challenge to stop the run and run the ball. If Tyrod Taylor is still starting, his conservative approach will play into the Dolphins’ hand.
Prediction: Dolphins – 24, Chargers – 20 (4-3)
Week 8: vs. Los Angeles Rams
If Miami hopes to win this game, they’ll need to score points. The good news is they’re well positioned to do so against the Rams by staying persistent running the ball and avoiding Jalen Ramsey in coverage. Double teams will be plentiful for Aaron Donald and the Rams’ stars and scrubs roster construction approach betrays them in this contest — Miami is at home and has more depth.
Prediction: Dolphins – 30, Rams – 27 (5-3)
Week 9: @ Arizona Cardinals
Between Chandler Jones, Budda Baker, Patrick Peterson and Isaiah Simmons, the Cardinals have enough defensive athletes to stand firm against Miami’s spacing offense. Offensively, the Dolphins will be challenged to box in Kyler Murray and contain one of the NFL’s best wide receivers, Deandre Hopkins. Perhaps this is a Kenyan Drake revenge game?
Prediction: Cardinals – 27, Dolphins – 26 (5-4)
Week 10: vs. New York Jets
The Jets are a team looking at a miserable forecast for 2020. The team lost several of their best players this offseason and are one of the league’s worst-coached and sloppiest teams. The Dolphins are at home and, given that they should have swept the Jets last season, should have this game in hand comfortably.
Prediction: Dolphins – 31, Jets – 17 (6-4)
Week 11: Bye Week
The Dolphins can lick their wounds with a late-season bye week and, surprisingly, a winning record. At 6-4 and a 3-1 stretch after installing Tua Tagovailoa into the starting lineup, the Dolphins are firmly in the hunt.
Week 12: @ New York Jets
Ahem…the Jets are a team looking at a miserable forecast for 2020. The team lost several of their best players this offseason and are one of the league’s worst-coached and sloppiest teams. There’s not a lot to get excited about for the Jets and Miami is suddenly looking like a potential postseason surprise.
Prediction: Dolphins – 27, Jets – 20 (7-4)
Week 13: vs. Cincinnati Bengals
Joe Burrow versus Tua Tagovailoa. The Bengals and Dolphins. A new rivalry budding? The Dolphins have a firm advantage on the offensive line as compared to the Bengals’ offensive line and Miami’s linebackers are decidedly better as well. Add in a home field advantage and a better coaching staff and Miami gets a close win.
Prediction: Dolphins – 21, Bengals – 20 (8-4)
Week 14: vs. Kansas City Chiefs
Miami has home field and throwback uniforms. That’s about where the advantages end for the Dolphins against the Super Bowl contenders. Miami can play and contest the Chiefs’ skill players — but they won’t contain them. The Dolphins get a taste of what life is like as an elite NFL team in this game.
Prediction: Chiefs – 35, Dolphins – 24 (8-5)
Week 15: vs. New England Patriots
Miami has split the season series with the Patriots more often than not as of late. With an early season loss behind them, Miami can gather a home win against the Patriots with more chemistry as compared to their Week 1 match up. With this win, Miami clinches their fourth winning season since 2005.
Prediction: Dolphins – 24, Patriots – 16 (9-5)
Week 16: @ Las Vegas Raiders
Miami’s late-season momentum falls short with a road loss to the Raiders. The Raiders are built physical on both sides of the football and the team’s elite offensive line will give the Raiders the chance to stay balanced and avoid Miami teeing off on QB Derek Carr. This loss hurts — but it isn’t a shoo-in loss.
Prediction: Raiders – 24, Dolphins – 20 (9-6)
Week 17: @ Buffalo Bills
The Bills are two years ahead of the Dolphins in their own rebuilding efforts. As a result, the team is better poised for January play than Miami — and the Bills hosting a January home game against the Dolphins is a tough ask, especially with a potential postseason bid on the line. The Bills are generally perceived to be a 10+ win team this season, so this game may or may not have divisional implications. If it doesn’t, perhaps the Bills sit their starters. But if this is a high-stakes game, the Bills are two years ahead and, since they’re home, better positioned to slam the door shut on the Dolphins.
Prediction: Bills – 30, Dolphins – 21 (9-7)
