Breakdown: This is a big year for many in the Miami Dolphins' organization. The team hasn't posted a winning record or made the playoffs since 2008, and owner Stephen Ross is getting impatient. Fourth-year head coach Joe Philbin, who is 23-25 in Miami, enters 2015 with playoff expectations in a must-win season. The schedule is challenging with 10 games against teams with winning records from a year ago. That includes two meetings against the defending Super Bowl champion New England Patriots in Week 8 on the road and Week 17 at home. The AFC East, in general, should be highly competitive. The Dolphins, Buffalo Bills and New York Jets all made significant additions this offseason in an effort to catch New England.

Complaint department: The Dolphins were given an awful travel schedule to start the season. A whopping seven of Miami's first nine games are on the road. That includes a long trip to London, where Miami is the designated home team. The Dolphins will need to win early and often on the road in order to remain competitive and in the playoff hunt. A 3-6 start to the regular season, for example, could ruin Miami's season before the stretch run in November and December.

Back to London: The Dolphins will make the challenging trip to London for the second year in a row. Miami will face the rival Jets in Week 4 at historic Wembley Stadium. Last year, the Dolphins handled the long travel and international schedule well in a win over the Oakland Raiders. The difference in 2015 is Miami is the "home" team in London and is giving up one game at Sun Life Stadium. The Dolphins have just seven home dates and nine road trips this season. Winning the London game will be important for Miami in an effort to balance its schedule.

Strength of schedule: 17th, .492

Dolphins Regular-Season Schedule (all times Eastern)

Week 1: Sunday, Sept. 13, at Washington, 1 p.m.

Week 2: Sunday, Sept. 20, at Jacksonville, 4:05 p.m.

Week 3: Sunday, Sept. 27, Buffalo, 4:25 p.m.

Week 4: Sunday, Oct. 4, N.Y. Jets, 9:30 a.m.*

Week 5: BYE

Week 6: Sunday, Oct. 18, at Tennessee, 1 p.m.

Week 7: Sunday, Oct. 25, Houston, 1 p.m.

Week 8: Thursday, Oct. 29, at New England, 8:25 p.m.

Week 9: Sunday, Nov. 8, at Buffalo, 1 p.m.

Week 10: Sunday, Nov. 15, at Philadelphia, 1 p.m.

Week 11: Sunday, Nov. 22, Dallas, 1 p.m.

Week 12: Sunday, Nov. 29, at N.Y. Jets, 1 p.m.

Week 13: Sunday, Dec. 6, Baltimore, 1 p.m.

Week 14: Monday, Dec. 14, N.Y. Giants, 8:30 p.m.

Week 15: Sunday, Dec. 20, at San Diego, 4:25 p.m.

Week 16: Sunday, Dec. 27, Indianapolis, 1 p.m.

Week 17: Sunday, Jan. 3, New England, 1 p.m.

* - game to be played in London