The Miami Dolphins’ 2020 schedule is out and there’s a unique twist in store for Miami and their AFC East rival, the New York Jets. The Dolphins won’t play the Jets in consecutive weeks, but they will be playing them in consecutive games. Both the Dolphins and Jets have Week 11 bye weeks in 2020 and the two teams will be facing one another in Weeks 10 & 12.
This is the first time since 1991 that two NFL teams have played each other in consecutive games on the regular season schedule. The Chargers and Seahawks were the last pair of teams to endure back to back games against one another in the regular season. Seattle was then a member of the AFC West.
Quirk in the schedule for #Jets and #Dolphins we haven’t seen since 1991 via @NFLResearch pic.twitter.com/2fIOEXUs5U
— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) May 8, 2020
The contests figure to be close between the division rivals, but the Dolphins seemed to be the better team in 2019 and had more ammunition in the offseason to improve their roster. Miami was a phantom defensive pass interference call in New York away from sweeping the Jets in 2019 — that despite the Dolphins’ well established struggles throughout the early portions of the season. If Miami is able to secure a sweep of the Jets, the team could be well positioned for a late season push to a playoff spot.
The Dolphins’ bid for the postseason will be boosted with an added team to the AFC playoff field this year — seven teams from each conference will make the postseason.
The Dolphins’ overhauled roster will need time to gel, but getting both games against a key division rival in the back half of the season is a good boost for Miami’s hopes.