The Miami Dolphins’ 2020 playoff odds are looking much more favorable this Sunday afternoon after a stunning string of game decisions during NFL’s Week 16 Sunday early slate. Miami kickstarted what may be their most profitable individual week of the season by taking a miracle win against the Las Vegas Raiders on Saturday night with a score of 26-25 – pushing the team record to 10-5 with one game to go.
But the Dolphins’ chances of the playoffs still depended on winning at Buffalo in their Week 17 game; or at least they were until the 1pm matches came to an end. As the Cleveland Browns, who entered Week 16 with a 10-4 record and faced the 1-13 New York Jets, lost 23-16. And the Indianapolis Colts, who also went into the weekend at 10-4, fell to the Pittsburgh Steelers with a final of 28-24, giving them a 17-point lead in the second half.
That leaves the Dolphins, as things stand now, as the AFC’s No. 5 seed – no longer at the edge of the playoff field and going into the final week of the season.
The dolphins now have four options for reaching the late season of week 17:
Beat the Buffalo Bills to go to 11-5
A Cleveland Browns loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers
A Baltimore Ravens loss to the Cincinnati Bengals
An Indianapolis Colts loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars
Miami, knowing they can win and compete certainly helps the case. But the Browns will face a Pittsburgh Steelers team that will compete with the Buffalo Bills for the AFC’s No. 2 seed – there will be plenty to play next weekend in both Buffalo and Cleveland for the Bills and Steelers. So consider it a game. And while Miami narrowly lost to the Bills in Week 2 without CB Byron Jones in the fight, the Browns lost 38-7 to the Steelers earlier this season. The odds suddenly feel much more in favor of the dolphins.
Oh, that’s right. And as if this extra turn of events weren’t enough for the Dolphins, the Houston Texans lost to the Cincinnati Bengals this afternoon – pushing Miami’s first planned 2021 NFL Draft pick into the top-5 overall selections thanks to the Laremy Tunsil trade. The Texans will take on the Tennessee Titans in week 17, who compete for the placement of the playoffs and the AFC South division title. A Texans loss next weekend would put the Dolphins in the top-5 in April.
That’s a nice bend to set up quite a few events for the dolphins in week 16.