Breaking Down Every Game on the Miami Dolphins' 2011 Schedule

The Miami Dolphins' season-opener is only six weeks away.

Crazy, right?

Now that free agency is winding down to a close, it's time to start peering ahead toward the regular season.

The Dolphins have been smacked with a daunting slate of games, but now that Reggie Bush and Kevin Burnett have joined the roster, Miami can match up more favorably with many of the teams they will face. 

In 2011, the Dolphins will play the NFC (B)East and the AFC West, with the Browns and Texans sprinkled in between. With a top-flight defense and an offense loaded with talent, Miami can match up with virtually every single team on the schedule; however, if Chad Henne (or Matt Moore) can't play at a respectable level, all hope may be lost. 

Week 1: New England Patriots (Monday Night Football)

Does it get any better than this?

A bitter AFC East rivalry takes center stage in the first game of the annual Week 1 Monday Night doubleheader. Both the Dolphins and Patriots have undergone facelifts since they last met. Miami has completely revamped their offense, and the Patriots, rebounding from a 14-2 season, added Chad Ochocinco and Albert Haynesworth—two potentially major additions. 

This game definitely leans in New England's favor because they are the superior team. Miami also has an influx of new players who might need time to form chemistry and cohesiveness. The Dolphins traditionally play the Pats well, and this game might be closer than most anticipate, but New England has a clear-cut advantage.  

Week 2: Houston Texans

The Miami Dolphins have never defeated the Houston Texans. That factoid alone should strike fear in the 'Fins.

But Houston also boasts one of the league's most lethal offenses, bolstered their Achilles heel by signing Johnathan Joseph and is under immense pressure to make the playoffs this season. 

The Texans will be playing with a chip on their shoulder all season. Fortunately, this game will be outdoors in Miami rather than the cozy confines of Houston's dome. This bodes well for the Dolphins' run-heavy scheme, but Houston's attack may prove overwhelming.

Week 3: @ Cleveland Browns

Last season, a loathsome Browns squad shocked the Dolphins in Week 8. The game was basically a summation of Miami's disappointing season—they lost 13-10 at home, and Chad Henne was awful.

But Cleveland is a very young team that just installed a new head coach and offensive coordinator. They figure to endure plenty of growing pains this season and digress accordingly. So long as the Dolphins can keep Peyton Hillis (the most overrated player of all time) in check, they shouldn't have any problems cruising past the Browns. 

Week 4: @ San Diego Chargers

Since Norv Turner took over as head coach of the San Diego Chargers in 2007, the team traditionally stumbles out of the gate; in 2007, the Bolts started 1-3, in 2008 they started 4-8, in 2009 they started 2-3 and in 2010 they started 2-5.

There's no telling if San Diego will get off to another lackluster start in 2011, but history would suggest they will—and the Dolphins must hope so.

The Chargers are poised to make a deep playoff run behind a roster stocked with blue chip talent. Miami must pack up and travel to the West Coast for this game, and that obviously works in San Diego's favor. However, the Dolphins have won seven of the teams' last eight meetings, and they could sneak up on the Chargers again, assuming Vonate Davis and Sean Smith can shut down Philip Rivers and Vincent Jackson.

Week 6: @ New York Jets (Monday Night Football)

As if an opening week Monday Night game against one AFC East rival wasn't dramatic enough, Miami will hike up to Manhattan for their second prime time game of the 2011 season. This marks the third straight season the Dolphins and Jets will meet on Monday Night, but this is the first time in New York.

Miami blew a huge sigh of relief when Nnamdi Asomugha chose Philly over New York. Moreover, the Jets are aging rapidly, and their offense looks iffy at best without Braylon Edwards and a dicey running back corps. The Dolphins will have a week to rest up for this game, and not only do they stand a great chance of slaying the Jets, but they might have the upper hand.  

Week 7: Denver Broncos

Despite finishing the 2010 season with a measly four wins, the Broncos' 2011 outlook is surprisingly bright.

Under the direction of recently-hired head coach John Fox, the Broncos now have a stable, proven winner at the helm. Fox will oversee the league's most intriguing quarterback competition and already has two big-time wide receivers—Brandon Lloyd and Demaryius Thomas—in the fold. 

Denver is going to surprise some folks, but their defense is still a long work in progress. Plus, they will have to play under the scorching sun of Sun Life Stadium. 

The Dolphins shouldn't have many problems stopping this rebuilding team. 

Week 8: @ New York Giants

Because the Philadelphia Eagles have stolen the spotlight this summer, most will overlook their primary NFC East counterpart, the New York Giants. Remember, the Giants would have been a playoff team in 2010 were it not for their epic collapse against the Eagles. The Giants had a top-five offense and top-10 defense.  

New York will be a Super Bowl sleeper entering the 2011 season and will face Miami in the Meadowlands for their Week 8 matchup. The Dolphins' deep cornerback corps should be able to keep the Giants' long list of quality receivers in check, but the offense will have a tougher time against Big Blue's forceful front seven. 

Week 9: @ Kansas City Chiefs

No NFL team is being more overlooked than the Kansas City Chiefs. Maybe that's what you get for playing in the Midwest? 

