Throughout the day, everyone with a keyboard and a stable internet connection were leaking various dates, times, and matchups for the upcoming 2021 NFL season. Heck, even the official team accounts got into the action, posting hilarious threads— some even compared their 2021 opponents to pop tarts.
We tried our best to keep up with all of the latest news and rumors, but now the clock reads 8:00 PM, and that means the Miami Dolphins have OFFICIALLY released their 2021 NFL schedule.
Here are what the Dates/Times look like:
Preseason
Week 1 | @ Chicago Bears – 8/14 – (1:00 PM EST)
Week 2 | vs Atlanta Falcons – 8/21- (7:00 PM EST)
Week 3 | @ Cincinnati Bengals – 8/29 – (4:00 PM EST)
Regular Season
Week 1 | @ New England Patriots – 9/12- (4.25 PM EST)
Week 2 | vs Buffalo Bills – 9/19- (1:00 PM EST)
Week 3 | @ Las Vegas Raiders – 9/26 – (4:05 PM EST)
Week 4 | vs Indianapolis Colts – 10/3 – (1:00 PM EST)
Week 5 | @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers – 10/10 – (1:00 PM EST)
Week 6 | @ Jacksonville Jaguars – 10/17- (9:30 AM EST) LONDON
Week 7 | vs Atlanta Falcons – 10/24- (1:00 PM EST)
Week 8 | @ Buffalo Bills – 10/31- (1:00 PM EST)
Week 9 | vs Houston Texans – 11/7- (1:00 PM EST)
Week 10 | vs Baltimore Ravens – 11/11- (8:20 PM EST) THURSDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL
Week 11 | @ New York Jets – 11/21- (1:00 PM EST)
Week 12 | vs Carolina Panthers- 11/28- (1:00 PM EST)
Week 13 | vs New York Giants – 12/05 – (1:00 PM EST)
Week 14 | BYE
Week 15 | vs New York Jets – TBD
Week 16 | @ New Orleans Saints – 12/27 – (8:15 PM EST) MONDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL
Week 17 | @ Tennessee Titans – 1/2- (1:00 PM EST)
Week 18 | vs New England Patriots – 1/9- (1:00 PM EST)
In total, the Miami Dolphins received three primetime games (I’m counting the London game!), which is a lot better than the lone Thursday Night matchup vs. the Jacksonville Jaguars from a season ago.
Speaking of Jacksonville, Brian Flores’ Dolphins will travel to London in Week 6 (Oct. 17) to take on Urban Meyer’s new-look Jaguars—in what might be the start of a new in-state rivalry. I’m 100% in favor of this, especially considering the Jags are the team forfeiting a true home game, and we know the Dolphins have a strong following over the pond. Tua vs. Lawrence should be awesome.
Miami will also face off vs. the New Orleans Saints on the road on Monday Night Football (Dec.27) and the Baltimore Ravens on Thursday Night Football (Nov.11). The last time Miami played the Saints on MNF (2013), the team lost 38-17, falling to 3-1 on the season. The rest of that year was forgettable.
As for the Ravens, I’m going to pretend Miami’s week 1 loss to Baltimore in Brian Flores’ first season never happened, but that still doesn’t make the Dolphins’ recent history vs. the Ravens any better. The Miami Dolphins are 2-8 in their last ten games vs. the Baltimore Ravens—one of those games being the iconic 2007 thriller where Cleo Lemon connected with Greg Camarillo in overtime to get Miami’s first and only win of the season.
Divisional matchups might be a little easier this year, as the team won’t have any late-December games on the road—as Sean discussed in his piece earlier today. But playing the New England Patriots in Foxborough Week 1 AND THEN closing the season out vs. the New England Patriots is extremely fitting. And reminds me of this iconic quote from Ric Flair—
“To be the man, you have to beat the man.”
I’m excited. Now we just need to wait the long and excruciating four months.
With the Miami Dolphins 2021 NFL schedule officially revealed, what games are you most looking forward to this season? Do you plan on attending any games? Could the Week 18 matchup vs. New England be for the AFC title?
