Miami Dolphins 2009 Second-Half Schedule

The Dolphins finished the 2008 NFL season with an 11-5 record, but they lost their first playoff game to Baltimore, 27-9. That set them up with big expectations for the 2009 season. However, they've only managed two wins in six games at the start of the 2009 season, and their bye week is already gone. What does the rest of the season look like for the Dolphins?

A little known fact is that the division winners of each year always face a tough schedule the next year -- one reason why so few teams can dominate in the league. Six of the Dolphins games this year are against teams that were in the playoffs last year, including ending the year against the Super Bowl Champion Pittsburgh Steelers. In their first six games, the Dolphins have been competitive in all but one, even after their starting quarterback was knocked out for the year. Best yet, for the Dolphins, they are 2-0 in their division, despite sitting at the bottom of that division.

Coming up, the Dolphins face two tough division opponents in the New York Jets and the New England Patriots, both on the road. Neither of those opponents is dominating, and the Dolphins beat the Jets in week 5, 31-27. These two games may determine the Dolphin's entire season. If the Dolphins can win both games, they will be 4-0 in the division with a 4-4 record overall. That would put them close to the top of their division once again. However, with two losses, they'll drop to 2-6 overall, 2-2 in the division, which all but ensures their season is done for the year and this year can officially be declared a "rebuilding" year.

After those two games, they'll face a relative break -- facing the currently winless Tampa Bay Bucs, followed by the 2-4 Carolina Panthers, then a relatively weak (3-4) Buffalo Bills who the Dolphins just beat 38-10. The last part of the season will truly be an uphill climb for the Dolphins. They will again face the New England Patriots on Sunday night, December 6, in Miami. If Miami is having a great run, they may be 6-5, or even 7-4 at this point. If they plan on making the playoffs, they're going to need to win at least one of the games against New England, ending week 13 at least 7-5. This is also their last division game, so they need to firm up their division record at this point.

The Dolphins head next to Jacksonville (currently 3-3), then to winless Tennessee. With two weeks left, the Dolphins need to have already wrapped up their division. If they don't have nine or ten wins at this point, they're not going to be in the playoffs -- their last two games are at home, but they have to face Houston (4-3) and end the season with the Steelers (5-2). If Miami can pull off a win in that last week, that would give them a great push into the playoffs, but its looking more like the Fins will end the year somewhere around 8-8, giving them a little easier time with the 2010 season.