The Miami Dolphins’ 2020 playoff odds are looking much more favorable on this Sunday afternoon after a stunning run of game decision during the NFL’s Week 16 Sunday early slate. Miami kickstarted what is perhaps their most beneficial individual week of the season by pulling out a miracle win against the Las Vegas Raiders by a score of 26-25 on Saturday night — pushing the team’s record to 10-5 with one game remaining.
But the Dolphins’ playoff odds were still dependent on winning in Buffalo during their Week 17 clash; or at least they were until the 1PM games came to a close. Because the Cleveland Browns, who entered Week 16 with a 10-4 record and facing the 1-13 New York Jets, lost 23-16. And the Indianapolis Colts, also entering the weekend at 10-4, fell to the Pittsburgh Steelers by a final of 28-24 — blowing a 17-point second half lead in the process.
That leaves the Dolphins, as things currently stand, as the AFC’s No. 5 seed — no longer on the fringes of the playoff field entering the final week of the season.
The Dolphins will now have four avenues to reach the postseason in Week 17:
- Defeat the Buffalo Bills to move to 11-5
- A Cleveland Browns loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers
- A Baltimore Ravens loss to the Cincinnati Bengals
- An Indianapolis Colts loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars
Miami knowing they can win and be in certainly helps the cause. But the Browns will face a Pittsburgh Steelers team that will be contending with the Buffalo Bills for the AFC’s No. 2 seed — there will be plenty to play for in both Buffalo and Cleveland next weekend for the Bills and Steelers. So consider it game on. And while Miami narrowly lost to the Bills in Week 2 without CB Byron Jones in the fray, the Browns lost 38-7 to the Steelers earlier this season. The odds suddenly feel much more in the Dolphins’ favor.
Oh, right. And as if these added turn of events weren’t enough for the Dolphins, the Houston Texans lost to the Cincinnati Bengals this afternoon — pushing Miami’s first scheduled 2021 NFL Draft pick into the top-5 overall selections courtesy of the Laremy Tunsil trade. The Texans will face the Tennessee Titans in Week 17, who are fighting for playoff seeding and the AFC South division title. A Texans loss next weekend would lock the Dolphins into the top-5 picks next April.
That’s a nice bow to put on quite the turn of events for the Dolphins in Week 16.