What Dolphins fans should root for in other games this week. And a practice injury update
For Dolphins fans this week, everything begins with rooting for the Dolphins to beat Baltimore, a step that would clinch the AFC East for Miami and would move the Dolphins closer to securing the top seed in the conference.
But the rooting doesn’t end there.
A fan’s guide on what would be in the best interests of the Dolphins this weekend, beyond Miami winning in Baltimore (1 p.m., CBS):
▪ Root for the Patriots to pull off a big upset in Buffalo.
A New England win on Sunday would clinch the AFC East for the Dolphins, even if the Dolphins lose their final two games.
Miami also can clinch the division title by winning on Sunday at Baltimore or by beating Buffalo in Week 18 in South Florida.
And there would also be this added benefit to a Bills loss on Sunday: A Patriots win would increase the chances of the Bills missing the playoffs, or finishing as the seventh seed, should they also lose in Miami.
▪ Root for the Jets to win at Cleveland on Thursday night on Amazon.
Buffalo and Cleveland are enemies No. 1 and 2 for the Dolphins over the final two weeks of the season.
In Cleveland’s case, the reason to root against the Browns is two-fold:
1) The Browns (10-5) would win a tiebreaker against the 11-4 Dolphins for wild card seeding if the Dolphins don’t win their division. After playing the Jets, Cleveland closes at Cincinnati.
If Miami doesn’t win the division, the Browns will finish as the fifth seed and Miami as the sixth seed unless Cleveland loses twice.
The fifth seed likely will face a flawed AFC South winner (Jacksonville, Indianapolis or Houston). The sixth seed likely would open the playoffs at Kansas City.
2). If the Dolphins win at Baltimore but lose to Buffalo, Miami would win the division but would be the AFC’s top seed only if the Browns lose one of their final two games and Baltimore loses at home to Pittsburgh.
So rooting against Cleveland becomes a priority for Dolphins fans.
▪ If you would prefer Buffalo miss the playoffs, root for Cincinnati to win in Kansas City and Pittsburgh to win in Seattle and for all the AFC South teams to win.
Keep in mind that the Bengals, Steelers, Colts, Jaguars and Texans would win two-team tiebreakers and some three-team tiebreakers against Buffalo.
So let’s say the Dolphins beat the Bills. Even if the Bills beat the Patriots before losing to Miami, Buffalo would be out of the playoffs if, as an example, Pittsburgh wins out and if two AFC South teams win out. (The Colts and Texans play each other in Week 18.)
On Sunday, the Jaguars play Carolina, while the Texans play Tennessee and the Colts play Las Vegas.
Jacksonville then closes at Tennessee, while the Colts and Texans meet in Indianapolis.
After visiting Kansas City on Sunday, Cincinnati finishes its season at home against the Browns.
After playing at Seattle, Pittsburgh closes at Baltimore in a game that might mean nothing to the Ravens if they beat Miami on Sunday to clinch the AFC’s top seed.
If you don’t care if the Bills make the playoffs or not, none of this matters.
And what about the possibility of the Dolphins and Bills meeting in Week 18 and then again to open the playoffs?
If the Bills win the AFC East, they have the edge over the Chiefs for the No. 2 seed barring upsets, reducing the chances of a Dolphins-at-Bills playoff game during wild card weekend.
Keep in mind that Miami can finish no lower than sixth in the AFC. (The No. 2 seed plays the No. 7 seed in the first round.)
If the Dolphins win the AFC East and are the first or second seed (very likely), they could face the Bills to open the playoffs at Hard Rock Stadium if Buffalo is the sixth or seventh seed.
So if you’re a Dolphins fan that doesn’t want to deal with Buffalo in the playoffs, root for them to miss the playoffs altogether.
INJURY UPDATE
Receiver Tyreek Hill, running back Raheem Mosert, guard Robert Hunt, running back De’Von Achane and receiver Jaylen Waddle were not seen at practice.
Mostert (ankle issue) and Hill often are giving veteran off days on Wednesday.
Hunt has missed three games in a row and six overall with a hamstring injury.
Waddle has a high ankle sprain, leaving his status very much in question for Sunday’s game. Mike McDaniel said Waddle’s sprain isn’t “overly’ severe.
Achane has been playing through a toe injury.
Safety Jevon Holland, who has missed four games with sprained MCLs in both knees, participated in individual drills, a step forward from last week.
Receiver Robbie Chosen was spotted on the sideline but remains in concussion protocol.
Right tackle Austin Jackson stretched with the team but did not come out for positional drills, at least during the portion of practice open to reporters.
Miami Herald sportswriter Daniel Oyefusi contributed to this report.
