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Miami Playoff Paths & Who to Root For

Discussion in 'Miami Dolphins Forum' started by KeyFin, Dec 18, 2020.

  1. PhinFan1968

    PhinFan1968 To 2020, and BEYOND! Club Member

    Very possible, ya. If it shakes out how I'm hoping it will (Miami win @ Buffalo and Cleveland loses out), we'd be at Pittsburgh round 1, and that, IMO would be our best chance at making it to the 2nd round.

    As for Flo and how he's handling Tua...I'm gonna just trust in him to do his thing. I'm not sure Tua's leash this week is going to be near as long as it was against LV. Valuable experience, either way...would REALLY like to get Kindley back and see how he'd do with slightly better OL play.
     
  2. KeyFin

    KeyFin Well-Known Member

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    That's going to be a super tough call and I'm very glad that I won't have to make it.
     
  3. Vertical Limit

    Vertical Limit Senior Member

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    It definitely will be but this will also be Tua’s first ever game on the snow.. hes from Hawaii, played in the SEC.. we will see how he handles cold conditions
     
  4. KeyFin

    KeyFin Well-Known Member

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    Been on the Playoff Machine goofing around this morning, and here's what I want to happen today-

    The Jets shock Cleveland (Miami moves to #6 seed)
    Pittsburg beats the Colts (Miami moves to the #5 seed)
    The Bills beat the Pats
    I'd love the Ravens to lose to the Giants, but I don't think it's possible and it doesn't actually help us. The Ravens losing week 17 to the Bengals would help us if we lose to the Bills.

    Anyway, if Pitt beats the Colts and the Bills win (both should realistically happen), then we're the #6 seed, Bills rest starters week 17 and we face off against the Steelers in the 1st round of the playoffs. It would be interesting to play the Bills twice in a row to prove who the best AFC East team is, but I'd rather not do that in the snow if we can avoid it. So to me, the biggest game today is Pitt beating those Colts or the Jets over the Browns to advance us to the #6 seed.
     
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  5. byroan

    byroan Giggity Staff Member Administrator Luxury Box

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    I don't believe the Bills clinch #2 unless Pitt loses.

    Spot #2 - First Round Home Field Advantage

    Bills beat the Patriots, and
    Steelers lose to the Colts, and
    Titans lose to or tie the Packers
     
    KeyFin likes this.
  6. KeyFin

    KeyFin Well-Known Member

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    That's true, didn't think about that aspect. So if we're rooting for your 3 games (which are all very possible), then the only game left to help us is the Jets at Cleveland.

    How good are the Packers playing this year? That's the one game out of the three that I'm not too confident about.
     
  7. byroan

    byroan Giggity Staff Member Administrator Luxury Box

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    I worry about Henry destroying GB. Especially if it's a snow game.

    Titans secondary is terrible though. Rodgers could have a day.

    Go Jets!
     
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  8. Vertical Limit

    Vertical Limit Senior Member

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    Tannehill has proven he can play in those conditions... remember that snow game against the steelers when he was our qb. He was completely comfortable in the snow.
     
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  9. cbrad

    cbrad .

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    Man.. we may get REALLY lucky today. Colts are beating Pitt 24-7 and the Jets are beating the Browns 20-3 at the moment.

    Let’s say this holds. That means we can get into the playoffs even with a loss to Buffalo assuming the Bengals beat the Ravens (unlikely) OR Pitt beats the Browns (very possible!) in week 17.

    It’s actually looking more and more likely we make the postseason!

    EDIT: Looking at it some more it’s really only the Jets game that changes things. We’ll see if they can hold on.
     
    Last edited: Dec 27, 2020
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  10. Ronnie Bass

    Ronnie Bass Luxury Box Luxury Box

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    I don't think we can count on the Jets, the Browns driving for another TD, looks like they have figured it out with their backup receivers.
     
  11. Fishhead

    Fishhead Well-Known Member

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    Jets and Colts falling apart...
     
  12. Ronnie Bass

    Ronnie Bass Luxury Box Luxury Box

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    Jets giving this game away. Sucks because I don't think the Browns can beat the Steelers.
     
  13. Pennphinphan

    Pennphinphan AKA Pennphinfan but I forgot my login

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    Go bengals! Up to #5 pick.

    If Carolina can beat Washington we'll be up to #4..
     
  14. M1NDCRlME

    M1NDCRlME Fear The Spear

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    Jets win!
     
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  15. Phil Hutchings

    Phil Hutchings Well-Known Member

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    You were saying?

    ;-)
     
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  16. ExplosionsInDaSky

    ExplosionsInDaSky Well-Known Member

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    Ok, so the Jets beating Cleveland was huge for us right?
     
