Phin Phanatic
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Miami Dolphins must avoid continued late season collapses

By Brian Miller

ATLANTA, GA - SEPTEMBER 23: Referee Walt Anderson checks replays during overtime of the game between the New Orleans Saints and the Atlanta Falcons at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on September 23, 2018 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Scott Cunningham/Getty Images)
ATLANTA, GA - SEPTEMBER 23: Referee Walt Anderson checks replays during overtime of the game between the New Orleans Saints and the Atlanta Falcons at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on September 23, 2018 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Scott Cunningham/Getty Images) /
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The Miami Dolphins are finding themselves in a familiar situation heading into the final three weeks. One loss could derail their season.

For the Miami Dolphins the 2018 season is a similar and familiar situation that the team seems to have every year. In a good position to make the post-season but can they finish the job? In 2016 they were able to overcome the loss of Ryan Tannehill and win two of their final three games to make the 6th seed. That season they beat the Bills and Jets but lost to New England with Matt Moore at quarterback.

In 2017 the Dolphins were in position to make a run late for a post-season birth despite injuries and Jay Cutler at quarterback. As December arrived the Dolphins had five games remaining and were 5-7 after beating the Broncos at home. The followed that with a win against New England to improve to 6-7.

All of the playoff scenarios in 2017 showed the Dolphins in position to make a post-season run. They needed to win their final three games or at the very least beat the Bills twice. The Bills beat Miami in two of the final three games. Had the Dolphins won those, they would have finished the season 8-8 and may have had a chance to squeak in. They lost all three of their remaining games.

In 2014 the Dolphins finished 8-8. Both of the Wild Card teams finished with 10 wins on the season. Miami entered the final stretch at 7-5 with four games to go. The would lose three of their final four with their lone victory against the Vikings in week 16 but their season was already over at that point and they would lose to the Jets in week 17.

In 2013 the Dolphins would again collapse late losing two of their final three games to finish 8-8. Had they beaten the Bills and Jets in weeks 16 and 17 they would have finished with a 10-6 record and beat out the Chargers for the 6th seed.

Now here we are again with three games remaining and needing to win at least two with a little bit of help from the rest of the league. If history has taught us anything it’s that Miami has not been able to pull it off in recent years but it also tells us that the Dolphins don’t quit and in 2016 they rallied after the loss of Tannehill to make the post-season. Can they do it again with Tannehill? We are about to find out.

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