NFL
By: Rick O’Donnell
The Miami Dolphins haven’t mathematically been eliminated from the playoffs, yet. There’s still an outside chance they can get in but they have an uphill battle. Not only will they have to win out to get in, but they’ll face some stiff competition on their way to their first playoff victory in 24 seasons. So how likely are they to see it play out in their favor? Here’s who’s ahead of them and how their season plays out:
Division Leaders: Buffalo Bills, Pittsburgh Steelers, Houston Texans, Kansas City Chiefs
Those are the 4 teams most likely to win their division, Buffalo and Kansas City have already clinched their playoff spots while the rest are waiting to punch their ticket. Pittsburgh has a two-game lead in their division as do the Texans with 4 games left. Two are in and the other two could stumble but still make a wild card spot
Who’s In Their Way: Ravens, Chargers, Broncos, Colts
The Ravens were the team to beat early in the season but have stumbled as of late. Denver’s defense is keeping them in games and Bo Nix and the offense are handling the rest. Just the same, the Chargers are playing safe football by limiting mistakes and putting themselves in the best spot to hold leads. The Colts have stumbled as well, but hold the head-to-head victory against Miami.
Which Team Blinks First?
Ravens’ remaining schedule: Giants (2-11), Steelers(10-3), Texans(8-5), Browns (3-10).
Baltimore has the talent to go 4-0 the rest of the way, but it won’t be easy. Even if they split the games against the teams with winning records and beat the ones with a losing one, they’d finish 10-7. The Giants may be the only team on the schedule they can pencil in as a win. Steelers are playing solid football right now. Jameis Winston has the Browns looking better than they started the season. They’ve already beaten them once this season and can never be counted out. Houston is the real question mark. If they don’t shoot themselves in the foot, they can beat the Ravens. Best case scenario 4-0. Worst case 1-3. Likely finish: 10-7.
Chargers’ remaining schedule: Buccaneers(7-6), Broncos(8-5), Patriots(3-10), Raiders(2-11).
Despite teams with a drastically skewed win: loss ratio in their final two games, the Chargers have no “easy” games left. The Buccaneers might be hovering around .500, but have played their toughest football even without key playmakers. The Broncos will be playing for their playoff spot. Drake Maye has the Patriots’ offense being slept on only because he’s a rookie, but that team cannot be counted out. Then you can never count out a division rival looking to play spoiler at the end of a season, with nothing to lose, and looking to finish strong. Best case scenario 3-1. Worst case scenario: 1-3. Likely finish; 10-7.
Broncos’ remaining schedule: Colts(6-7), Chargers(8-5), Bengals(5-8), Chiefs(12-1).
If any team stumbles and boosts the Dolphins’ hopes for the playoffs, it’s the Denver Broncos. Not because the team is bad and will likely fail, but because they have the toughest remaining schedule to end the season. The Broncos, with a rookie quarterback, will have to take on four teams in the hunt to keep their playoff hopes alive. The Colts and Bengals might have losing records but are still on the bubble. The Bengals started off the season stumbling but have looked like a much better team as of late. The Colts could easily make their game a challenge. The Chiefs could sit their starters going into the final week to give them the rest of the playoffs. The Chargers are playing fundamental football right now. Best case scenario 2-2. Worst case scenario 0-4. Likely finish: 9-8.
Colts remaining schedule: Broncos(8-5), Titans(3-10), Giants(2-11), Jags(3-10).
If the Broncos have the toughest path to the playoffs, then the Colts have the easiest. Their last 3 opponents have as many wins as their toughest game in the Broncos. Out of the three remaining teams, only the Titans still have their starting quarterback playing. NFL teams say they want to win every game, but the likelihood of the Giants dropping in the draft order is unlikely. The Jags are a wild card by head-to-head standards. Best case scenario: 3-1. Worst case scenario: 2-2. Likely finish: 9-8
Dolphins’ remaining schedule: Texanx(8-5), 49ers(6-7), Browns(3-10), Jets(3-10).
Three teams with a losing record and a streaky playoff team stand in the way of the Miami Dolphins’ postseason hopes. If they can survive the Texans it will greatly improve their chances but Houston will be looking to clinch in the next game or two. The Browns are playing upset to plenty of playoff teams, especially the tough ones in their division. The 49ers can easily turn it into a shootout and McDaniel will have to turn it on when he faces his old team. The Jets might look to shut some key players down to end the season or they might play spoiler, as they often do, to the Dolphins. Tua is 12-0 against the Patriots and Jets so far but you can never rule out a division rival. Best case scenario 4-0. Worst case scenario 2-2. Likely finish: 10-7.
There is no easy road for Miami to make the playoffs. They don’t need to win out to make it, but it would surely help. Each remaining team will have to finish strong but could easily knock Miami out. If the rest of the season shakes out as predicted, the five remaining playoff spots would be: Steelers, Ravens, Chargers, Texans, Dolphins. For the sake of Dolphins fans and the longest active drought without a playoff win, fingers crossed.
