Miami Dolphins jump in playoff chase drop in draft spot

The Miami Dolphins are three games away from potentially making the post-season but also have dropped in the draft slotting.

A few weeks ago some Miami Dolphins fans were hoping for a collapse so that the team, who at the time looked to be heading nowhere, would get a better draft spot. These Miami Dolphins however don’t quit and never have under Adam Gase.

With three weeks left in the regular season the Dolphins who do not control their own destiny are in good position to make the post-season and maybe even finish at 10-6. The last three games are all winnable but could also pose a threat to their post-season chances. It all depends on whether or not they can find success twice on the road.

Playoffs

The Dolphins are currently the 7th seed and winning out will increase their chances of making the post-season as the Ravens, Colts, Titans, and Broncos should lose at least one game down the stretch. The most important of the three games are against the Jaguars and the Bills. Both of those games will count towards conference record which is the first tie-breaking procedure used when more than two teams are tied.

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Miami has to finish with a better record than the Colts or finish tied with the Colts and one other team in order to win the sixth spot. That third team however cannot be the Titans unless the Titans beat the Colts in week 17.

If the Dolphins, Colts, and Titans all finish tied for the 6th spot, the Colts would get in if they beat the Titans in week 17 because the Titans will have been beaten by both the Dolphins and the Colts who would eliminate them based on head to head.

The best Miami can do right now is win their remaining games. The Colts face the Cowboys, Giants, and Titans so only one game will be a conference game. For now the Colts are the team to pay the most attention to as it relates to potential tie-breakers.

The Ravens play the Buccaneers, Chargers, and Browns. Miami and Baltimore have the same conference record right now but the Ravens have a better “common opponents” record. The Chargers game will be important because if Miami can beat the Jaguars and the Bills and the Ravens lose to the Chargers, Miami would win the tie-breaker over a Colts and Ravens three-way tie.

Draft slotting

Last week the Dolphins were sitting around the 15th spot in the 2019 draft with three weeks to go. The win on Sunday against the Patriots put them at the 20th position. Obviously if the Dolphins make the post-season they will pick no higher than 21 so only a drop of one spot.

The best position in the draft that Miami can get would be a top 10 selection. That would require almost all of the 4-7 teams to win their remaining three games and the Dolphins losing their remaining three games. That will not happen as some of those teams play each other. It would be a monumental collapse by the Dolphins if this were to happen.

Rooting for your team to lose has drawn a lot of conversation and criticism in the fan base and the Dolphins are showing once again why the can’t be counted out just yet. There is still a lot of work to be done and a win this weekend against the Vikings could go a long way to putting control back in Miami’s hands.

If Miami wins and the Colts lose to Dallas and the Ravens lose to the Buccaneers Miami will control their own destiny with two weeks remaining in the season. I think it is safe to say that anyone at this point rooting for draft slotting should really seek therapy.