The Miami Dolphins 2025 schedule was released Wednesday and includes a number of intriguing games, including five in prime time and the first ever NFL game played in Madrid, Spain.
However, what Miami fans are clamoring for most is wins after the team finished 9-8 in 2024 and missed the playoffs. The Dolphins will not have an easy road in 2025 when they play a number of quality teams who were in the playoffs a season ago. Miami will also face off against several good quarterbacks along the way.
Before the Dolphins hit the field in 2025, here is a ranking of the opposing quarterbacks on the team’s schedule:
14. Saints – Tyler Shough/Spencer Rattler
Derek Carr unexpectedly announced his retirement, leaving the Saints with more questions at quarterback. There’s rookie Tyler Shough out of Louisville who the Saints selected in Round 2 of the 2025 NFL draft, and they also have second-year passer Spencer Rattler, who was selected in the fifth round of the 2024 NFL draft.
Rattler went 0-6 as a starter last season while filling in for the injured Carr, throwing four touchdowns and five interceptions. If these are still the top quarterback options in the fall, they will be far from overwhelming for Anthony Weaver’s defense.
13. Steelers – Mason Rudolph
The Steelers have been at the epicenter of the Aaron Rodgers drama this offseason. After letting both Russell Wilson and Justin Fields sign elsewhere in free agency, Pittsburgh appears to be one of the most obvious landing spots for the future Hall of Famer. But until pen hits paper, the Steelers have to prepare for 2025 with who they currently have on the roster.
Pittsburgh brought back 2017 third-round pick Mason Rudolph after he spent last season with the Tennessee Titans. The Steelers also have Ohio State alum Will Howard, who they selected in the sixth round of the draft, along with former Dolphins backup Skylar Thompson. Rudolph will likely open the season as the starter unless Rodgers or a different veteran are added.
Rudolph has produced a career 9-8-1 record as a starter and is looking to make the most out of his second opportunity in Pittsburgh.
12. Falcons – Michael Penix Jr.
Penix enters his second season in the NFL, this time as the unquestioned starter. While Atlanta still has Kirk Cousins on the roster, all signs point toward the 25-year old to remain in control of the offense. Penix took over for Cousins in Week 16 and finished the 2024 season as the starter for Atlanta.
Penix finished the year with 775 yards, three touchdowns, and three interceptions as the Falcons finished 8-9 and missed the playoffs for seventh straight year. If Atlanta has any hope of getting back to playing winning football, Penix’s productivity will have to take a leap in year two.
11. Colts – Anthony Richardson
The Dolphins’ season opening matchup will be against the Colts who beat Miami in Week 7 of the 2024 season, albeit without Tua Tagovailoa.
Richardson is coming off a difficult campaign in 2024 and has a lot to prove this upcoming season. Although he produced a 6-5 record as a starter, he completed an abysmal 47.7 percent of his passes for 1,814 yards with eight touchdowns and 12 interceptions. He was also in the news for the wrong reasons last year after he voluntarily pulled himself from a game in a crucial moment against the Texans in Week 8.
It will be a big year for Richardson to prove he can be a reliable franchise quarterback. He has proven to be effective as a scrambler, rushing for 499 yards and six touchdowns last year. But he’s going to have to improve his passing skills to starting NFL quarterback level if the Colts are to make a stride in the right direction.
10. Panthers – Bryce Young
Former 2023 No. 1 overall pick Bryce Young enters his third year in the league with the Carolina Panthers and is in need of a good campaign if he hopes to secure his future in Charlotte.
The Panthers prioritized improving the offense around him with the selection of receiver Tetairoa McMillan at pick No. 8 in the draft to pair him with veteran Adam Thielen. That duo will have a chance to make plays against a revolving Dolphins secondary that will likely be without Jalen Ramsey.
Young put up better stats last year after he was benched for Andy Dalton for a few games. In the last seven games of 2024, he threw 11 touchdowns with three interceptions and rushed for another five touchdowns.
9. Patriots – Drake Maye
New England made it a clear priority to improve their offense around Maye in the offseason with the addition of wide receiver Stefon Diggs in free agency and the selection of LSU tackle Will Campbell at No. 4 overall in the draft.
During Maye’s rookie campaign, he put up 2,276 yards, 15 touchdowns, 10 interceptions, and an 88.1 rating. In his lone matchup against the Dolphins, Maye completed 22 of his 37 pass attempts for 222 yards, with a touchdown and interception. He showed immense potential during his rookie season and his progression appears to be a top priority in New England.
8. Jets – Justin Fields
Justin Fields will take over at quarterback for the Jets in 2025 after mostly serving as a backup to Russell Wilson a season ago in Pittsburgh. Fields started the first six games for the Steelers with Wilson out, and was key in the team’s 4-2 start. Fields’ benching for Wilson didn’t come without questions as to whether or not it was the right decision.
Fields passed for 1,106 yards, five touchdowns, and one interception in 2024. He also produced career bests with a 65.8 completion percentage and a 93.3 passer rating. He was also once again prolific in his rushing attack with 289 yards and five touchdowns.
Fields now gets a fresh start in New York with some elite talent around him. The Jets offense features star wideout Garrett Wilson, running back Breece Hall, and the team has used its last two first-round draft picks on offensive linemen Olumuyiwa Fashanu (2024) and Armand Membou (2025). This could very well be Fields best opportunity as a starter in the NFL.
7. Browns – Joe Flacco
Former Super Bowl XLVII MVP Joe Flacco enters his second stint with the Cleveland Browns after spending last year with Indianapolis. Flacco, 40, started six games for the Colts, passing for 1,761 yards and 12 touchdowns.
