Fin_Of_Steel
Practice Squad
- Joined
- Dec 4, 2016
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Yes, before we get started I'm well aware that the Dolphins still have a lot of work to do to make the playoffs, and all things considered just getting in should be a success. In fact, a winning season is a success this year. I get all that. But I haven't seen this team play in the second weekend of the postseason since I was 17, and I'm in my mid-30s now and really want to see it.
As we know, the Dolphins don't match up well against the Ravens, and I think traveling to Pittsburgh in the first round would be an equally difficult chore (albeit slightly easier for us.) So I want to see what scenarios are out there for Miami to make the playoffs and avoid having to go on the road to Pittsburgh or Baltimore.
Scenario one: Miami wins the division. This is extremely unlikely as it would require the Pats to lose out. If the last two Ravens games (home for us and at New England) had reversed results we would be in a good position to make this happen, but alas we aren't so it's probably best not to worry about it.
Requirements: Miami beats Buffalo and New England. New England loses to Denver, the Jets (lol) and Miami
Scenario two: The AFC South gets the 3 seed: tThe Steelers are a game up on Baltimore so the best scenario would be for the Ravens to win the division by beating Pittsburgh on Christmas day. Houston has by far the easiest schedule left in the AFC South, so they are the likeliest team from that division to get the three seed. The problem is, the Ravens will get the 3 seed if they win out, and outside the game at Pittsburgh (which is essential for them to win) they have an easy schedule. The Steelers could also win the division and get the four seed, but they too would have to lose a game they should win.
Requirements: Miami beats Buffalo and New England. Houston beats the Jaguars, Bengals, and wins at Tennessee. Baltimore beats Pittsburgh and loses either to Philadelphia or at Cincinnati. OR Pittsburgh beats Baltimore and loses either at Cincinnati or home to the Browns (lolol).
Scenario three: Miami gets the 5 seed. This is also unlikely but unlike the above scenario, it requires the Raiders - a team that's been terrible for a decade and a half and has minimal big game experience - to feel the pressure and choke down the stretch, instead of a tested team like Baltimore or Pittsburgh. The Raiders would have to lose all three of their final games. I tried playing around with scenarios involving the Broncos in the playoff machine, but it doesn't help. The Raiders don't have patsies like the Browns or Jaguars on their schedule, but they certainly aren't playing world beaters.
Requirements: Miami beats Buffalo and New England. Oakland loses at San Diego, against the Colts, and at Denver.
So there you have it. If the Dolphins get in, the chances that they avoid the AFC North are not very good, but if you're like me and you really, really don't want to play that division in the playoffs, these are the scenarios you can root for.
Having said that, let's focus on winning the next two games. We have a WINNING football team boys, and no one can take that away from us. Let's finish strong!
As we know, the Dolphins don't match up well against the Ravens, and I think traveling to Pittsburgh in the first round would be an equally difficult chore (albeit slightly easier for us.) So I want to see what scenarios are out there for Miami to make the playoffs and avoid having to go on the road to Pittsburgh or Baltimore.
Scenario one: Miami wins the division. This is extremely unlikely as it would require the Pats to lose out. If the last two Ravens games (home for us and at New England) had reversed results we would be in a good position to make this happen, but alas we aren't so it's probably best not to worry about it.
Requirements: Miami beats Buffalo and New England. New England loses to Denver, the Jets (lol) and Miami
Scenario two: The AFC South gets the 3 seed: tThe Steelers are a game up on Baltimore so the best scenario would be for the Ravens to win the division by beating Pittsburgh on Christmas day. Houston has by far the easiest schedule left in the AFC South, so they are the likeliest team from that division to get the three seed. The problem is, the Ravens will get the 3 seed if they win out, and outside the game at Pittsburgh (which is essential for them to win) they have an easy schedule. The Steelers could also win the division and get the four seed, but they too would have to lose a game they should win.
Requirements: Miami beats Buffalo and New England. Houston beats the Jaguars, Bengals, and wins at Tennessee. Baltimore beats Pittsburgh and loses either to Philadelphia or at Cincinnati. OR Pittsburgh beats Baltimore and loses either at Cincinnati or home to the Browns (lolol).
Scenario three: Miami gets the 5 seed. This is also unlikely but unlike the above scenario, it requires the Raiders - a team that's been terrible for a decade and a half and has minimal big game experience - to feel the pressure and choke down the stretch, instead of a tested team like Baltimore or Pittsburgh. The Raiders would have to lose all three of their final games. I tried playing around with scenarios involving the Broncos in the playoff machine, but it doesn't help. The Raiders don't have patsies like the Browns or Jaguars on their schedule, but they certainly aren't playing world beaters.
Requirements: Miami beats Buffalo and New England. Oakland loses at San Diego, against the Colts, and at Denver.
So there you have it. If the Dolphins get in, the chances that they avoid the AFC North are not very good, but if you're like me and you really, really don't want to play that division in the playoffs, these are the scenarios you can root for.
Having said that, let's focus on winning the next two games. We have a WINNING football team boys, and no one can take that away from us. Let's finish strong!
