The NFL faces just four more weeks of football in the regular season — including today’s contests. That puts us squarely in the middle of crunch time for playoff positioning. And as it pertains to the Miami Dolphins, NFL Draft placement. The race for the top spots in the 2020 NFL Draft are beginning to take shape — with the Dolphins on the fringe of being in the top 3 spots.
Thankfully for the Dolphins, their ammunition for the upcoming draft extends well beyond just their own pick — which is why it’s so important to keep tabs with everyone else across the league and root for all of the outcomes most favorable to the Dolphins.
So here’s what you ought to be rooting for in Week 14 of the NFL season.
Dolphins versus Jets
Miami is facing a 4-8 Jets team without RB Le’Veon Bell. Star safety Jamal Adams is also doubtful — meaning the Dolphins are going to have a real chance to bury the Jets and sweep the season series. Against most teams, it would be understandable for there to be a twinge of conflict about winning versus the draft positioning. Not this week. Go Dolphins!
Steelers versus Cardinals
Pittsburgh has to travel out west to face the #1 overall pick in the 2019 NFL Draft, Kyler Murray. Murray has done well for himself this season but he hasn’t faced a defense like Pittsburgh’s. The Steelers currently sit in the AFC’s 6-seed, a win would significantly hurt their chances of holding tight onto that spot. Go Cardinals!
Texans versus Broncos
Houston has to hit the road but in doing so they’ll catch a Broncos team that has found a little bit of life with a rookie quarterback of their own in Drew Lock. Denver won in Week 13 for their 4th win of the season — and they’ll catch the Texans at home. Denver will have their work cut out for them but at the very least they’ve got the home turf. Houston sits in first place in the AFC South by a game. Losing here would put them into a must-win scenario next week to protect their division title hopes. Miami would love nothing more than a Broncos upset.
Titans versus Raiders
The Titans are the Dolphins’ best hope on two fronts: pushing Pittsburgh out of the 6-seed and simultaneously catching Houston and bumping them from home field advantage in Wild Card round. Former Dolphins QB Ryan Tannehill has taken command of this offense and has the Titans primed to make a playoff push — it is safe to say all of Miami is behind him for the first time in his career.
Bengals versus Browns
Miami’s odds of catching Cincinnati are looking pretty slim. But the 2-10 New York Giants? They still have a chance. They play the playoff hopeful Eagles twice, the Dolphins and Washington the rest of the way. If the Giants lose out and the Bengals win one more game, New York could pass them in the Draft order and Miami could start placing phone calls for a potential trade up. This only works with a Bengals win, so hope for one today against the Browns.
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