Miami Dolphins: AFC playoff picture and competition for the next four weeks
By Brian Miller
The Miami Dolphins, barring an amazing turn of events that leads to an AFC East division title, will not be competing against the other division leaders.
The playoffs will produce four division winners who will take up the first four seeds of the playoffs with the top team getting a bye week. In three of the four divisions, teams have pretty much locked up their divisions unofficially. It is necessary to look at what they have ahead because it could change who sits at the top and who vies for a Wild Card.
AFC North
Baltimore Ravens
The Ravens currently hold the division lead in the North over the Bengals. The Ravens have won 9 games as has the Bengals but the Ravens own the tie-breaker. That could change and if it does, it would benefit the Dolphins if a Wild Card spot comes down to head-to-head tie-breakers.
- @ Browns
- Falcons
- Steelers
- @ Bengals
The final game of the season could be important.
AFC West
Kansas City
The Chiefs have not locked up the division yet but only need the Chargers to lose one more game to make it official. The chances are very good that K.C. takes the West again because there isn’t anyone truly challenging them.
- @ Texans
- Seahawks
- Broncos
- @ Raiders
The Chiefs should lock up the West next week or at worse, the week after.
AFC South
Tennessee Titans
This is the one division that has been set for a while but really is still technically not guaranteed yet. The Titans, at 7-6, do not have an easy schedule ahead of them and are not playing good football right now but they are in a division where only the Jaguars, at 5-8 have a shot to catch them. With the schedule ahead, the Titans could be in trouble.
- @ Chargers
- Texans
- Cowboys
- @ Jaguars
If the Titans lose three of their final four including the Jaguars and Jacksonville can keep pace, the Titans could be out.