Playoff chances

[dolphins4life]

Here's my analysis:

- The Jaguars and Texans are 4-4 and 5-4 respectively.  The Dolphins play both of these teams and thus can earn the tiebreak over them.  Conclusion:  Winning both of these games will be crucial to making the playoffs, but these teams are definitely overtakeable.

- Baltimore is 4-4 and has to play Pittsburgh and Cincy twice.  I don't know how many times they've played these teams yet this year.  Conclusion:  They are very overtakeable.

- Pittsburgh and Cincy:  One of these teams will win the division, the other will be a wildcard.  The Dolphins play Pittsburgh the final week of the season:  Conclusion:  Root for Cincy, root against Pittsburgh.  Pittsburgh is more overtakeable.  Last game of the season is a must win

- New York Jets.  The Dolphins hold the tiebreaker against them.  They play NE again.  Conclusion:  They are very overtakeable


-Denver and SD:  One of these teams will win the division, the other will be a wildcard.  SD holds the tiebreaker against the fish.  Denver is 6-1:  Conclusion:  Root against SD. 

Anybody wish to offer their take? 

[USO-ORLANDO]

Easy: WE WILL NOT MAKE THE PLAYOFFS!!!

[Philly Fin Fan]

I love when people start topics like this, because it allows me to use my favorite Jim Mora quote:

"Playoffs?! Don't talk about playoffs! Are you kidding me? Playoffs?!"

[Denver_Bronco]

It's pretty simple. Miami is 3-5. They would need to win 7 of their next 8 MINIMUM to even have a shot in hell at 10-6 and even then tiebreakers would likely come into play.

So realistically Miami would have to run the table to make the playoffs outright.

Their season ended today officially. Embrace it.

[dolphantom]

It's pretty simple. Miami is 3-5. They would need to win 7 of their next 8 MINIMUM to even have a shot in hell at 10-6 and even then tiebreakers would likely come into play.

So realistically Miami would have to run the table to make the playoffs outright.

Their season ended today officially. Embrace it.

i agree. it is what it is....and since the giants are dead as well, i have become an honorary denver fan.

[dolphins4life]

Who says we can't win 7 out of our next 8?

Tenn
TB
Buffalo
NE at Home
Jax
Ten
Pitt

Three of these games are gimmes

The other four are very winnable matchups

[fyo]

"slim to none" is the answer.

I don't see any way we win the division - that's just not realistic. Is 10 wins going to be enough for a Wild Card?

Steelers, Texans and Chargers are all 1.5 to 2.5 games ahead of us. Put the Ravens in that category as well, since even with a loss today, they own the tiebreaker. In addition to those FOUR teams, the Jets and Jaguars are still a win ahead. Those are the front-runners for the 2 Wild Cards right now. We'd have to overtake 5 of those 6 teams to get in.

"slim to none"

[YoFuggedaboutit]

Frankly, it would be better for the Dolphins to not make the playoffs with the way things are going.  The reason is, next year will be uncapped as things stand, however the 8 teams that make it to the second round of the playoffs will be heavily restricted in free agency. 

Again, 2010 is uncapped and I would love to see the Dolphins throw some money at Vincent Jackson or Brandon Marshall or both.  Nabbing one of those guys instantly upgrades your receiving corps.  Nab them both and you'll have opposing defensive coordinators wetting their pants.

[JVides]

I'll pretend I'm a doctor...

"They're coding!  Someone get me the crash cart!  They need 50 cc's of epinephrine, stat!"

[Tepop84]

Who says we can't win 7 out of our next 8?

Tenn
TB
Buffalo
NE at Home
Jax
Ten
Pitt

Three of these games are gimmes

The other four are very winnable matchups

And hou, which will be a loss, bc the dolphins always lose to houston?  which 3 games are you considering gimmes?

[BigDaddyFin]

Difficult, not impossible.  We'd need to win 7 games because 9-7 just doesn't get you in anymore, and even 10-6 is no guarantee. 

Why does everyone keep pointing to the Pittsburgh game?  The Texans are the ones we're going to have more trouble with.

[ethurst22]

Difficult, not impossible.  We'd need to win 7 games because 9-7 just doesn't get you in anymore, and even 10-6 is no guarantee. 

Why does everyone keep pointing to the Pittsburgh game?  The Texans are the ones we're going to have more trouble with.

You're right...I don't think that we've ever beat the Texans.

[dolphins4life]

And hou, which will be a loss, bc the dolphins always lose to houston?  which 3 games are you considering gimmes?

Note: I made an error in my list in my last post.  The Titans is duplicated twice.

The Gimmes:

Tenn
TB
Buffalo (well maybe not a gimme, but they dominated them the first matchup)

Miami can beat the Texans.  All the games have gone down to the wire.  Just one more play this year, and Miami will win.

[dolphins4life]

Here's our remaining schedule:

Panthers: 3-5
Tampa: 1 win
Buffalo: 3 or 4
NE: 6
Jax 4
Tenn: 2
Houston: 5
Pitt: 5 or 6

5 of our opponents have as many or only 1 more win than us.  That leaves us with the other 3.  NE is always beatable when they play in Miami.  So, if we can win these six games and beat either Hou or Pit, we still got a good shot at the playoffs.

[masterfins]

The Dolphins lost the playoffs yesterday.  At best the Dolphins will win 5 or 6 more games this year.  Buffalo will be a tough game given its a divisional rival and at Buffalo after Thanksgiving.  Jacksonville and Houston always play the Dolphins tough, and they will probably lose one of those games.  The only way the Dolphins will beat Pittsburgh is if the Steelers have home field advantage for the playoffs wrapped up.  New England will be much better prepared the second time around.  So... the only "sure" wins are probably Tampa and Tenn.