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One Key Game This Weekend That No One Is Talking About

nyashfan

nyashfan

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Colts@Chiefs

The Dolphins would benefit immensely if the Colts were to win. The Colts last game is home to Jacksonville which they will certainly win. At first glance, therefore, a Colts win versus the Chiefs eliminates the unlikely scenario in which the Dolphins can still acquire the #2 seed based on a 3-way tiebreaker at 10-6 with the Ravens/Bengals & Colts, under the further unlikely assumption that the Patriots lose out. This is wishful thinking and the odds of all of this occurring must be 10,000 to 1 against. The famous philosopher Schopenhauer once defined "hope" as the confusion of the desire of an event with its probability. A famous modern day philosopher and esteemed colleague of ours WVDolphan has expressed the same sentiment more succinctly: "Get Real". The Dolphins are fighting for the #6 seed, not the #2 seed.

The reason that a Colts win greatly benefits the Dolphins is that it allows the Broncos to clinch the AFC West this weekend with a win @Houston. That locks KC into the #5 seed. That means KC has nothing to play for in Week 17. Let's remember that the Dolphins attaining the #6 seed with a 9-7 record requires that a 3-way tie occur with Baltimore and San Diego. Let's also remember that KC plays in the 4:30pm time slot at the Chargers in Week 17. By that time, the 1:00pm Dolphins and Ravens games will have concluded. Under the hypothetical assumption that the Ravens and Dolphins are tied with 9-7 records at 4:30pm on that Sunday, the Chargers will know that they are officially eliminated and will have nothing to play for. The only way that the Chargers could win that game is if the Chiefs also have nothing to play for. And the only way that the Chiefs will have nothing to play for is if the Broncos clinch their division this week. Even though Denver plays at Oakland Week 17, because that game coincides with the San Diego-KC game, the Chiefs will prepare as if they still have a chance for the #1 seed and home field advantage throughout the playoffs.
 
Phillip Rivers will want to win regardless, but I still think the Phins have a good shot at clinching a playoff spot this week by beating the bills, NE beating the Ravens, and Min beating the Bengals.
 
I don't understand why some people can't grasp that the opportunity for the #2 seed is there and although they need help to attain it, that's what you play for. The Colts losing helps the Dolphins keep the #2 seed attainable.

I think some of you may be starved and will have your hunger satisfied just getting to the playoffs. The object is to win and let everything else fall into place.
 
Just being realistic... The reality is that having a 1st round bye is becoming less of an advantage each year. Last year the Ravens defeated the #1 and #2 seeds on the road. I think this is accentuated more since the Dolphins are a young, inexperienced team with respect to the playoffs. And unfortunately, Sun Life stadium offers no home field advantage for the Dolphins. Back in 2008 the Ravens destroyed us at home. Even though I think this Dolphins team is more talented than that 2008 team, I think the best outcome for this team, should they win their next two games, is to play the extra game and not lose any of their momentum. If this were a seasoned team that had a few playoff games under their belt, then I would agree that the #2 seed would matter more.

I know it sounds counterintuitive, but the Dolphins as a #6 seed could replicate the road playoff success that the Jets had in their first two years under Rex Ryan.

MadDog 88 said:
I don't understand why some people can't grasp that the opportunity for the #2 seed is there and although they need help to attain it, that's what you play for. The Colts losing helps the Dolphins keep the #2 seed attainable.

I think some of you may be starved and will have your hunger satisfied just getting to the playoffs. The object is to win and let everything else fall into place.
Click to expand...
 
nyashfan said:
Just being realistic... The reality is that having a 1st round bye is becoming less of an advantage each year. Last year the Ravens defeated the #1 and #2 seeds on the road. I think this is accentuated more since the Dolphins are a young, inexperienced team with respect to the playoffs. And unfortunately, Sun Life stadium offers no home field advantage for the Dolphins. Back in 2008 the Ravens destroyed us at home. Even though I think this Dolphins team is more talented than that 2008 team, I think the best outcome for this team, should they win their next two games, is to play the extra game and not lose any of their momentum. If this were a seasoned team that had a few playoff games under their belt, then I would agree that the #2 seed would matter more.

I know it sounds counterintuitive, but the Dolphins as a #6 seed could replicate the road playoff success that the Jets had in their first two years under Rex Ryan.
Click to expand...
Of course the difference in the NFL from other professional sports is that being the last-seeded team in the playoffs doesn't match you up immediately with the first-seeded one. The first-seeded team is enjoying a bye, while you start the playoffs against the #3 seed.
 
A win and a Baltimore and Cincinnati loss this week gives the Phins a playoff birth....regardless of what happen the rest of the season...that is what I will focus on this weekend...
 
If Miami can't beat Buffalo, we don't deserve a playoff berth. If we do, then I'll start caring about this other crap.
 
Exactly. It offers an inexperienced Dolphins team a more winnable game to start with. Should they win that game, I think it serves them better than sitting out with a bye.

I'm not expecting the Dolphins to be ready to win the Superbowl. I think a "nothing-to-lose" game on the road is better for the psyche of the team than the pressure of being a #2 seed. This team needs playoff experience this year, and anything past the wildcard round would be frosting on the cake.


shouright said:
Of course the difference in the NFL from other professional sports is that being the last-seeded team in the playoffs doesn't match you up immediately with the first-seeded one. The first-seeded team is enjoying a bye, while you start the playoffs against the #3 seed.
Click to expand...
 
if we make the playoffs, im not too worriesd. Maybe we end up playing the Colts or Bengals...we already beat both of them in the regular season. Maybe we end up playing the Chiefs, I firmly believe the Chiefs are just lucky this year. So we get by the first round and have to play....idk...the Patriots? We beat them once this year. How about Denver? Denver has a pretty weak defense, and our pass defense isn't too bad so that would make for a great game. The Patriots scare me more than the Broncos do.
 
I like whatever scenario we have where we play the colts in a dome the first game. Lets win out and hope that happens.
 
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