Sometimes the easiest way to figure out scenarios without a flow chart, is an
IF and THEN chart. I added and "AND" column in this case. I threw the various info from the Palm Beach Post into the chart, so see how it shakes out. After we beat Buffalo on Sunday, if both the Bengals and Raven lose, we're in like Flynn, and the Jets game won't matter. If things don't go according to plan, and it looks like we can't pull out the Buffalo game...then we can still sneak in the playoffs with a wildcard spot if the Ravens run the table. So if we don't win, we need the Bengals to lose at 1pm, and the Ravens to win at 4pm.
The chart is basically best to worst case scenario:
IF
| AND
| THEN
| COMMENTS
|
Miami wins all | NE loses to Ravens and Bills | Dolphins are division champs | |
Miami wins all | Baltimore wins all | Dolphins get Wildcard (at least #6 seed) | Ravens would be AFC North Champs |
Miami beats the Bills on Sunday. | Ravens lose to NE, and Bengals lose to Vikings. | Dolphins get Wildcard. | Dolphins and Bengals would be 9-6 and Ravens would be 8-7. Cincinnati then hosts Baltimore in final game, and winner wins AFC North. Loser is eliminated. |
Miami loses one of last 2 games | Ravens beat NE, Bengals lose to Vikings, and Ravens beat the Bengals in the finale for the division title. | Ravens win AFC North, Dolphins get Wildcard. | Ravens final game against Bengals would be for the division title, thus freeing up the wildcard spot. |
Miami loses one of last 2 games | Ravens beat NE, Bengals lose to Vikings, and Bengals beat the Ravens in the finale for the division title. | Bengals win AFC North, Ravens get Wildcard and Dolphins are eliminated. | |
Miami loses one of last 2 games. | Ravens lose to NE, Bengals beat Vikings, and Ravens beat Bengals in the last game. | Bengals clinch AFC North, Ravens get wildcard, and Dolphins are eliminated. | |
Miami loses one of last 2 games | Ravens win, and Bengals win this Sunday. | Dolphins are eliminated. | |