The Miami Dolphins have officially announced the dates and timings for their trio of preseason matchups, coinciding with the buzz of the regular season schedule’s revelation on Wednesday night. The majority, with two games being hosted at the Hard Rock Stadium, promises excitement and a precursor to the impending football fervor.
Kicking off their preseason on Friday, August 9, at 7 p.m., the Dolphins will welcome the Atlanta Falcons to their home turf. This opener is particularly noteworthy, as the Falcons’ roster includes Michael Penix Jr., one of the six quarterbacks drafted in the first round of the 2024 NFL draft.
Continuing with the theme of facing off against standout rookie quarterbacks, the Dolphins will then play host to the Washington Commanders on Saturday, August 17, also at a 7 p.m. start. The Commanders’ Jayden Daniels, recipient of the Heisman Trophy and another first-round draft pick, promises to add to the preseason excitement and competition.
For their preseason finale, the Dolphins will venture to Raymond James Stadium to go against Tampa Bay with a slightly later kickoff at 7:30 p.m.
Looking at their historical preseason encounters, the Dolphins hold an 11-9 record against the Falcons. Their last preseason meeting resulted in a 19-3 defeat for Miami at the Hard Rock Stadium.
Against the Washington team, previously known as the Redskins, the Dolphins currently stand at 9-5 in preseason play, though they haven’t clashed since the 2004 season—a matchup that saw Miami shut out 17-0 at home.
The Dolphins and Tampa Bay Buccaneers share a more frequent preseason history, having faced each other 33 times—Miami’s highest against any team in the league. With Miami leading the series 18-15, their last preseason skirmish in 2022 ended in a narrow 26-24 victory for the Dolphins.
Given this extensive history, particularly with Tampa Bay, it’s hinted that Miami may head to Tampa Bay earlier for extra practice and scrimmage sessions, as noted by BucsGameDay. Tampa Bay’s request to the NFL to face both Miami and Jacksonville in the preseason was motivated by the desire for additional work against in-state rivals, further evidenced by the joint practices held between Miami and Tampa Bay preceding their 2022 preseason game. This initiative not only fosters competitive spirit but also nourishes inter-state football camaraderie as the teams sharpen their claws for the official season ahead.
