With the full Miami Dolphins 2026 schedule out, here is a way-too-early prediction for their win total.
The Miami Dolphins are a team with many questions, as nobody quite knows how new head coach Jeff Hafley will rally his team. With a torn-down roster, second-hardest schedule, and more adversity, there is not a lot of belief that things will go well for this new era of South Florida football.
Regardless of that adversity, nobody knows what any team will be, and it wouldn't be out of the realm of possibility that the Dolphins can be competitive in 2026. That said, here is a full win prediction for the upcoming NFL season.
Week 1 - @ Raiders
Week 1 might be one of the games that the Dolphins can sneak away with a victory. The Las Vegas Raiders have many questions surrounding their team as well, with a new head coach in Klint Kubiak and a potential conundrum regarding which quarterback will be under center.
Even on the road, this is a winnable game, and Miami could take advantage of a Raiders team that has too many unanswered questions, pulling off a big opening-season victory.
Prediction: 1-0
Week 2 - @ 49ers
A double road trip against a playoff contender is not going to be easy. Even worse is that the Dolphins still have a very questionable secondary that will have to stop San Francisco 49ers playmakers in Brock Purdy and the newly acquired Mike Evans.
The 49ers also have a very tough defense to handle. Playing a tough all-around team might be too much. This is a loss.
Prediction: 1-1
Week 3 - vs. Chiefs
The benefit of facing the Kansas City Chiefs early on is that they may not have Patrick Mahomes available to them. Justin Fields is no slouch, but he may not have a full command of the offense.
With the home opener coming with home opener energy, this could be a game that the Dolphins can steal a win in.
Prediction: 2-1
Week 4 - @ Vikings
The Minnesota Vikings are another team with a questionable quarterback situation. Will Kyler Murray or J.J. McCarthy be leading the way? Either way, the Dolphins' defense could be too much for both.
Even though it would be confounding to secure back-to-back wins, this could be the chance to do so. This is a win.
Prediction: 2-2
Week 5 - vs. Bengals
The Cincinnati Bengals were knocking on the door of the playoffs in 2025, and there is a belief that they will take a big step in 2026. Having Joe Burrow behind the helm always gives them a chance.
They also brought in Dexter Lawrence II, who can be a nightmare to deal with. Miami doesn't win this one.
Prediction: 2-3
Week 6 - BYE
Week 7 - @ Jets
Though there is always talk that the New York Jets will be better every year, it simply does not happen. Aaron Glenn may have upgraded his coaching staff, and they brought in a ton of players, but this is a divisional matchup the Dolphins can win.
It will be interesting to see how both the Dolphins and Jets rebuilds are going at this point, but Miami playing not in freezing temperatures could be a big benefit, and come away with a win.
Prediction: 3-3
Week 8 - vs. Patriots
Week 8 begins the absolute gauntlet of opponents for the Dolphins, and they face the Super Bowl runner-ups in the New England Patriots. This team showed it can be gritty, and they will do so again.
Miami will want to take this victory, but New England is too far ahead at this point in their own multi-year rebuild.
Prediction: 3-4
Week 9 - vs. Lions
The Detroit Lions have far too many weapons, and the bad taste of their 2025 season will lead to them playing with a big chip on their shoulder, maybe even more so since Dan Campbell was not hired as the head coach of the Dolphins.
This is a loss for Miami.
Prediction: 3-5
Week 10 - @ Colts
Statistically, there are some games that could be upsets for the Dolphins, and the Indianapolis Colts matchup could be that one. Despite being on the road, Miami may want to grind out a tough win to try to keep the semblance of playoff hopes alive.
A tight win, but a win nonetheless, and probably the only upset the team gets in 2026.
Prediction: 4-5
Week 11 - @ Bills
The Buffalo Bills have Miami's number, and that will be the case until this team can truly rise to the occasion. With a home game potentially being coupled with snow, this is a loss waiting to happen.
Prediction: 4-6
Week 12 - vs. Jets
The Jets may have been taken by surprise on the road in their first meeting, but they will not let the clean sweep happen. Even with the Dolphins at home for this one, they will drop the game to New York.
Prediction: 4-7
Week 13 - @ Denver
Call it the elevation. Call it Bo Nix. Call it whatever you want, the Denver Broncos are a solid team and are expected to be even better in 2026. With the Jaylen Waddle "revenge" game waiting, he goes off for over 100 yards, and they run away with the win.
Prediction: 4-8
Week 14 - vs. Bears
The Chicago Bears were a bit up-and-down in 2025, and I believe they will be in 2026. Caleb Williams can pull off some magic, but Jeff Hafley knows this team due to coaching for the Green Bay Packers previously.
This could be a second upset for the Dolphins.
Prediction: 5-8
Week 15 - @ Packers
Saying the Dolphins can beat the Packers in December at Lambeau Field sounds like a far-fetched idea, but Malik Willis wants to show out, and he does. Miami also tries hard to shake off the narrative that they underperform in cold-weather games.
Hafley knows his former team well and uses his knowledge to pull off the second back-to-back stint for his new team.
Prediction: 6-8
Week 16 - vs. Chargers
The Los Angeles Chargers defense is really good, and the offense now has Mike McDaniel. While he may not have any idea what his former team will be up to, he does know offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik.
Dolphins lose.
Prediction: 6-9
Week 17 - vs. Bills
I really want to say that the second meeting with the Bills will go better, but they continually get hotter at the end of the season. Allen will be firing on all cylinders and will get his second win against Miami of the season.
Prediction: 6-10
Week 18 - TBD Patriots
If the Patriots are thrust into a playoff clinching scenario here, whether it's the AFC crown or the AFC East crown, they will play hard. This could also be the chance for the Dolphins to get at least one primetime game.
Either way, its still a tough loss to end the season.
Prediction: 6-11