NFL Miami Dolphins

5 Opponents The Miami Dolphins Need To Beat In 2015

5 Opponents The Miami Dolphins Need To Beat In 2015

Miami Dolphins, 2015 NFL Season
Brad Barr-USA TODAY Sports

The Dolphins organization and its fanbase have had high hopes that involved ending the season with at least a playoff berth, only to see the last two seasons collapse in December. One problem has been that the Dolphins can't beat the top competition when it counts. If they're planning on changing the trend this season, they'll need to change their fortune against these five teams.

5. Dallas Cowboys

Dallas Cowboys v. Miami Dolphins, 2015 NFL Season
Andrew Weber-USA TODAY Sports

5. Dallas Cowboys

Dallas Cowboys v. Miami Dolphins, 2015 NFL Season
Andrew Weber-USA TODAY Sports

When it comes to playoff implications, it’s a big deal losing to an out-of-conference opponent. However, that win still important, and Dallas may be the best NFC team slated to face the Dolphins in 2015. To prove they’re a team to be reckoned with, they must beat other playoff-worthy squads.

4. Buffalo Bills

Buffalo Bills v. Miami Dolphins, 2015 NFL Season
Kevin Hoffman-USA TODAY Sports

4. Buffalo Bills

Buffalo Bills v. Miami Dolphins, 2015 NFL Season
Kevin Hoffman-USA TODAY Sports

Miami will have to face one of the top defenses in the NFL twice next season, and that defense belongs to Buffalo. With Rex Ryan sticking in division, the Dolphins will have to continue to figure out his exotic defensive schemes, and can’t afford to fall behind divisional opponents.

3. Houston Texans

Houston Texans vs. Miami Dolphins, 2015 NFL Season
Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports

3. Houston Texans

Houston Texans vs. Miami Dolphins, 2015 NFL Season
Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports

Depending on whether or not second-year head coach Bill O'Brien finds himself a quarterback by the start of the season, the Texans could be a sleeper team that could be fighting for a wild card spot in December. With tiebreakers being so crucial, Miami can’t afford to give the upper hand to Houston by losing this head-to-head matchup.

2. Baltimore Ravens

Baltimore Ravens v. Miami Dolphins, 2015 NFL Draft
David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports

2. Baltimore Ravens

Baltimore Ravens v. Miami Dolphins, 2015 NFL Draft
David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports

The situation with Baltimore is the same as the one with Houston: Losing means being at a disadvantage with the tie-breaker. It doesn’t help Miami’s case that it has struggled to beat the Ravens in the last decade, with its last win coming against Baltimore in 2007. Head coach Joe Philbin and company must figure out a way to defeat the always-tough foe from the AFC North.

1. New England Patriots

New England Patriots v. Miami Dolphins, 2015 NFL Season
Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports

1. New England Patriots

New England Patriots v. Miami Dolphins, 2015 NFL Season
Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports

If any team wants to make the playoffs, or at least plan on making it all the way to the Super Bowl, chances are they’ll run into the Patriots at some time or another. Unfortunately for Miami, they’ll have to continue to try to beat the Patriots twice in the season. If they can pull that off and hold off the Bills, they’ll be in the drivers’ seat for the division title in ‘15.

Tyler Olson is an NFL and Miami Dolphins writer for www.RantSports.com.  Follow him on Twitter @to2471, like him on Facebook, and connect with him on Google.

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