With back-to-back wins, the Miami Dolphins have life. What will it take to make the playoffs?
The Miami Dolphins can only afford to lose one game the rest of the season.
That might sound a bit harsh but it’s true. If the Dolphins want to have a chance to end the 24-year playoff win drought, it starts with going at least 6-1 in their final seven game stretch. Players like Anthony Walker Jr. know it too.
“We kind of entered the playoffs a bit early,” the inside linebacker said Monday. “Our mind-set is basically stacking wins and taking it one week at a time.”
Just take a look at the rest of the AFC. If the season ended today, the three wild card teams would be the Los Angeles Chargers (7-3), Baltimore Ravens (7-4) and the Denver Broncos (6-5). In between the Dolphins (4-6) and that final wild card spot sit the Indianapolis Colts (5-6). To truly understand the Dolphins’ chances, let’s take a brief look at how each of the potential wildcard teams will finish the season.
Chargers
The Chargers’ final seven games are as follows: Baltimore Ravens (home), Atlanta Falcons (away), Kansas City Chiefs (away), Tampa Bay Buccaneers (home), Denver Broncos (home), New England Patriots (away) and Las Vegas Raiders (away)
Only two teams — the Ravens and Chiefs — could potentially really challenge the Chargers. If they lose both games, the Chargers would still finish the season 12-5 which would certainly be playoff record. Consider at least one of those wild card spots gone.
Ravens
The Ravens’ final six games are as follows: Los Angeles Chargers (away), Philadelphia Eagles (home), New York Giants (away), Pittsburgh Steelers (home), Houston Texans (away) and Cleveland Browns (home).
Four of the teams — the Chargers, Eagles, Steelers and Texans — could present a problem for the Ravens. If they split those four games, the Ravens would still end the season 11-6. That’s certainly a playoff record. There goes another wild card spot.
Broncos
The Broncos’ end-of-season schedule is as follows: Las Vegas Raiders (away), Cleveland Browns (home), Indianapolis Colts (home), Los Angeles Chargers (away), Cincinnati Bengals (away) and Kansas City Chiefs (home).
With a brutal three-game stretch against the Chargers, Bengals and Chiefs, the Broncos could go 3-3 to end the season to put them a respectable 9-8.
Colts
The Colts’ end-of-season schedule is as follows: Detroit Lions (home), New England Patriots (away), Denver Broncos (away), Tennessee Titans (home), New York Giants (away), Jacksonville Jaguars (home).
This has to be one of the easiest remaining schedules in the NFL. Only two games — the Lions and the Broncos — could wind up being losses. A 4-2 record over those final six games would also put the Colts at 9-8.
If both the Colts and Broncos finish at 9-8, the Dolphins will have to win 10 games to even sniff the postseason. That’s in large part due to the Colts’ Week 7 victory against the Dolphins which gives them the tiebreaker.
The Dolphins’ remaining schedule, however, is a bit difficult. During their final seven games, Miami will play the New England Patriots (home), Green Bay Packers (away), New York Jets (home), Houston Texans (away), San Francisco 49ers (home), Cleveland Browns (away) and New York Jets (away).
Could the Dolphins win six of their final seven games? Sure. To quote the great Kevin Garnett, anything is possible. But a trip to Lambeau Field, a healthy Texans squad and what will surely be a hungry 49ers team ultimately stand in the Dolphins’ way.
The Dolphins have dug themselves in a deep, deep hole. Back-to-back wins might have given Miami a bit of life, but a strong finish is what’s needed now. And that starts Sunday against the Patriots. Just ask Calais Campbell.
“We gave ourselves an opportunity, but we still are in the hole,” the defensive tackle said after Sunday’s win. “We’ve still got a long way to go. And the guys know it, but the good thing is there’s life. We’ve got a lot of life, a lot of fight left. This next one is going to be a big one. Division game at home against a team that’s playing hungry. I know Drake Maye had a pretty good game today. They lost, but he played well. We’re going to have our hands full. We have to go earn it again, but this next one is going to be huge.”
This story was originally published November 18, 2024 at 6:32 PM.
