Miami Dolphins face their first “must-win” contest of 2018
By Brian Miller
The Miami Dolphins are one of four teams tied for the sixth spot in the AFC but this weekends game against the Colts is a “must-win”.
When the Miami Dolphins take the field on Sunday they will have six games left in their season unless they can put together enough wins to get into the post-season. It is a tough road ahead and while the Dolphins do not control their own destiny for now, this weeks game could help considerably.
Miami’s biggest problem is their offense. Yes the defense is wildly inconsistent but the offense is just plain anemic. Sunday will mark one month since the Dolphins offense scored a touchdown. They have to do better if they want to extend the season.
The Colts are one of those teams sitting at 5-5 and a win on Sunday by the Colts would put Miami in a big hole having already lost to the Bengals who sit at 5-5. They beat the other 5-5 team Tennessee.
A loss to the Colts would drop Miami to essentially a game and a half behind the Colts and depending on what the other teams do a game behind them is also possible. Lurking behind the logjam are the Broncos at 4-6. Things are going to get interesting.
Miami has remaining games against the Colts, Patriots, Vikings, Jaguars, and the Bills twice. Hardly an easy schedule by any stretch so games like the Colts are must-win opportunities because Miami is going to have a hard time against the Patriots, Vikings, and Jaguars and the Bills are never easy.
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The Bengals face the Browns twice, the Broncos, Chargers, Raiders, and Steelers. While their schedule isn’t perfect, they should be able to beat the Browns, Broncos, and Raiders.
For the Colts who are trying to get back into their division race, Miami, followed by Jacksonville, Texans, Cowboys, Giants, and Titans could come into play for tie-breakers late in the season.
Finally the Titans will face division leading Houston, the Jets, Jaguars, Giants, Redskins, and Colts.
The Jaguars look to be a big players in the final stretch. They will three of the four 5-5 teams in the final six weeks. At 3-7 they are not projected to put up much fight to get into the post-season but considering that three games against teams in the hunt and games against the Bills, Redskins, and Texans could give them a six game winning streak to finish the season 9-7 and emerge as a contender in the final week when they face the Texans.
The Miami Dolphins have the toughest schedule of all the teams but in reality it doesn’t matter who they play if they can’t score points. They have had a week off to prepare for this game so they need to attack from start to finish. A loss on Sunday could pretty much put the season on ice in theory but not mathematically.