While the NFL has kept fans in suspense about the full regular season schedule, set to be unveiled Wednesday night, avid football enthusiasts and sources have pieced together a likely lineup of games for the coming season. Among the anticipated matchups, one in particular catches the eye: a Thanksgiving showdown featuring the Miami Dolphins taking on the Green Bay Packers at the iconic Lambeau Field.
This matchup is a repeat of last year’s holiday season game, which saw the teams face off at Miami’s Hard Rock Stadium on Christmas Day. The Packers clinched a narrow 26-20 victory over the Dolphins in that encounter. While the Dolphins have a history of Thanksgiving appearances—dating back to memorable games against teams like the Dallas Cowboys and the Detroit Lions—this year marks a new chapter as they are slated to make their debut in an evening game on this quintessential American holiday.
The Dolphins’ holiday history includes engagements with the Cowboys in years such as 1973, 1993, 1999, 2003, and 2011; a game against the Detroit Lions in 2006; and a matchup with the St. Louis Cardinals back in 1977. Yet, the upcoming Thanksgiving game promises to be an unprecedented event under the Lambeau Field lights.
Additionally, the Dolphins are looking forward to a season rich in prime-time visibility, with projections including a total of five night games. Highlights include a Week 4 Monday night bout against the Tennessee Titans, recalling last season’s intense competition; a Week 10 venture to SoFi Stadium to tackle the Los Angeles Rams on a Monday night; and a Week 17 clash against the Cleveland Browns on Sunday night, marking the Dolphins’ second Sunday evening game at that venue, their previous being against the L.A. Chargers in 2022.
One of the few games already etched in stone is the Dolphins’ Week 2 faceoff with the Buffalo Bills, slated for Thursday, Sept. 12, at Hard Rock Stadium at 8 p.m. ET.
The Thanksgiving Day football tradition will carry on with other games including Chicago at Detroit in the early slot at 12:30 p.m. ET, followed by the New York Giants versus Dallas Cowboys mid-afternoon at 4:15 p.m. ET, setting the stage for varied football action throughout the day.
As fans and teams alike await the official schedule release, the leaked insights offer a glimpse into a promising season ahead, packed with high-stakes matchups and prime-time drama. From the season opener at home against the Jacksonville Jaguars to a Week 18 closeout at the New York Jets, the Dolphins’ journey through this NFL season is poised to be one of intense competition and memorable moments.