One false move: Why Jeff Hafley’s 2026 Dolphins could be done before December

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Rest disadvantage looms over Dolphins’ schedule

The biggest challenge for Miami’s 2026 schedule isn’t tied to any single matchup. It’s the fact that the Dolphins often find themselves heading into games with less time to recover than their opponents.

The Action Network’s schedule analysis gave Miami a league-worst minus-13 rest differential. For a team starting fresh under Jeff Hafley and Jon-Eric Sullivan, it means the fixture list is already putting pressure on the squad before a ball has even been kicked.

The Dolphins aren’t just facing a tough opponent list. Sharp’s 2026 schedule projections place them near the top of the league in terms of difficulty, with 13 games against teams expected to finish above .500. The Week 6 bye doesn’t help much either, arriving too early to offer any late-season relief when fatigue usually sets in.

The travel demands don’t ease up, either. Miami is looking at nine road games and more than 27,000 miles to cover, including several cold-weather trips later in the year. It all adds up quickly—a mix of short weeks, travel fatigue, climate shifts and limited recovery time piling onto an already heavy workload.

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The rest profile is bad enough to shape the season on its own

It’s not just the matchups making life difficult for Miami. Sharp’s 2026 schedule projections also have the Dolphins facing a steep climb, with 13 games lined up against teams expected to finish above .500. The bye week comes early in Week 6, offering little help when it’s most needed later in the season.

The travel demands only add to the challenge. Nine road games and more than 27,000 miles on the schedule, with several late-season trips into colder climates, mean fatigue could become a real issue. It’s rarely just one thing that wears down a team; it’s a mix of short turnarounds, long flights, changing conditions and limited time to recover – especially for those carrying heavy workloads.