Miami Dolphins face elimination against Steelers in critical matchup
The Miami Dolphins find themselves in a precarious position as they prepare for a crucial Monday night matchup against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Acrisure Stadium. Following a disappointing series of results from rival teams, the Dolphins’ playoff aspirations are now hanging by a thread. With their playoff “tragic number” reduced to one after the outcomes of Sunday’s early games, Miami is facing a do-or-die scenario.
Playoff Picture Collapses
The Dolphins’ hopes of sneaking into the playoffs took a significant hit due to the victories of several teams on Sunday. The Buffalo Bills triumphed over the New England Patriots, the Houston Texans defeated the Arizona Cardinals, and the Jacksonville Jaguars bested the New York Jets. With these results, the Dolphins must now secure a 10-7 finish to have any chance of playoff contention.
This outcome leaves Miami with a narrow path forward. The only teams currently ahead of them that they can realistically catch are the Bills, Texans, and Indianapolis Colts. For the Dolphins to clinch a playoff spot with the Bills, they must win all their remaining games against the Steelers, Cincinnati Bengals, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and New England Patriots. Concurrently, the Bills would need to lose their final three matchups against the Cleveland Browns, Philadelphia Eagles, and New York Jets.
Tiebreaker Scenarios
Should Miami and Buffalo both finish at 10-7, the Dolphins would hold the tiebreaker due to a superior divisional record—4-2 compared to Buffalo’s 3-3, assuming Miami wins against New England in Week 17. However, the Dolphins are at a disadvantage in a potential tiebreaker against the Texans, who clinched the upper hand with a stronger conference record, having secured seven conference wins compared to Miami’s potential maximum of six.
To further complicate the situation, the Dolphins will also need the Colts, currently sitting at 8-5, to drop at least three of their final four games, which include matchups against Seattle, San Francisco, Jacksonville, and Houston.
Impact of Sunday’s Results
The implications of Sunday’s results cannot be overstated. Here’s a brief overview of how they affected the Dolphins’ chances:
Buffalo over New England: The Bills improved to 10-4, increasing the urgency for Miami to win out while Buffalo must lose all remaining games.
Jacksonville over New York Jets: Similar to Buffalo, the Jaguars also advanced to 10-4, further complicating Miami’s playoff scenario.
Houston over Arizona: The Texans rose to 9-5, meaning the best Miami can achieve with one additional loss is to tie them, but Houston has already secured the tiebreaker.
As the Dolphins gear up for their must-win clash against the Steelers, the weight of their playoff hopes rests heavily on their shoulders. The time for action is now.
