Dolphins to play two prime-time games, three tough road games in a row in 2022

MIAMI GARDENS — Two prime-time games highlight the Dolphins’ 2022 schedule announced by the NFL on Thursday night.

The return of former coach Brian Flores to Hard Rock Stadium proved too tempting for NBC to pass up, so Miami’s home game against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Oct. 23 will mark the Dolphins’ return to “Sunday Night Football” after a four-year absence in the featured game of the week. Flores, who is suing the Dolphins and the league, is a senior defensive assistant for Steelers coach Mike Tomlin.

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

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

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

Miami’s other prime-time assignment was chosen for more conventional reasons. It’s Miami’s visit to Cincinnati to face the defending AFC champion Bengals on Sept. 29. That game, on a Thursday night, will mark Miami’s first appearance on Amazon Prime Video, in its first season with TNF. It will feature a quarterback matchup of Tua Tagovailoa vs. Joe Burrow.

For the third consecutive season, the Dolphins will open against the New England Patriots. After starting the past two seasons in Foxborough, the Dolphins will host the Patriots this time, on Sept. 11.

Miami’s first road game is the following Sunday, Sept. 18, at Baltimore.

The Dolphins’ bye falls on Nov. 20.

The Dolphins face a difficult stretch run in their bid to make the playoffs for the first time since 2016.

They will play San Francisco, the Los Angeles Chargers and Buffalo Bills all on the road in consecutive weeks starting Dec. 4. In fact, following the Nov. 13 home game vs. Cleveland, the Dolphins will play only one additional home game (vs. Houston) until Green Bay visits on Christmas Day. Miami is 2-1 all-time on Christmas, including their classic playoff win at Kansas City.

It’s possible the Dolphins will play two frigid games in 2022 — the game in Buffalo (on Dec. 17 or 18) and a trip to New England on New Year’s Day.

The Dolphins will complete the 17-game regular season at home vs. the New York Jets on Jan. 7 or 8.

The Dolphins will play nearly half their games in 2022 against teams that made the playoffs last season. Four of five late-season opponents were playoff teams. Overall, there are two games each against Buffalo and New England, plus playoff qualifiers Green Bay, Pittsburgh, Cincinnati and San Francisco.

There are four games against defending division champions: Two vs. Buffalo, plus Cincinnati and Green Bay.

By season’s end, the Dolphins will have padded their frequent-flier miles.

They are scheduled to travel 25,178 miles this season, fourth-most in the NFL. That would change should the Dolphins opt to remain in California between games against the 49ers and Chargers, which is a distinct possibility. The three teams traveling more miles — the Seahawks (29,446), Broncos (27,398) and Jaguars (25,534) all have international games in Europe.

This season marks just the third time the Dolphins have played on “Sunday Night Football” since NBC took over the package in 2006. Miami lost both previous appearances, on Sept. 26, 2010, vs. the Jets and on Nov. 5, 2017, vs. Oakland.

The Dolphins' preseason games are at Tampa Bay (Aug. 13), vs. Las Vegas (Aug. 20) and vs. Philadelphia (Aug. 27).

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

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Dolphins vs. Steelers, Flores picked for 'Sunday Night Football'