Key to the Dolphins playoff chances - Ryan Mallett??

[Tupac Shakur]

you are probably saying to yourself: "self, what the hell is 2Pac talking about now?"

well, i can explain. the houston texans are just sitting there at 5-5. flying under the radar. haven't looked that great this year with the exception of the incredible play from j.j. watt. now they have just made a qb change and are going with the young gun mr. ryan mallett. unproven, unknown except we know he's got a rocket arm. can he play well enough for the texans to get to 10 wins and throw a wrench in the playoff plans of the dolphins? let's see what the texans face for their remaining schedule:

12 Nov 23 12:00PMCST *

Bengals

i see this as a greater than 50% chance at a win for the texans. houston is playing at home - the bengals are inconsistent, andy dalton and the gang have lost twice down there in the playoffs, among other factors.


13 Nov 30 12:00PMCST *

Titans

i see this as a definite win for the texans


14 Dec 7 12:00PMCST * AT

Jaguars

no brainer win for the texans


15 Dec 14 12:00PMCST * AT

Colts

this is a loss


16 Dec 21 12:00PMCST *

Ravens

another case i see as a greater than 50% chance at a win for the texans. home game versus another inconsistent team, and at this point in the season with two teams fighting for their playoff lives, i give the edge to the home team.


17 Dec 28 12:00PMCST *

Jaguars

no brainer win


now...

• let's say the texans take both of those home games - against the bengals and the ravens. that leaves them at 10-6, afc record of 9-3.
• let's say the dolphins lose to the broncos and patriots as we more than likely expect, and win their remaining games. that leaves the fins with an afc record of 8-4.
• texans win the tiebreaker and get in the playoffs.
  

try for yourself, here's a link to espn's nfl playoff machine. My best guesses of wins and losses have the dolphins on the outside looking in, even with their 10-6 record.http://espn.go.com/nfl/playoffs/machine

and if you are curious, here is my direct scenario

so... moral of my story is i am going to root for the bengals to beat the texans this week. that would make me feel much better about our chances.

**of course this is all wildly speculative - just trying to present an angle that may not have been thought about by many dolphins fans.

peace...one...

 

[Sons Of Shula]

Keep it simple; win and get in.

 

[truedolfan57]

Texans are not making the playoffs. Mallett can suck a big one.

 

[stephins87]

Keep it simple; win and get in.

This. This team just had to win a game last season in the final 2 weeks and choked vs. the Jills and Jests. They scored what, 7 points the last two weeks of the season? I'm all about this team just taking care of business for once and not relying on others.

 

[MarinoEqualsGod]

Root for the bengals to win every week. Their tie is the only thing that scares me from us not getting into the playoffs

 

[Good_Dylan]

I had fun with it...just picked MIA to win for 3 straight weeks and the Pats to lose ...
Mia jumped to #1 seed


Awesome seeing the Pats lose so many in a row...

 

[NY8123]

 

[nyashfan]

Tupac, right or wrong I love threads like this in which posters think "outside the box" and challenge my thought processes.

Prior to last Sunday's kickoff I created a thread arguing that a KC win over Seattle could help the Dolphins playoff chances in two ways: 1) keeping KC within one game of Denver and playing them the following week for the division lead could create a "trap game" for Denver against Miami 2) with Denver's loss to St. Louis it now gives the Dolphins a chance for wildcard tiebreakers against both SD and Denver should KC win the AFC West.

I felt the AFC West was being prematurely handed to Denver and eliminating KC from wildcard tiebreakers could help Miami's playoff chances.

Now others will argue that the Denver loss to St. Louis eliminates Miami as a "trap game" for Denver. Maybe, maybe not.The Broncos' struggle with physical defenses has increased the optimism of Dolphin fans that this game is winnable.

 

[Fins1971]

Fairly easy schedule for the Texans who are heating up. Anything is possible.

Right now we have 75% chance of making if we go 10-6, Houston could be one of those outliers that makes up the other 25%

Once we get to 11-5 our odds go up to 99%

Think about it this way. If 5-3 wasn't good enough to get you the #6 seed at mid season, then counting on 10-6 to get you in at the end of the year is flawed.
Just keep winning

 

[Dolphin_Daz]

I did this, had us losing to Denver and New England....win the other 4...... 10-6 got us in over Baltimore. That game we have against them will be do or die for both teams.