Check out the game-by-game storylines for the 2022 Miami Dolphins schedule

MIAMI GARDENS — New Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel now knows all that he's up against in 2022.

When the NFL released the entire season schedule Thursday night, we learned that McDaniel's head coaching debut will come Sept. 11 against visiting New England.

We also know the Dolphins have back-to-back games on the West Coast and games on Christmas and New Year's Day.

More on the 2022 schedule: Dolphins to play two prime-time games, three tough road games in a row in 2022

Dolphins bolster their backfield: Ex-Rams, Patriots running back Sony Michel joining crowded Dolphins backfield

Miami Grand Prix: Mike McDaniel uses Formula One race to challenge Dolphins to get it in gear | Habib

Here's a game-by-game breakdown of the storylines surrounding each of the 17 assignments:

vs. New England Patriots (1 p.m., Sept. 11)

The Dolphins open against the Patriots for the third consecutive year. Who’s that guy lining up at wide receiver for the Pats? It’s DeVante Parker, who will look strange in red, white and blue. And, for that matter, Sony Michel running against the team that drafted him. Meanwhile, the Miami Miracle is a gift that keeps on giving. The Dolphins have used that day as a springboard to a 4-1 run vs. the Patriots at home. Although this game falls on Week 1, this could be important in the AFC wild-card race.

At Baltimore Ravens (1 p.m., Sept. 18)

The Ravens aren’t what they once were in the Ray Lewis days but they still have Lamar Jackson and they usually present matchup problems for Miami. The Ravens at one point recently won three straight over Miami by a combined 137-16. That run started with a 38-6 win and yet the Ravens managed to win by increasingly larger margins in the next two meetings. The Dolphins finally broke the skid vs, Baltimore last season. Baltimore's offseason includes adding safety Marcus Williams and defensive end Calais Campbell's return.

vs. Buffalo Bills (1 p.m., Sept. 25)

If the Dolphins want to make a move in the AFC East, this will be a statement day. The Dolphins haven’t left Hard Rock Stadium as winners over Buffalo since 2018. Last year’s meeting resulted in a 35-0 debacle. The glamour matchup here should be WR Stefon Diggs vs. Xavien Howard. Diggs piled up 153 yards in Miami in 2020 but was needed for just four catches for 60 at Hard Rock last season. Don’t forget that the Bills splurged to add edge rusher Von Miller and took ex-Gators cornerback Kaiir Elam in round 1.

At Cincinnati Bengals (8:15 p.m., Sept. 29)

Tua Tagovailoa and Jaylen Waddle vs. Joe Burrow and Ja’Marr Chase. It’d make a pretty decent tag-team match for the WWE. The Dolphins can say they’re happy with their Alabama duo, but the fact is the Bengals’ pair from LSU has put up better numbers thus far. Oh, and the Bengals made it to the Super Bowl last year and are gearing up to win it all in 2022.

At New York Jets (1p.m., Oct. 9)

The Tyreek Hill Bowl. The Dolphins line up against the other finalist in the race to pry Hill from the Kansas City Chiefs. At one point, the Jets and Chiefs had a trade in place for Hill before the Dolphins swooped in. The Jets got their fill in the draft when they took cornerback Sauce Gardner, receiver Garrett Wilson and defensive end Jermaine Johnson in the first round. May as well compare their impact to the 2020 draft when Miami took Tua Tagovailoa, Austin Jackson and Noah Igbinoghene in round 1.

vs. Minnesota Vikings (1 p.m., Oct. 16)

Another stranger from the NFC North arrives, and this time it’s a team Miami has played only 13 times, yet has one of its most significant victories against (the Super Bowl following the 1973 season). The Dolphins’ D could be lining up against a familiar face on Minnesota’s offensive line: Jesse Davis.

vs. Pittsburgh Steelers (8:20 p.m., Oct. 23)

Former first-round draft pick Minkah Fitzpatrick returns to Miami and … wait a second. Are we kidding anybody? The week of this game will be about one thing: the return of Brian Flores, now a senior defensive assistant to Mike Tomlin. Flores has a lawsuit pending in federal court against the Dolphins and the NFL. On the field, the Steelers certainly will look different minus QB Ben Roethlisberger and receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster.

