Note to Dolphins. This means exactly zero...

[Cathal]

Ek, I think they were talking about the 4th and 5 pass to Charles Clay. Yeah, Clay had to adjust but Tannehill had to adjust and kind of side arm as well because it was a screen pass but a pass rusher was in his face. It was a difficult catch.

[EKnight]

Gotcha. Clay has been quite an asset. -EK

[Spider-Dan]

Wallace had a nice game. I guess if you feel like 60 yards/game for a #1 WR and less than a half dozen TDs for the season is a good investment, then you're happy.

Wallace is no longer some unknown 3rd rounder... he's a high-profile receiver with a sizable contract.  As such, he will frequently receive coverage from the other team's top DB, like he did week 1 in CLE when he was held to 1 catch for 15 yards.

This week, Belichick decided to put his best DB (Talib) on Clay instead.  The result?  Clay had 1 catch for 6 yards, while Wallace had 6 for 105 and a TD.

If you think Wallace's role is to singlehandedly dominate a game like Megatron, then Miami is underpaying him (by a lot); Miami signed Wallace to an average of $12M/year, while they signed Brandon Marshall to an average of $11.8M/year three years ago.  Wallace is being paid like a Pro Bowler, not an All-Pro, because his role is more specific: take the #1 DB out of the play while clearing the field, and if the opponent doesn't respect that, get your catches where you can.  As long as Wallace puts up a highlight catch every few games, the opposing DC will be forced to gameplan for him.

Wallace is doing exactly what he was brought here to do.  Hartline is having a career season, so is Clay, and Gibson was on his way before he got hurt.

[Dave Gray]

It would still all mean nothing if the Ravens win all three of their remaining games

I don't think this is true.  I believe we control our own destiny, assuming Pitt holds this lead.

[fyo]

I don't think this is true.  I believe we control our own destiny, assuming Pitt holds this lead.

You are correct.

If Baltimore wins out they win the division and since we have the tie-breaker over Cincy, the Wild Card slot will fall to us (providing we win out as well).

Note that if Cincy wins out and Baltimore drops a game (against Cincy) and the Dolphins drop a game, the tie-breaker goes to Baltimore UNLESS the Chargers win out. Then it becomes a 3-way and our head-to-head against the Ravens no longer applies. The Dolphins WIN that tie-breaker on conference record.


All Most possibilities:

10-6 Dolphins win out:
+ Patriots lose out ----> Dolphins win AFC East.
+ Patriots win 1+ ----> Dolphins get a Wild Card.

9-7 Dolphins drop a game (doesn't matter which):
+ Ravens win out + Cincy drops both its games ----> Dolphins get a Wild Card.
+ Ravens win out + Cincy wins a game ----> Cincy gets the Wild Card.
+ Ravens drop a game + Cincy drops both its games ----> Dolphins get a Wild Card.
+ Ravens drop a game + Cincy wins one or both + Chargers win out ----> Dolphins get a Wild Card.
+ Ravens drop a game + Cincy wins one or both + Chargers lose one or both ----> Ravens get a Wild Card.
+ Ravens drop both games ----> Dolphins get a Wild Card.

8-8 Dolphins drop both games:
Somewhat complicated, but the Dolphins could still make the playoffs with 8-8.
The Dolphins lose the 8-8 shootout to the Jets, no matter what.
The Dolphins lose the 8-8 shootout to the Ravens, providing the Chargers or Steelers are not in the mix (in which case the 'phins win).

Note regarding the Jets: They would only hold the 8-8 tie-breaker over the 'phins and Chargers. If either the Steelers or Ravens win just a single game, the Jets are eliminated.

[Spider-Dan]

I think one more relevant scenario:

9-7 Dolphins drop a game (doesn't matter which):
+ Ravens win out + Cincy wins one  + Chargers win out ----> Dolphins get a Wild Card.

(note: BAL plays CIN in week 17)

In this scenario, BAL wins AFCN, and MIA/CIN/SD are tied for 6th seed.  Since MIA has beaten both of those teams H2H, MIA would win that tiebreaker.

Long story short: root for SD to win out

[fyo]

I think one more relevant scenario:

9-7 Dolphins drop a game (doesn't matter which):
+ Ravens win out + Cincy wins one  + Chargers win out ----> Dolphins get a Wild Card.

Cincy are 9-5 right now. If they win a game, they have more wins than the Dolphins would at 9-7.

[Spider-Dan]

Good point, I was thinking they would be tied for some reason.

[Pappy13]

I knew it. Say what you want MikeO, but the Dolphins lost this game last Sunday.

[MikeO]

I knew it. Say what you what MikeO, but the Dolphins lost this game last Sunday.

I don't know about that