The Chiefs have been completely neglected, so they can play the overused-but-still-effective, "Nobody Believed in Us" card. They added Steve Breaston and first-round pick Jonathan Baldwin to vastly upgrade a formerly-marginal receiving corps. Defensively, the Chiefs must make some strides, but the maturation of Eric Berry is a scary thought for the rest of the league.

The Dolphins and Chiefs are, philosophically, very similar teams. Miami has the edge defensively, but the Chiefs boast a better offense and will benefit from the rabid fans at Arrowhead Stadium.  

Week 10: Washington Redskins

At this time last year, pundits were eyeing the Redskins as possible NFC East champs; today, they have the single bleakest outlook in the entire league. 

Washington will host a quarterback competition between John Beck and Rex Grossman. Santana Moss and Chris Cooley are the team's only viable receiving threats. Either Ryan Torain, Roy Helu or Evan Royster must emerge as a featured running back. And, the league's 31st-ranked defense received minimal upgrades.

In other words, the Dolphins have a rather sizable advantage.  

Week 11: Buffalo Bills

Is this the year the Buffalo Bills rise from bottom feeder to contender?

No. Most definitely not.

But they are adding the right pieces, and if Ryan Fitzpatrick can replicate his play from one year ago, Buffalo could secure five or six wins this season.

The Dolphins have an edge in virtually every matchup (except quarterback), but that hasn't stopped the Bills from pestering the 'Fins in recent years past. Buffalo and Miami have split their seasons' series in each of the past two years, despite a rather significant gap in talent. 

The Bills might put up a fight, but there's no reason to predict a Dolphins loss here. 

Week 12: @ Dallas Cowboys (Thanksgiving Day)

The Dolphins take the national stage for the third and final time against the Dallas Cowboys on Thanksgiving Day. Miami is 5-1 on Thanksgiving, and 3-1 against Dallas on the holiday. 

It's difficult to gauge how this Cowboys team will fare this season; however, it's safe to assume they won't be quite as horrible as they were in 2010. Tony Romo returns from injury to an offense now built around Felix Jones, Miles Austin and Dez Bryant. Although Jerry Jones failed to land Nnamdi Asomugha, he did bolster his offensive line by drafting Tyron Smith and re-signing Doug Free.

History sides with the Dolphins and that matchup might as well. The Cowboys' running game is a huge question mark, and their secondary is amongst the worst in the league. Expect the Dolphins to continue their Turkey Day success.  

Week 13: Oakland Raiders

Al Davis made a sound—and hence, rare—decision when he fired Tom Cable earlier this summer. And he made another wise move by staying in-house and promoting Hue Jackson, who seems to be quite popular amongst players. 

For the first time in recent memory, Oakland enters a season with stability. A healthy Jason Campbell returns to take the reins at quarterback, Darren McFadden has finally realized his potential, and Jacoby Ford and Darrius Heyward-Bey are yearning to break out. The Raiders' 11th-ranked defense will struggle without Nnamdi Asomugha, but a strong front seven will ease the loss.

Even though their outlook is brighter than years' past, Oakland still has a ways to go before they can truly compete. Miami should be able to rely on a heavy dose of Brandon Marshall to defeat the Raiders. 

Week 14: Philadelphia Eagles

It doesn't matter how great your defense, Michael Vick will find a way to torch it. The Eagles will fly down to Miami for a Week 14 matchup that could have great playoff implications, but let's hope this game isn't a must-win for the Dolphins.

Between Vick, LeSean McCoy, DeSean Jackson, Nnamdi Asomugha, Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, and an endless list of weapons and playmakers, Philly poses a terrifying matchup for Miami—and every other NFL team, for that matter. Miami benefits from home-field advantage, but it's truly difficult to see the 'Fins toppling the Eagles. 

Week 15: @ Buffalo Bills

The Dolphins will embark on an AFC East tour to cap off the 2011 season. The festivities start Week 15 in Buffalo where the weather may be a factor and hence, a hindrance for an unaccustomed Miami squad.

Even if snow blankets Ralph Wilson Stadium, Miami shouldn't be at a serious disadvantage. This is a run-first, ground-and-pound team, so the weather won't necessarily affect them too much. Plus, the Dolphins are the far superior team, and the results of the game should reflect that.    

Week 16: @ New England Patriots (Christmas Eve)

The schedule-makers have been kind to the Dolphins in years' past, allowing them to travel up to the Northeast earlier in the season rather than trudge up for snowy December games.

However, the 2011 season is a different story.

Miami must trek up to Foxborough for a Week 16 matchup versus the Patriots one week after their trip to Buffalo. These snowy matchups present a huge obstacle for the Dolphins who play and practice in sunny, warm weather all season long.

While they might be able to coast by against inferior teams like the Bills, the Patriots are a much tougher matchup in general, so the snow only magnifies the mismatches. New England figures to have a playoff spot secured at this juncture, but Bill Belichick generally does not rest his players, so the 'Fins must come to play.

Week 17: New York Jets

As if a Week 16 game in New England wasn't scary enough, the Dolphins will return to South Florida for a regular-season finale against the New York Jets.

Miami has defeated the Jets in four of their last six meetings, but considering this game could potentially dictate the playoff fate of either team, we can temporarily disregard history. These two squads play a very similar brand of football, and this game could make for a memorable one.

The last time the Dolphins and Jets met in Week 17, things ended favorably for Miami (clinched the AFC East title in '08), and let's hope that happens again.