The Phinsider
“Playoffs? You kidding me? Playoffs? I just hope we can win a game!”
Just a few weeks ago, Miami Dolphins fans would have been echoing the words of the iconic Jim Mora, former Detroit Lions head coach. However, after three wins in their last four games, things are looking up—but only slightly.
As of today, the Dolphins playoff chances sit at a lowly 1%. Yes, just one percent. However, that can change very quickly. Via ESPN, the current NFL playoff picture looks like this.
For the Dolphins to force themselves into the playoff conversation, they will likely need to win out. With seven losses already under their belt, just a single loss can eliminate them from playoff contention. However, this is more feasible than one might think. The rest of Miami’s schedule looks like this.
It’s worth nothing that the Dolphins currently have the 4th-easiest schedule in the NFL to close out the season, and they will certainly be favored to win their next two games, which would put them at 6-7 heading into the final stretch of the season. If they can pull off an upset victory in Pittsburgh, that puts the team firmly at .500. They will also likely be favored to win the following two games after that, with two more wins there putting the Dolphins at 9-7 with one game remaining.
Ok, let’s pause for a second. Are the Dolphins really going to rattle off seven straight wins and push for a playoff spot? Probably not. But, is it a possibility? Absolutely.
For the sake of argument, let’s say the Dolphins managed to pull this off. They would be up against the New England Patriots in Week 18, who currently hold the AFC’s No.1 seed. The Dolphins would almost certainly be huge underdogs here. Unless, of course, the Patriots had already clinched the No.1 seed, in which case they would rest their starters, giving the Dolphins a great chance to win.
All else equal, if the Dolphins were to win out, according to The Atheltic’s playoff simulator, their playoff odds would sit at around 20%. Now, with some help from around the league, that number could jump to over 50%.
According to The Athletic, the following games are the most crucial to improving the Dolphins’ playoff odds.
If the Titans, Eagles, Patriots, and Jets can pull off wins here, and the Dolphins win out, the Dolphins’ chances of...