At Detroit Lions (1 p.m., Oct. 30)

Dan Campbell was the Dolphins’ interim head coach in 2015 and a candidate to get the permanent gig. Instead, Miami went with Adam Gase. Now, Campbell gets his chance to prove whether it was a mistake. Campbell went 3-13-1 in his first season in Detroit last year, which was to be expected. Will the Lions be gnawing on opponents’ kneecaps, as Campbell famously indicated? Will edge rusher Charles Harris, the former Dolphins' first-rounder, be doing the chomping? Or will it be Aidan Hutchinson, the No. 2 overall pick?

At Chicago Bears (1 p.m., Nov. 6)

This is where we’re supposed to say something interesting about this game. We tried to come up with something interesting about the Bears. Really, we did.

vs. Cleveland Browns (1 p.m., Nov. 13)

All eyes on the quarterback! That’s regardless of what Roger Goodell has to say about this matchup. Maybe it’ll be Deshaun Watson starting for the Browns. Maybe he’ll be serving a league suspension. We just don’t know. But even if Watson isn’t available, the QB would be ex-Dolphin Jacoby Brissett. Miami fans, we have a hunch, would prefer that. Whoever the QB is, he’ll be targeting ex-Cowboy Amari Cooper.

vs. Houston Texans (1 p.m., Nov. 27)

Dolphins GM Chris Grier revealed that left tackle Laremy Tunsil, traded by Miami to Houston in a blockbuster deal, still texts him from time to time to say hey. “I never would have guessed that it would have led to all of this,” Grier said of the bounty of draft picks Tunsil brought Miami. Grier also admitted both he and Tunsil shed tears the day the trade went down.

At San Francisco 49ers (4:05 p.m., Dec. 4)

Not much to see here. Just Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel going up against his old team and old boss/longtime buddy Kyle Shanahan. Plus RB Raheem Mostert getting reunited with his old San Fran teammates.

At Los Angeles Chargers (4:05 p.m., Dec. 11)

Matchup city! Miami’s offensive line gets the ultimate test as Terron Armstead & Co. try to slow down the nasty duo of Joey Bosa and Khalil Mack. Xavien Howard tries to keep Keenan Allen in check. Oh, and isn’t there a bit of heat on Tagovailoa to put up numbers in his QB duel with Justin Herbert?

At Buffalo Bills (TBD, Dec. 17 or 18)

You have to go back to 2016 for the last time the Dolphins didn’t take a bath in the shadow of Niagara Falls. They won 34-31 in OT that trip, but since then have lost five straight by a combined 179-91. On a positive note, the Bills plan to build a stadium, replacing Highmark Stadium, a structure whose demolition will elicit tears from exactly no one.

vs. Green Bay Packers (1 p.m., Dec. 25)

The Dolphins are one of nine AFC teams that Aaron Rodgers has faced only three times. The only team he has faced fewer times is Pittsburgh (two meetings). Rodgers is 2-1 vs. Miami with six touchdowns and one interception, but he has been sacked 10 times.

At New England Patriots (1 p.m., Jan. 1)

Great way to start the new year, although weather could be a factor.

vs. New York Jets (TBD, Jan. 7 or 8)

It’s tough to label anything a must-win in the spring, but another sweep of the lowly Jets is highly recommended if the Dolphins want to contend for the playoffs. On the plus side, Miami is on an 8-1 run against the Jets, so another MetLife Takeover is a reasonable goal.

Hal Habib covers the Dolphins for The Post. Help support our journalism. Subscribe today.

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Miami Dolphins schedule 2022: Breaking down each game