Miami Dolphins must win but here is who else you should root for today
By Brian Miller
The Miami Dolphins will play the Patriots today and it is a must win if they want to keep their playoff hopes alive but they will also need some help.
With week 14 of the NFL season ready to kick-off in a little under two hours from now the Miami Dolphins will need to win and get some help to continue their push to the post-season. Miami can’t be mathematically eliminated today but a loss to the Patriots would all but seal the season.
Currently the AFC playoff picture looks like this. The Chiefs and the Patriots are both the one and two seeds with the Steelers and Texans leading their division races for the 3rd and 4th seeds. The fifth seed belongs to the Chargers. The sixth seed is up from grabs. Currently held by the Ravens at 7-5, the Dolphins are one game back at 6-6.
Miami is currently tied with the Colts and Broncos at 6-6 and the Titans are one game ahead after winning on Thursday night against the Jaguars. If the Dolphins win today they will move ahead of the Titans.
So what needs to happen in week 14? First the Dolphins must win or they will not be in a good position however a loss does not eliminate them if the teams around them also lose. Here is what you should watch for this weekend.
Colts vs. Texans: No matter how you draw it up the Colts need to lose this game. The Texans are in position to take the division and the Texans are not competing with the Dolphins for a playoff spot but the Colts are. A loss by the Colts today could be important if the Dolphins lose to the Patriots as well.
Ravens vs. Chiefs: This is a key game for the Dolphins. A loss by the Ravens give the Dolphins the chance to move into the 6th seed with a win against the Patriots. If only for this weekend, it would put the Dolphins closer to being in full control for the remaining three weeks. If the Dolphins win today and the Colts and Ravens lose, the Dolphins should be able to control their destiny this year.
Broncos vs. 49’ers: In reality a win by the Broncos will help the Dolphins should the Colts win as well. Miami needs to maintain at least a three-way tie with the Colts and Broncos to eliminate the head to head vs. Indianapolis. Of course a loss by the Broncos, Ravens, and Colts and a win by Miami puts the Dolphins one game up with a head to head tie-breaker against the Titans.