What to Know
- A loss to either the Kansas City Chiefs this Sunday or Buffalo next weekend means the Dolphins will be sitting home watching the playoffs.
- Miami has not made it to the postseason in back to back years since a five season run from 1997 to 2001.
When the Miami Dolphins walked off the field last Sunday with a 24-16 loss to the Buffalo Bills, the team’s hopes of making it back to the playoffs for a second straight season took a major hit.
But, even at 6-8, the Fins are somehow still holding on the thinnest of chances they will be back in the postseason. How can they make it in? Well, we’re glad you asked.
First off, it starts with Miami needing to win both of their remaining games. A loss to either the Kansas City Chiefs this Sunday or Buffalo next weekend means the Dolphins will be sitting home watching the playoffs. From there, Miami needs plenty of help.
If Buffalo were to beat the New England Patriots this Sunday, the Dolphins would need the following things to take place to make the playoffs:
- The Tennessee Titans would need to lose their final two games against the St. Louis Rams and Jacksonville Jaguars, both teams that have qualified for the postseason already and may sit starters as a result. Miami holds the tiebreaker over the Titans after beating them this season.
- The Baltimore Ravens would need to lose both of their final two games against the Indianapolis Colts and Cincinnati Bengals – teams with a combined 8-20 record entering this weekend. While the Ravens beat the Dolphins in the regular season, Miami would hold the tiebreaker with a better conference record.
- The Oakland Raiders to lose to the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 16 and beat the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 17. Miami would finish with the same record as L.A. and hold the tiebreaker with their regular season win over the Chargers, while they would have a better record than the Raiders – a team that beat Miami earlier this season.
If the Patriots come out on top, the scenarios become slightly easier – as it would mean the Bills would have lose both their final games and be out of the picture. If that happens and the Ravens and Titans lose their final two games while Miami wins out, it’s back in the postseason.
Local
Of course, if either Baltimore or Tennessee win one of their final two games, the Dolphins be eliminated. Miami has not made it to the postseason in back to back years since a five season run from 1997 to 2001.
