Miami Dolphins: AFC playoff picture and competition for the next four weeks
By Brian Miller
The Miami Dolphins are one loss away from losing any real shot at the division so a Wild Card may be their best shot and these are the teams in a position to challenge for a spot.
Cincinnati Bengals
The Bengals, 9-4, currently hold the 5th seed and the head-to-head tiebreaker over the Dolphins but as we saw earlier, they are not looking for a WC birth but the AFC North title. They have a schedule that could go either way.
- @ Tampa Bay
- @ New England
- Buffalo
- Ravens
The Bengals could have a big impact on the rest of the playoff picture for several teams and if the Dolphins win on Saturday night, a victory by the Bengals over Buffalo could open the door for Miami to win the AFC East.
Los Angeles Chargers
The Chargers are right back into the thick of the playoff chase and at for about 21 hours held the final spot in the AFC playoff picture until the Patriots won and took it Monday night.
- Titans
- @ Colts
- Rams
- @ Broncos
The Chargers have one of the easier schedules left but they also have a very thin margin of error. A loss to the Titans will impact the AFC North, give the Chiefs the AFC West, and keep the Chargers outside looking in.
With 7 playoff spots, the Miami Dolphins need to figure out a way to get back to winning. For now, the Bills, Chiefs, Ravens, Titans, Bengals, Dolphins, Patriots, Jets, and Chargers are the real challengers for one of those spots. Two of those nine teams will not make the postseason. That being said, they are not the only ones still realistically in the hunt but these teams could be looking to spoil if they can’t get in.