I know I'd already given up on the Dolphins playoffs chances, but....

[Pappy13]

One thing I hadn't thought about earlier when considering the Dolphins playoff chances is the fact that the Dolphins play New England in the last game of the year.  Suppose for a minute that New England beats the Jets this week.  Also suppose that they have home field advantage locked up throughout the playoffs prior to that game against Miami on Jan 2nd.  Suppose even further that it could be the Jets, Steelers or Ravens that could be knocked out of the playoffs if Miami won that game.  You think Belicheck might just decide to rest a few players for that game and make it easier for Miami to win that game should they still have a shot at a playoff birth?  Would the Patriots rather see the Dolphins than any of those other teams in a possible playoff game and if so would that make a difference on how they played the game?  Makes for some interesting speculation anyway.  Discuss.

[StL FinFan]

Bellicheat will do whatever he feels like doing and no one can predict what that might be.  I doubt he would intentionally try to throw a game, even if it is meaningless for them.

[Pappy13]

Bellicheat will do whatever he feels like doing and no one can predict what that might be.  I doubt he would intentionally try to throw a game, even if it is meaningless for them.

Well he wouldn't have to necessarily try to throw the game, he might just do something like take out Tom Brady in the 2nd half of a close game stating that he didn't want him to be injured.  That's not really throwing the game.  And it has happened before.  I seem to remember the Colts pulling a healthy Peyton Manning in the 2nd half of a game against the Jets that they were winning last year that had playoff implications.  They eventually lost that game and helped the Jets make the playoffs.  Would the Jets be upset if the Dolphins won that game and knocked the Jets out of the playoffs, when they in fact benefited from that exact same scenario last year?

[Jim Gray]

If all the stars aligned and Miami was in a position to make the playoffs by beating New England, I think Belicheck will stick with his regular game plan.........try and embarrass us by scoring as many points as possible until the final whistle.  

It's not in his character to let another team win for any reason.  By grinding Miami into the ground he sends a message to the other playoff teams.  The value of this far outweighs the minimal value of displacing one of the other three contenders.   The Patriots play best when they have a chip on their shoulder.  He won't let the Dolphins knock that chip off.

[Pappy13]

^^  I don't know.  Anyone other than Tom Brady, I would agree, but I think I'd have to think long and hard about letting Brady take any more than a half of snaps in a meaningless game no matter what your beliefs are.

[Jim Gray]

You may be right that Brady sits after a half.......but I think that only happens if Miami is way far ahead or way far behind.  I don't see Bill "allowing" Miami win a game.

[MyGodWearsAHoodie]

After the Jets played dead week 17 in 2008, I coud see BB not caring if he lost to the Dolphins to close out the season if it kept the Jets out.  I am pretty sure BB hates the Jets a lot more than he hates the Dolphins. 

It would not be the first time the Pats lost the Miami week 17 with a back up QB  (2005).  Granted that gift to Miami did not result in Mia making the playoffs.  Just NE needing to travel to Jacksonville instead of Cinci. 

Hoyer could use the reps and Brady has been limited in practice so he could use the rest. 

But you are probably also banking on the Bills beating the Jets that week.

[Pappy13]

But you are probably also banking on the Bills beating the Jets that week.

Come on Hoody.  You know you would be rooting for it to happen tho.

[MyGodWearsAHoodie]

Come on Hoody.  You know you would be rooting for it to happen tho.

Oh, I will absolutely be rooting for the Bills to beat the Jets.  But that is a very long shot to happen. 

As for my rooting for the Dolphins if the Pats already have the #1 seed locked up and a Dolphin win could knock the Jets out of the playoffs....it would tempting, my hatred of the Jets is strong.  But I am not sure I could root against the Pats even in that situation. 

[Spider-Dan]

Does Belichick rest players?  Seems against his M.O..

I think he might have considered it against the Mangini Jets, but probably not against these ones.

[Tenshot13]

Does Belichick rest players?  Seems against his M.O..

I think he might have considered it against the Mangini Jets, but probably not against these ones.

Ya, remember their perfect season (hehehe)...I don't think they rested a single player unless a game was already out of hand.

[MikeO]

Saban's first year in Miami we played NE the final week of the year. Belichick rested players. That was the game where Welker was kicking extra points for us

[Pappy13]

Oh, I will absolutely be rooting for the Bills to beat the Jets.  But that is a very long shot to happen. 

We might not need the Bills to beat the Jets.  The Jets play New England, Miami, Pittsburgh and Chicago in the next 4 games.  Based on how the Jets have been playing lately it's not completely out of the question they lose all 4 of those games.  Even if they did win one of those games, the Bills have been playing teams tough as well lately, losing that game isn't that unbelievable either.  And even if that doesn't happen, if the Jets only beat Chicago and Buffalo, it's possible for Miami to win a tiebreaker with them.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not holding my breath, just stating facts.  I know it's an incredibly long shot it happens.

Based on my research, it would still be possible for Miami to beat New York in a tie breaker if the Dolphins win out and the Jets beat Buffalo and Chicago and lose to New England, Miami and Pittsburgh.  Tiebreakers 1-4 would all be tied.  #5 basically would come down to the 2 games the teams do not have in common which they both won, plus the teams they beat that in turn beat the other team (clear as mud?).  For Miami that's Tennessee, Oakland and Green Bay and for the Jets that's Houston, Denver and Chicago.  Currently Tennessee, Oakland and Green Bay have a combined 17 wins whereas Houston, Denver and Chicago have a combined 16 wins, so as long as Tennessee, Oakland and Green Bay finish with a combined record better than Houston, Denver and Chicago, Miami would win the tie breaker.  Piece of cake.

1.Head-to-head (best won-lost-tied percentage in games between the clubs).
2.Best won-lost-tied percentage in games played within the division.
3.Best won-lost-tied percentage in common games (games played against the same opponents).
4.Best won-lost-tied percentage in games played within the conference.
5.Strength of victory (the combined won-lost-tied percentage of all the teams that a club has defeated).
6.Strength of schedule (the combined won-lost-tied percentage of all the teams that a club has played against).
7.Best combined ranking among conference teams in points scored and points allowed.
8.Best combined ranking among all teams in points scored and points allowed.
9.Best net points in common games.
10.Best net points in all games.
11.Best net touchdowns in all games.
12.Coin Toss.

1 final edit:  I found the following article which details all of the Dolphins playoff possibilities.
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/sports/miami-dolphins/sfl-dolphins-jets-tiebreaker-112910,0,6215711.story