After losing in Week 15, the Miami Dolphins’ postseason hopes are circling the drain. It’s possible that the team will be officially eliminated Sunday.
For now, though, there’s still a long shot scenario that would see the Dolphins earn a wild card spot. That path will be affected by a Thursday night matchup between the Denver Broncos and Los Angeles Chargers.
Heading into the primetime game, the 6-8 Dolphins are three games behind the 9-5 Baltimore Ravens and 9-5 Broncos, and two games behind the 8-6 Chargers. To make an unlikely run into the playoffs, Miami needs to win its last three to finish 9-8. Then the team would hope the Ravens, Broncos, and/or Chargers are unable to reach 10 wins, and the 6-8 Indianapolis Colts don’t win out to finish 9-8 as well.
That means the scenarios after Thursday will look like this:
If the Broncos win
Dolphins make the playoffs if:
- Dolphins win out (vs. 49ers, Browns, Jets)
- Colts lose at least once (vs. Titans, Giants, Jaguars)
- Ravens lose out (vs. Steelers, Texans, Browns) AND/OR Chargers lose at least once (vs. Patriots, Raiders)
If the Chargers win
Dolphins make the playoffs if:
- Dolphins win out (vs. 49ers, Browns, Jets)
- Colts lose at least once (vs. Titans, Giants, Jaguars)
- Ravens lose out (vs. Steelers, Texans, Browns), AND/OR Chargers lose out (vs. Patriots, Raiders), AND/OR Broncos lose out (vs. Bengals, Chiefs)
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