Can the Dolphins run the table the rest of the season?
The Dolphins played their most complete game of the season Sunday in a 35-9 thrashing of the Broncos. Could that momentum carry them for the rest of the season?
Without question, the Miami Dolphins put on their best performance of the season Sunday with a dominating performance over the Denver Broncos. Of course, the Broncos are struggling terribly (8 straight losses now), but the Dolphins were able to dominate in all three phases of the game, something the fans had been waiting to see all season. It was the first blowout victory for Miami this year, and it has some fans wondering if they can carry that momentum over to next week when they host the Patriots, and possibly win out the rest of the season.
Not many will give the Dolphins much of a chance for a victory over the Patriots next week, but they did get some good news on Monday. Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski will miss the game as he serves a one-game suspension after his ‘WWE style’ deliberate hit against Buffalo’s Tre’davious White this past Sunday. Gronk’s absence isn’t going to exactly make Miami the favorites by any stretch, but it helps in some regard, particularly when you consider how bad the Dolphins have been against tight ends. When these two teams met in Foxboro just over a week ago, Gronk found the end zone twice.
If by some chance the Dolphins find a way to pull off the upset, they would put themselves in a very good position to win out, and finish the season on a five-game winning streak. After their meeting with New England, the Dolphins still have to play Buffalo twice with a meeting against the Chiefs hoisted in between.
Bills QB Tyrod Taylor left Sunday’s game early with an apparent injury. It was reported today that Taylor suffered a patellar tendon contusion in his knee and is considered day-to-day. By that timetable, Taylor would be more than ready by the time they play Miami, but a lot can happen from now until then, and it remains to be seen how he holds up from this injury. The Bills backup QB Nathan Peterman was given the nod to start a few weeks ago against the Chargers, but he was so awful that Buffalo pulled him before the first half was even complete.
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The Dolphins always have trouble with the Bills, but those could still be winnable games, regardless, of who’s the starter. As for the Chiefs, their recent struggles have them practically giving away the AFC West division, and possibly missing the postseason completely after being considered one of the early favorites to win it all. They’ve lost four straight now, and six of seven, allowing both the Chargers and Raiders to make it a three-way tie atop the division. This too, becomes a very winnable game for Miami even though they would have to do it on the road.
If Miami does, in fact, run the table for the remainder of the regular season, it would put their record at 9-7. That would not at all guarantee them a playoff spot, however. To be honest, even if the Dolphins were to put this run together, chances are they would still be out of the playoff picture.
As it stands, Miami at 5-7 is two games behind the final playoff spot holder, Baltimore, at 7-5. Keep in mind, that the Ravens hold the head-to-head advantage over Miami as well if by chance there is a tie. The Ravens will be at the Steelers next weekend, but they have a pretty favorable schedule from then on.
The Jaguars (8-4) hold the other Wild Card spot at the moment as they continue their battle with the Titans (also 8-4) for the AFC South crown. Those teams will meet in the regular season finale, but it would be hard for Miami to catch either of them at this point. The Dolphins also have the Chargers, Bills, Raiders, Bengals, and Jets, sitting between them so a lot would need to happen for Miami to have any chance at the playoffs.
The likelihood of Miami reaching the postseason for a second consecutive season may be slim, but it would mean a lot if they found a way to win out and finish above .500. The Dolphins have been through a lot this season, on and off the field. The idea of them finishing with a winning record through all of that would still be quite the accomplishment. It may hurt their draft stock for 2018, but it’s momentum that could carry them into next season. It may even land them some key free agents that see Miami can handle adversity, and are righting the ship, despite all obstacles.