Who will be the final AFC playoff team?

[DKphin]

I can not believe that the 4-letter network even considers that the Jests have a shot. If they make it, you know the refs are on the take.

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Miami Dolphins (7-6)

Remaining games: vs. Patriots, at Bills, vs. Jets

A month ago, the playoff prospects of the Miami Dolphins seemed iffy at best. This was a group that couldn’t finish in the fourth quarter and was distracted by off-the-field issues involving the bullying scandal with offensive linemen Richie Incognito and Jonathan Martin.

But something clicked with Miami at just the right time. The Dolphins have won three of their past four -- which includes two straight road games in December -- and that's enough to make me believe they can make the postseason for the first time since 2008.

Which of these teams has the best shot at making the playoffs?

• 
  19%
  Baltimore Ravens
• 
  61%
  Miami Dolphins
• 
  
  15%
  New York Jets
• 
  5%
  San Diego Chargers

(Total votes: 330)



The Dolphins are not only the hottest of the four remaining teams competing for the AFC's final wild card, they're the most resilient. No team has gone through the adversity and distractions Miami faced during the Martin-Incognito scandal. The Dolphins had NFL investigators at their training facility interviewing every player, coach and key executives. The media scrutiny was intense. Both took time and energy away from their preparation.

Still, Dolphins second-year coach Joe Philbin did a good job keeping the team focused with recent wins over the San Diego Chargers (6-7), New York Jets (6-7) and Pittsburgh Steelers (5-8). The victories over the Chargers and Jets, in particular, provide key head-to-head tiebreakers that could pay dividends. Those are two of the teams Miami is battling for the final wild card in the AFC.

Miami's biggest concern is the Ravens, who beat Miami in Week 5. However, Baltimore has a tougher remaining schedule. The Ravens will play at the Detroit Lions (7-6), the New England Patriots (10-3) and at the Cincinnati Bengals (9-4). Baltimore’s opponent winning percentage is .667. The Ravens could slip up at any moment. Miami has an opponent winning percentage of .512 and will be favored in at least two of its final three games.

Considering all that has transpired this year in Miami, the Dolphins would be a phenomenal story if they made the playoffs.

Read more:http://espn.go.com/blog/nflnation/post/_/id/106433/who-will-be-the-final-afc-playoff-team

 

[Kdawg954]

Just how when they pick against us and I discount it . . . same applies here. We gotta win games. We do that, then I really like our chances.

 

[hoops]

miamis playing much better ball right now than the jets or buffalo...we will not lose those games...as for the pats i expect some hiccups in their scheme and personnel trying to compensate for gronk going down for the count...this is the week of all weeks to catch em in the final 3 games

 

[Hayden Fox]

Unfortunately, I think Baltimore gets it.

I would be the happiest guy if Miami gets a chance in the playoffs. Ecstatic.

 

[nyjunc]

I happen to think Miami is going to make it even if they lose this week as I expect you'll beat Buf and us(unless we beat Carolina which I doubt happens) and I expect Bal to lose 2 of 3 but to be fair that poll was taken at the dolphins blog at espn so it is mostly dolphin fans voting.

 

[syborg]

I would be disappointed if we did not make it now given our schedule and the dificulties we have had to overcome as a franchise this season.
I think we are positioned to grab it right now.. once in the playoffs anything can happen but I think if we get there we get past the bengals and lose out to Denver in the divisional round...

 

[Hayden Fox]

miamis playing much better ball right now than the jets or buffalo...we will not lose those games...as for the pats i expect some hiccups in their scheme and personnel trying to compensate for gronk going down for the count...this is the week of all weeks to catch em in the final 3 games

I totally think the opposite. I think the Pats are fired up to show people they can rip teams without Gronk. The "hiccup" comes at Denver in the playoffs where they cannot keep up with an explosive offense.

 

[FSU Truth]

Winning in Pittsburgh was huge...it was the game I viewed as the most difficult of the last 4...

 

[dolpns13]

Wow.. This is the first time I have ever heard the terms "December, hot, Miami", used in the same sentence.

 

[DKphin]

Wow.. This is the first time I have ever heard the terms "December, hot, Miami", used in the same sentence.

:lol2:

 

[syborg]

I totally think the opposite. I think the Pats are fired up to show people they can rip teams without Gronk. The "hiccup" comes at Denver in the playoffs where they cannot keep up with an explosive offense.

errrmmm.. a 3 turnover 24-0 deficit against Mannings Broncos for a win just the other week... Brady is 10-4 vs Manning.. I expect the Patriots to win out against Denver.

 

[nyjunc]

I would be disappointed if we did not make it now given our schedule and the dificulties we have had to overcome as a franchise this season.
I think we are positioned to grab it right now.. once in the playoffs anything can happen but I think if we get there we get past the bengals and lose out to Denver in the divisional round...

I know you beat them already but I don't think you'd go into Cincy and beat them, I do think you would beat Indy if they somehow got the 3 seed.

 

[JTC111]

I can not believe that the 4-letter network even considers that the Jests have a shot. If they make it, you know the refs are on the take.

The Jets road is almost in their own hands. If I figured it out correctly, if they win out and can get a game ahead of the Ravens, they're in. They'd have the tie breaker over us due to a better common opponents record. I'm not predicting either of those things will happen, but I think that's what gets them in.

 

[nyjunc]

I totally think the opposite. I think the Pats are fired up to show people they can rip teams without Gronk. The "hiccup" comes at Denver in the playoffs where they cannot keep up with an explosive offense.

except Peyton offenses in January are rarely explosive.

---------- Post added at 09:56 AM ---------- Previous post was at 09:55 AM ----------

The Jets road is almost in their own hands. If I figured it out correctly, if they win out and can get a game ahead of the Ravens, they're in. They'd have the tie breaker over us due to a better common opponents record. I'm not predicting either of those things will happen, but I think that's what gets them in.

basically we need Bal to lose 2 of 3 and we'd need to win out, most likely not going to happen.

 

[gafin]

I know you beat them already but I don't think you'd go into Cincy and beat them, I do think you would beat Indy if they somehow got the 3 seed.

We may not but we beat them last year at their house.