However, it was with Cleveland in 2023 where Flacco proved he can still play at a high level, helping them reach the postseason with a strong finish to the season. Flacco went 4-1 as a starter with the Browns and passed for over 300 yards in four consecutive starts. It is not surprising that the Browns are giving Flacco another look with Deshaun Watson expected to be sidelined for the season with an Achilles tear.
Behind Flacco is a pair of rookies: Oregon’s Dillon Gabriel and Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders. But assuming Flacco is the starter, Miami will have to keep an eye on his deep passing ability.
6. Chargers – Justin Herbert
Justin Herbert and Tua Tagovailoa will always be a storyline when they faceoff since they were selected with consecutive picks in the 2020 NFL draft. The debate often centers around whether Miami made the right choice as Herbert has proven to be an elite passing talent. However, Tagovailoa has won two out of three career matchups against Herbert.
Both Herbert and Tagovailoa are seeking their first playoff win as starting quarterbacks. Herbert and the Chargers are coming off a disappointing 32-12 postseason loss to the Texans in January.
Herbert’s 3,870 yards from the 2024 aren’t quite as high as his best years, but his 23 touchdowns and three interceptions proved he is developing as a savvy quarterback willing to make the right plays to succeed in Jim Harbaugh’s offense.
5. Buccaneers – Baker Mayfield
Mayfield has produced the best statistical seasons of his career in his first two years with the Buccaneers. Last season, he passed for a career-best 4,500 yards and 41 touchdowns and completed 71.4 percent of his passes, leading Tampa to a 10-7 record and their fourth straight NFC South title.
The former No. 1 overall pick has become the franchise quarterback for Tampa Bay just two years after his career as a starter appeared to be in jeopardy. On the heels of Tom Brady’s retirement following the 2022 season, Mayfield was brought in after brief stints with the Panthers and Rams.
Mayfield has led the Buccaneers to back-to-back playoff appearances and they now look to take the next step by making a deeper run in 2025. Tampa continued to invest in their receiver group with the selection of Emeka Egbuka at pick No. 19 in the draft. With Mayfield at the helm, the sky is the limit for what this Buccaneer offense can be this season.
4. Commanders – Jayden Daniels
The Dolphins take on 2024 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year Jayden Daniels in the first NFL game played in Madrid, Spain.
Daniels had arguably the greatest season ever by a rookie quarterback as he led the Commanders to their first NFC Championship game appearance since 1992. Daniels passed for 3,568 yards and 25 touchdowns leading the Commanders to a 12-5 record. The team won two road playoff games in Tampa Bay and Detroit with Daniels producing passer ratings of 110.2 and 122.9, respectively.
The Commanders offense could be even better this season with the additions of receiver Deebo Samuel and former Dolphins offensive tackle Laremy Tunsil. If Daniels is able to elevate his game with an improved offense around him, this Commanders team could give the Dolphins a long plane ride home from Spain.
3. Bengals – Joe Burrow
The Dolphins take on Joe Burrow and the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday Night Football in Week 16 in another showdown between quarterbacks selected in the first round of the 2020 NFL draft. Burrow was taken at No. 1 overall and has lived up to the expectations. In just his second season, Burrow led the Bengals to an appearance in Super Bowl LVI, where they fell just short to the Rams, 23-20.
Burrow led the league last season with 4,918 passing yards and 43 touchdowns, but it wasn’t enough to get the 9-8 Bengals into the playoffs. Cincinnati has maintained their dynamic receiver duo of Jamar Chase and Tee Higgins, but the defense was the main roadblock in them winning games.
This matchup could wind up being a shootout with two of the best passing attacks in the league. The Dolphins will have to be ready to put up a lot of points while the secondary attempts to contain this prolific Bengals passing attack.
2. Ravens – Lamar Jackson
Week 9 has the Dolphins in another primetime matchup, this time on a Thursday night against quarterback Lamar Jackson the Baltimore Ravens. The two-time league MVP is coming off another stellar campaign that nearly won him the award for a third time.
Despite not capturing the MVP honors, Jackson produced career-best numbers with 4,172 yards and 41 touchdowns. What makes those stats even more impressive is that he only threw four interceptions. He was, as always, dominant in the running game, tallying 915 yards and four touchdowns on the ground.
The one accolade still eluding Jackson is a Super Bowl ring, and it’d be a shock if the Ravens weren’t in the mix at the top of the AFC once again.
Miami is in for a tough challenge against Baltimore. But if the Dolphins want to be thought of as a contending playoff team, these are games they have to win. Jackson and the Ravens destroyed the Dolphins in their last matchup back in 2023 by a score of 56-19 with Jackson throwing five touchdowns.
1. Bills – Josh Allen
The reigning MVP has been a consistent thorn in the side of the Dolphins since entering the league in 2018. Allen has been a perennial MVP candidate over the last five years and was finally given the award last season. However, it was once again Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs who ripped the hearts out of Bills fans in the AFC Championship. Buffalo’s motivation to make a trip to the Super Bowl and come out on top of the AFC cannot be overstated.
Allen has put up a 12-2 record as a starter against the Dolphins in the regular season. He also owns a January 2023 playoff win over Miami. Including the postseason, the Bills have won six straight matchups against Miami.
The Dolphins have to find a way to finally beat the Bills if they have any hope of capturing the AFC East. Given the way Allen and the Bills have dominated this rivalry makes it difficult to envision things going any different until proven otherwise.