Dolphins get another London trip, then home-heavy finish to warm-weather 2021 season

The Miami Dolphins will face the defending Super Bowl champions, have a Monday Night Football game and could head across the pond again during the 2021 season.

The Dolphins’ participation in the NFL’s International Series highlights Wednesday’s 2021 schedule reveal for Miami.

And if all goes well — particularly if the game isn’t canceled due to COVID-19 protocols like it was last year — the Dolphins will play the Jacksonville Jaguars in London on Oct. 17 in Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Dolphins-Jaguars will showcase two of the NFL’s young quarterbacks in Miami’s Tua Tagovailoa, the No. 5 pick in the 2020 NFL draft, and Jacksonville’s Trevor Lawrence, who was the No. 1 pick last month.

It will also pit rising NFL coach Brian Flores, starting his third season with the Dolphins, against Urban Meyer, one of college football’s greatest coaches, in his first NFL season.

The Dolphins will begin their season on the road at New England on Sept. 12, and end their season at home against the Patriots on Jan. 9.

The Dolphins will visit Tom Brady and the defending champion Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Oct. 10.

They’ll face Lamar Jackson and the Baltimore Ravens on Thursday night in Week 10 (Nov. 11).

The Dolphins will play on the road against the New Orleans Saints on Monday Night football in Week 16 (Dec. 27), and visit old quarterback Ryan Tannehill and the Tennessee Titans in Week 17 (Jan. 2).

Here’s the preseason schedule:

Preseason Week 1: at Chicago Bears, Aug. 14, 1 p.m.

Preseason Week 2: vs. Atlanta Falcons, Aug. 21, 7 p.m.

Preseason Week 3: at Cincinnati Bengals, Aug. 29, 4 p.m.

And here’s breakdown of the Miami Dolphins 2021 football schedule:

Week 1: at New England Patriots, Sept. 12, 4:25 p.m., CBS

The Dolphins open the second straight season on the road against the Patriots in Foxborough, Mass., where they are 1-1 in the Flores era, including their stunning win over Brady, Belichick and the Patriots to end the 2019 season. Miami lost its opener last season.

Week 2: vs. Buffalo Bills, Sept. 19, 1 p.m., FOX

The Dolphins host the Bills, where Miami’s last win over Buffalo came at Hard Rock Stadium during Allen’s rookie season in 2018.

Week 3: at Las Vegas Raiders, Sept. 26, 4:05 p.m., CBS

Dolphins return to Las Vegas for the second straight year, after their Week 16 win over the Raiders where former quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick’s heave toward the sideline while his helmet was violently tugged set up a game-winning field-goal by Jason Sanders.

Week 4: vs. Indianapolis Colts, Oct. 3, 1 p.m., CBS

Dolphins will play the Colts in Miami, marking the third matchup in four seasons between the teams. Flores won his first road game as Dolphins coach in Indianapolis in 2019.

Week 5: at Tampa Bay Buccaneers Oct. 10, 1 p.m., CBS

Dolphins visit the Buccaneers for the first time during the regular season since 2013. The matchup marks the third straight season Miami plays a reigning Super Bowl champion. Miami’s last visit to Tampa Bay came during the 2019 preseason.

Week 6: at Jacksonville Jaguars in London, Oct. 17, 9:30 a.m., CBS

The Dolphins will play in London against the Jaguars after having their 2020 game there canceled due to COVID-19. Miami is 1-3 in London (beat Raiders in 2014, lost to Giants in 2007, Jets in 2015 and Saints in 2017).

Week 7: vs. Atlanta Falcons, Oct. 24, 1 p.m., FOX

Dolphins host the Falcons for the first time since 2013. Atlanta may have caused Miami some angst during the 2021 NFL draft where the Falcons drafted tight end Kyle Pitts, and traded away their pick that allowed the Denver Broncos to draft a running back before Miami’s second-round selection.

Week 8: at Buffalo Bills, Oct. 31, 1 p.m., CBS

Dolphins return to Buffalo where last season ended one game shy of a playoff berth with a lopsided 56-26 defeat. Miami’s last win at New Era Field came in 2016.

Week 9: vs. Houston Texans, Nov. 7, 1 p.m., FOX

Dolphins host the team that fueled their rebuilding effort with a slew of draft picks after Miami traded away franchise left tackle Laremy Tunsil. Miami may also face Deshaun Watson, who was the subject of trade rumors during the offseason.

Week 10: vs. Baltimore Ravens, Nov. 11, 8:20 p.m., FOX/NFLN/Amazon

Remember when Lamar Jackson and the Ravens scored 59 in the first game of the Flores era? I’m sure that won’t be forgotten when Jackson, the Pompano Beach native, returns to Hard Rock Stadium on Thursday night.

Week 11: at New York Jets, Nov. 21, 1 p.m., CBS

Dolphins visit the Jets, where they have won three of their last five against them at MetLife Stadium. Miami outscored New York 44-3 last season.

Week 12: vs. Carolina Panthers, Nov. 28, 1 p.m., FOX

The Dolphins get the host the new-look Panthers with quarterback Sam Darnold, who was winless against Miami during his time with the Jets.

Week 13: vs. New York Giants, Dec. 5, 1 p.m., FOX

The NFL’s new 17-game schedule allows the Dolphins to host the NFC East Giants, who visit for the first time since beating Miami on Monday night in Dec. 2015.

Week 14: BYE WEEK, Dec. 12.

Week 15: vs New York Jets, Dec. 18 or 19, Time/TV TBD

The Dolphins could play on a Saturday or Sunday in Week 15 against the Jets, hoping to hand New York its sixth straight loss at Hard Rock Stadium.

Week 16: at New Orleans Saints, Dec. 27, 8:15 p.m., ESPN

Dolphins visit the Saints on Monday Night Football for the first time in the regular season since 2013 in New Orleans’ first season without Drew Brees at quarterback. Miami’s last MNF appearance was at Pittsburgh in 2019.

Week 17: at Tennessee Titans, Jan. 2, 1 p.m., CBS

The Dolphins visit Nashville, Tenn., during the regular season for the first time since 2015, where former Dolphins starter Ryan Tannehill awaits. After seven seasons in Miami, Tannehill enters his third season with the Titans, who won the AFC South last season.

Week 18: vs. New England Patriots, Jan. 9, 1 p.m., CBS

How about a bookended season with the Patriots at home? The Dolphins have won six of their last eight against New England at Hard Rock Stadium, including last season’s game which eliminated Bill Belichick from playoff contention for the first time since 2008.