How the 2024 NFL Schedule Hurts the Miami Dolphins

Editor's Note: This is an excerpt from Warren Sharp's rest disparity analysis of the 2024 NFL Schedule. Click here to read the full article.

The Dolphins have an absolutely brutal close to 2024.

From Week 11 on, they play 4 games on short rest compared to their opponent.

They play with a total net rest deficit of -18 days vs. their opponents during that stretch, by far the largest in the NFL.

Additionally, they are one of six teams who play four games in 17 days during this stretch.

Pre Order The Best Analytical 2024 Football Preview

Don't miss out on Warren Sharp's 500+ page preview of the 2024 NFL season.

The preview is unlike anything you have ever seen, featuring stunning visualizations built with the reader in mind.

This preview shares insights into players, coaches, teams, and philosophies with one goal in mind: to prepare you for the 2024 NFL season by delivering the smartest information in the fastest, most direct way possible.

Pre order the 2024 Football Preview now!

Let’s examine their weekly schedule during this stretch:

Week 10: at Rams on MNF, the Dolphins four road game in a five-week span
Week 11: vs. Raiders, who are off of a bye while Miami is off of a MNF game (-8 days rest edge)
Week 12: vs. Patriots on a Sunday
Week 13: at Packers on Thursday, a short-week road game and the Dolphins' fourth game in 17 days
Week 14: vs. Jets
Week 15: at Texans, with the Texans off a Week 14 bye (-7 days rest edge)
Week 16: vs. 49ers, with the 49ers off a Week 15 Thursday game at home (-3 days rest edge)
Week 17: at Browns, with the Browns off a Week 16 Thursday game (-3 days rest edge)

As indicated, the Dolphins play four teams coming off a bye or mini-bye from Week 11 on and must play a short-week Thursday game in Green Bay, their fourth game in a 17-day span.

Additionally, not only is that Browns game a road game against a third straight team off a bye or mini-bye, but it’s a Sunday Night Football game on the road.

This means the Dolphins will play a frigid game in Cleveland at night in late December, arrive back home in the early hours of Monday, and then will have to turn around and play Week 18 against the Jets in frigid New York on January 5th.

Those road night games are not fun for teams due to the impact they have on rehab and prep for the following week. And playing in Cleveland at night followed by in New York isn’t ideal for the warm-blooded Dolphins.

Look at the rest of the AFC East’s rest edges from Week 11 on: