Ranking the Remainder of the 2024 Dolphins Games by Degree of Difficulty

How does the Miami Dolphins' schedule look now compared to how it appeared heading into the regular season?

San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy (13) throws the ball against Miami Dolphins defensive end Zach Sieler (92) during the first quarter at Levi's Stadium in a 2022 game. / Kelley L Cox-Imagn Images

This past week's two big NFL trades affected almost half of the Miami Dolphins' remaining 2024 scheduled games — five out of twelve, to be precise.

The moves involving Davante Adams's departure from the Las Vegas Raiders to the New York Jets and Amari Cooper's departure from the Cleveland Browns to the Buffalo Bills further impacted a Miami schedule that already looked different from how it appeared heading into the regular season.

That's how it always is in the NFL because teams aren't the same yearly; some teams are much better than expected, and others are much worse.

Before the start of the season, we ranked the Dolphins games by degree of difficulty, but it's time for an update based on the information we have gathered since the start of September.

COUNTING DOWN THE REMAINING DOLPHINS GAMES BY DIFFICULTY

12) Week 12 — vs. New England

• It turns out the Patriots are just as bad as everyone expected them to be, though there's now a lot of intrigue with rookie third-round pick Drake Maye taking over at quarterback.

11) Week 11 — vs. Las Vegas

• Trading away Adams certainly won't help an offense that was already lacking in playmakers and has a quarterback problem because neither Gardner Minshew nor Aidan O'Connell is a long-term (or even short-term) answer. To make matters worse, former Dolphins DT Christian Wilkins is on injured reserve, so his absence may extend beyond the minimum four games and past this game at Hard Rock Stadium.

10) Week 8 — vs. Arizona

• The Cardinals look like they'll miss the playoffs again, but rookie wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. seems impressive. Arizona also defeated the San Francisco 49ers a couple of weeks ago, so this can be a dangerous team.

9) Week 10 — at LA Rams (MNF)

• It figured the defense would take a step back with Aaron Donald now retired, and it's been as expected. The offense, meanwhile, has had to operate most of the season without Puka Nacua and Cooper Kupp. If they're both in the lineup for this game, the Rams become a lot tougher opponent.

8) Week 17 — at Cleveland (SNF)

• No game's outlook has changed as much as this one, and that's because of the massive struggles of the Browns offense, more specifically, QB Deshaun Watson. Cleveland has shown no signs of moving on from Watson at this time, and there have also been no signs of him being able to get anywhere near his Houston Texans form. This game could also get flexed out of the Sunday night spot, making the weather less of a factor.

7) Week 7 — at Indianapolis

• As their record says, the Colts are a middle-of-the-pack group, though injuries have been a factor. Anthony Richardson is a high-risk, high-reward kind of quarterback, and it's difficult to predict which one will be on the field Sunday.

6) Week 14 — vs. NY Jets

• The Jets have been disappointed with their 2-4 record, but they could be 4-2 with better kicking, and the addition of Adams can only help their offense.

5) Week 18 — at NY Jets

• If the Dolphins can turn their season around, don't be surprised if this game decides one of the AFC playoff spots.

4) Week 16 — vs. San Francisco

• The 49ers have had their issues so far, including losing leads against division opponents L.A. and Arizona and being without Christian McCaffrey. However, this remains a very good team, though maybe not the Super Bowl favorite they were heading into the season.

3) Week 15 — at Houston

• Nothing has changed here because the Texans are off to a 5-1 start and probably still haven't played their best football.

2) Week 13 — at Green Bay (TNF)

• The Packers survived the massive Week 1 scare with Jordan Love, and now look like they're back on track to being an NFC contender.

1) Week 9 — at Buffalo

• Yes, this still deserves the top spot, as the Week 2 game proved. And now the Bills have Cooper to help out Josh Allen on top of things.