Week 17 Schedule Announced – How Game Times Impact Dolphins
Dec 1, 2013; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; Miami Dolphins wide receiver Brian Hartline (82) and quarterback Ryan Tannehill (17) celebrate after scoring a touchdown against the New York Jets during the third quarter of a game at MetLife Stadium. The Dolphins defeated the Jets 23-3. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
The NFL has announced the schedule for Week 17 and here are the games that will have an effect on the Dolphins.
Jets vs. Dolphins will still be played at 1 PM. We know that the Dolphins must win this game. If they lose, there is absolutely zero chance that they make the playoffs.
Ravens vs. Bengals will still be played at 1 PM. This is great news for the Dolphins because the Bengals have a chance to get the second seed. They do need help as they need the Patriots to lose later in the day but the Bengals will be coming out fired up and ready to play. Trust me – the coaches and players want that extra week off. They will be coming out of the gate ready to go.
Chiefs vs. Chargers will still be played at 4:25 PM. This is the one that can hurt the Dolphins. If the Dolphins and Ravens win, we need the Chargers to win in order to create a three way tie at 9-7. If the Chargers have nothing to play for, we cannot rely on them to come out and end the season on a strong note. Some of their players may be looking just to get out of the game without any major injury and move onto the offseason. The flip side of this is that the Chiefs are the fifth seed no matter what happens on Sunday. They may decide to rest all of their main players in order to give those guys a mini-bye week. It all depends on what Andy Reid wants to do. I will keep an eye on this situation as the week unfolds.
Bills vs. Patriots has been moved to 4:25 PM. I’ve already talked about the significance of this game in relation to the Bengals. This game will end up playing some importance in terms of seeding but there are way too many different scenarios in play. I’ll highlight these on Sunday after the 1:00 games.
Jaguars vs. Colts will still be played at 1:00 PM. Like the Patriots game, this will have some importance in terms of seeding but again, too many different scenarios that don’t have to be highlighted until the games start playing out on Sunday.
When it comes down to it, the Dolphins are really in the best position to make the playoffs based on matchups. All we can do is fans is hope for the best, cheer the team on, and stay positive! Go Dolphins!
Follow me on Twitter: @PhinManiacs