A hot Dolphins team against the Patriots’ second string is not a matchup that scares me. The Patriots will likely have nothing to play for by the time this game rolls around. However, it’s entirely probable that Bill Belichick will choose to rest most of the starters. The idea of facing the Patriots likely makes most fans cringe, and rightly so. If Moore can lead the Dolphins to victory against the Bills, Miami will travel home to finish up the season against the Patriots. That actually seems a bit more reasonable after watching Matt Moore look comfortable with the offense in last Sunday’s demolishing of the New York Jets. The easiest way for the Dolphins to take the first Wild Card spot and get their most favorable matchup starts with them winning both games. There are actually two scenarios in which the Dolphins could come out of next week’s games with the fifth seed, which would mean a very favorable matchup with the winner of the AFC South. Should the Chiefs fall to the Broncos at home, Dolphins fans will be rooting for the San Diego Chargers come the final Sunday of the regular season. If the Dolphins win one game and Kansas City loses both of their remaining games, the final spot is Miami’s.īut Miami’s playoff scenarios don’t stop at the second Wild Card spot.

If, however, Denver does manage to run the table and beat both the Chiefs and Raiders, Miami is still alive for the second Wild Card spot. I still think the Oakland Raiders will have the division wrapped up by then, but time will tell. Then they finish the season with a game that could decide the AFC West. They go on the road to Kansas City this weekend. If the Miami Dolphins win one of their next two games, either against Buffalo or New England, and the Denver Broncos lose one game, the Dolphins clinch.ĭenver has a rough road to close out the season. 6 seed could easily be accomplished by the end of this weekend. The first and most likely scenario in which Miami can lose a game and still wind up with the No. There are a couple of scenarios where the Dolphins can clinch, even with a loss to either Buffalo Bills or New England Patriots. Take care of business, and the playoffs are guaranteed.īut, should the Dolphins falter, all hope is not lost. The Dolphins are in control of their own destiny. No backing into the playoffs, no hoping someone else loses. The first playoff scenario is simple: Win and you’re in. Subsequently, we’ll take a look at what it’ll take to get there, breaking down the playoff scenarios for Miami. Instead, we’re looking at the real possibility of Matt Moore leading the Dolphins to the postseason. Gase and the coaching staff were deemed a failure.Īnd yet, as we head into the penultimate week of the 2016 season, that’s exactly where we are. We’re not talking about yet another failed season. Fans and pundits were calling for Ryan Tannehill’s head. When the Miami Dolphins started the 2016 NFL season at 1-4, you would have been hard-pressed to find a fan-myself included-who believed the playoffs were still possible.

Here’s how their playoff scenarios break down. Surprisingly, the Miami Dolphins are in the thick of the playoff hunt.

Miami dolphins play by play