How would the new proposed NFL playoff format have impacted the Dolphins in past years?
On Wednesday night, the rumored expansion of the NFL playoffs looks like it’s going to become a reality for the 2020-21 football season, according to ESPN.
The move would mean one more playoff team — seven in total — for each conference with only the top conference team receiving a bye, according to Adam Schefter’s ESPN report.
So if the proposal, which comes from the NFL owners, comes to fruition, what would that have meant for the Miami Dolphins had it taken effect in past seasons?
Here’s a look at those seasons and how they could have changed:
2019
At 5-11, the Dolphins were not in playoff contention regardless on if an extra berth was available. Instead, they were aiming for a top pick in this year’s NFL Draft. Of note, though, is the Pittsburgh Steelers would have snagged the seventh — and final playoff spot — in the AFC and met eventual Super Bowl champion Kansas City in the first round. The Chiefs would not have gotten a bye.
2018
The Dolphins went 7-9, which was 2 1/2 games out of the final playoff berth had there been seven up for grabs. The seventh spot belonged to the Steelers, who were 9-6-1.
2017
A 6-10 campaign saw the Dolphins well out of reach from a playoff berth. The 2017 season featured four AFC teams finishing with 9-7 records to decide the two wild card berths. If the field was expanded that season, the third and final wild card berth would have gone to the Baltimore Ravens over the Chargers based on the conference record tiebreaker.
2016
Nothing changes, because the Dolphins were already a playoff team for their 10-6 season. A first-round playoff game in Pittsburgh still would have happened. And the 30-12 loss still happens.
2015
The last playoff spot wasn’t in view for the Dolphins following a 6-10 season. That berth would have gone to the New York Jets, who would have played the Patriots in New England.
2014
Now this a season where things get interesting when looking in hindsight. The Dolphins finished 8-8, which was one game from a four-way tie for the seventh spot. The Dolphins lost their final game, too, against a Jets team that had three wins coming into the final week. However, the Dolphins didn’t have anything to play for that final game. But even if they did, with an extra playoff berth at stake, and defeated the Jets that last week, they still miss the playoffs through the conference record tiebreaker to the Houston Texans.
2013
The final two games of the season cost the Dolphins a playoff berth, whether there were six or seven spots. Losses in their final two games against the Bills and Jets meant Miami was eliminated from playoff contention at 8-8. Even if the field had the extra wild card, the Dolphins lost out on a tiebreaker with the other three teams that finished with 8-8 records.
2012
The last AFC wild card berth was out of reach in the 2012 season for any team on the outside heading into the final week. But that would not have been the case had there been seven playoff participants. The seventh spot would have been between the Dolphins and Steelers. Ultimately, the Steelers finished one game ahead of the Dolphins. Had there been a seventh spot available and the Dolphins won the final week to finish tied with the Steelers, who did win their final regular season game? Well, the Dolphins would have pipped the Steelers on the common games tiebreaker.
What did we learn?
Not much would have changed for the Dolphins and the playoffs if the NFL’s proposed playoff expansion been in effect the past eight seasons.
