Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa (1) hands the football to Miami Dolphins running back De'Von Achane (28) during the first half of an NFL football game against the San Francisco 49ers, Sunday, Dec. 22, 2024, in Miami Gardens, Fla. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)
The NFL continues to expand beyond the United States, announcing its first game in Madrid, Spain, hosted by the Miami Dolphins. The Dolphins will play in Bernabeu Stadium, the venue of Real Madrid. The soccer pitch will be transformed into an American football field in a stadium that can hold over 78,000 fans. Miami’s opponent is unknown, and the date is yet to be determined. These facets will remain unknown until the NFL schedule release in spring, but it is still a positive development for the league and the Miami Dolphins.It makes logical that the Miami Dolphins are hosting the inaugural game in Madrid, as only the Chicago Bears and Miami Dolphins have marketing rights in Spain. Because of the NFL’s marketing agreements, they have the authority to host events and air ads in the designated areas. With the ultimate goal of building fan bases in different places around the world, it’s an intriguing approach to expanding the game and league. Because of their frequent appearances in London, the Jacksonville Jaguars have a following there. The Miami Dolphins and the NFL might try to start a similar thing in Madrid, Spain.Additionally, this is a positive development for the Miami Dolphins organization. The Dolphins are hosting the first game in Madrid after playing the Kansas City Chiefs in Germany in 2023. It demonstrates the extent to which the squad has developed and gained recognition in recent years. Miami has played more prime-time games since Tyreek Hill was added. The squad has seen varying degrees of success as a result. In two of the previous three years, they have qualified for the playoffs. However, they both lost in the second half of the season and were eliminated in the Wild Card Round.
The Miami Dolphins had a lackluster season. They missed the playoffs with an 8-9 record at the end. Due to a concussion, Tua Tagovailoa missed a considerable amount of time. The Dolphins found themselves in a hole from which they were unable to escape. They had a three-game winning streak and were 2-6. They had a chance to push for a wild card at 5-6, but they ended the season 3-3 in the final six games. Miami’s inability to defeat strong teams in this new era is their major weakness. They were defeated by the Texans, the Packers, the Cardinals, the Bills twice, and others.
The team has also experienced some dysfunction. After appearing to drop out during the team’s season-ending game, Tyreek Hill has asked to be traded. The Miami Dolphins, who sacrificed a lot of assets to get Hill, would suffer a severe setback. He is among the NFL’s most productive receivers when he is playing at his best. The Dolphins’ offense would suffer a serious setback if they were to trade Hill. Throughout his coaching career, Mike McDaniel has never had a strong rushing attack; instead, his systems have depended on movement with Hill and Waddle. Therefore, losing a top receiver would have an impact, but Hill’s detrimental influence on the team’s culture might make him essentially extinct.Although the Miami Dolphins are unaware of their opponent at Bernabeu Stadium, they are aware of the potential opponent. The Patriots, Bills, and Jets—their divisional rivals—will be their home opponents. Additionally, they have home games against the Saints, Chargers, Commanders, Bengals, Buccaneers, and Ravens. In Madrid, the Dolphins will play one of these clubs. Star players and playoff contenders will be on show in a number of exciting contests among this group.
