As the Miami Dolphins gear up for the 2024 regular season, fans and analysts alike are dissecting the newly released schedule to forecast how the team will fare. It’s a tradition as time-honored as the sport itself, though it’s important to remember these projections are speculative at best, with the unpredictable nature of football guaranteeing some level of surprise as the season unfolds.
Given the fluid dynamics of NFL seasons, what follows are preliminary game-by-game predictions for the Dolphins’ performance, courtesy of two respected voices in the sport: Alain Poupart of Fan Nation Dolphins and Matt Verderame of Sports Illustrated NFL.
The season opener sees the Dolphins hosting Jacksonville, and both Poupart and Verderame predict a strong start with a victory, setting Miami at 1-0. Hopes continue to rise in Week 2 against Buffalo at home, where again, both analysts foresee a win, elevating the Dolphins to 2-0 early on.
However, Week 3 presents a challenge as Miami faces Seattle on the road, with Poupart and Verderame both predicting the Dolphins’ first setback, adjusting their records to 2-1. Fortune smiles again in Week 4, with Tennessee coming to Miami, where a win is anticipated by both pundits, bringing the Dolphins to a 3-1 stance.
By Week 5, the Dolphins visit New England, with Poupart seeing another victory, while Verderame anticipates a loss, marking the first divergence in their forecasts. This disagreement sparks a series of varied predictions for the middle to late season, especially notable in games against L.A.
Rams and N.Y. Jets, reflecting the analysts’ differing perspectives on Miami’s adaptability and resilience on the road and at home.
The season heads toward its climax with both analysts predicting losses against formidable opponents like Green Bay, San Francisco, and Cleveland in the later weeks, acknowledging the tough battles the Dolphins face outside their home turf. Both Poupart and Verderame, however, conclude the regular season on a high note, foreseeing a win against the N.Y. Jets in Week 18, ending the Dolphins’ campaign on a positive yet reflective note with records of 10-7 and 9-8 respectively.
With such predictions, the stage is set for a season of intense matches, unexpected victories, and the inevitable challenges that define NFL football. As always, these early forecasts are mere estimations of what’s to come, with the true excitement lying in how the season will unfold in reality.
For more in-depth analysis and perspectives on this topic, readers are encouraged to explore related stories on the Dolphins’ 2024 schedule, a preliminary look at their 2025 opponents, and early betting lines for the forthcoming games.