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  17. Phil Hutchings

    Phil Hutchings Well-Known Member

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    So, we still have to beat Buffalo to ensure a post season spot?
     
  18. TheHighExhaulted

    TheHighExhaulted Well-Known Member

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    As of right now, Miami is #5 seed.
     
  19. Phil Hutchings

    Phil Hutchings Well-Known Member

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    Isn’t that incredible?

    After the first seven games last season, who would have thought that we could be in this position?
     
  20. Ronnie Bass

    Ronnie Bass Luxury Box Luxury Box

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  21. ExplosionsInDaSky

    ExplosionsInDaSky Well-Known Member

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    Had Cleveland won today (which was expected) we would have had to beat Buffalo for sure to get in. Now that Cleveland has lost and the Colts have lost, we have vaulted into the fifth spot. That doesn't mean that we've clinched, but we won and we got some help along the way. Our odds go up significantly with Cleveland playing Pittsburgh next week. I don't think that Cleveland can beat them.
     
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  22. ExplosionsInDaSky

    ExplosionsInDaSky Well-Known Member

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    Could it be possible that if we do make the playoffs, we end up playing Ryan Tannehill? How awesome of a storyline would that be?
     
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  23. Phil Hutchings

    Phil Hutchings Well-Known Member

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    Thanks for the comprehensive response
     
  24. Vertical Limit

    Vertical Limit Senior Member

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    Steelers clinched their spot.. they may rest their starters.. all depends if Baker gets his receiving corps back
     
  25. KeyFin

    KeyFin Well-Known Member

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    Well, the Titans are #4 and we're #5, so if the season ended today that would be the WildCard game.
     
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  26. KeyFin

    KeyFin Well-Known Member

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    What it means is if Cleveland, Baltimore or Indy loses next week, we're in regardless of our game. And if we win, then we keep the #5 slot and likely face the Titans.
     
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  27. OwesOwn614

    OwesOwn614 Well-Known Member

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    What a year. Next week can be the perfect way to cap it off. Consider it a play in game where we have to prove we belong.
     
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  28. Finatik

    Finatik Season Ticket Holder Staff Member Club Member

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    If the Titans lose and we win next week is it possible to take the 4 spot and host a playoff game?
     
  29. Phil Hutchings

    Phil Hutchings Well-Known Member

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    Don’t the four divisional winners take the top four seeds?
     
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  30. ExplosionsInDaSky

    ExplosionsInDaSky Well-Known Member

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    From my understanding, no. The four division winners will host games regardless of their opponents records. We could have finished 14-2 and Buffalo 15-1 and because we didn't win our division, we would have to play a road game. It's something many people are complaining about. I mean...Someone out of the Eagles, Giants, Cowboys, and Redskins (all will finish below .500) will be hosting a playoff game against a much better team that is more deserving of a home game.
    So to answer your question, I think fifth...is the highest obtainable seed for us. In fact, if we win out, that's where we will be playing. In short, the only way to host a playoff game would be to win your division.
     
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  31. Ronnie Bass

    Ronnie Bass Luxury Box Luxury Box

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    I think they should have a rule that you can win your division with a subpar .500 record but you can't play in the playoffs with said record, you give up your slot to the next wild card team. It's very well possible a 6-10 team is going to be hosting a playoff game, that's just stupid.
     
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  32. btfu149

    btfu149 Well-Known Member

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    Heard the Steelers may rest their starters? Looks like we still may have to earn it
     
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  33. Ronnie Bass

    Ronnie Bass Luxury Box Luxury Box

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    I haven't heard anything in regards to that, but that said, I would. This season has been draining on all players, giving your starters a break and plus keeping them safe from possible injury for the playoffs would be the smart play.
     
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  34. KeyFin

    KeyFin Well-Known Member

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    Here's something else to consider though- if you give starters a week off, maybe they visit with family or go out on the town for the night. Then all of a sudden, boom, COVID protocols keeps your starting QB on the bench for your 1st playoff game. It's something NFL teams would be thinking about anyway.
     
  35. Pennphinphan

    Pennphinphan AKA Pennphinfan but I forgot my login

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    Seems like if we lose to the bills, we can still sneak in if any of the following happen:

    1) Colts lose to the Jags (least likely)
    Or
    2) Ravens lose to the Bengals (doubtful but maybe)
    Or
    3) Browns lose to the Steelers (most probable, but depends on resting of starters)
     
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  36. PhinFan1968

    PhinFan1968 To 2020, and BEYOND! Club Member

    The Bills/Steelers are in competition for the 2 seed, and they both play at 1PM next Sunday, I don't think they sit people. I've been counting on Pittsburgh winning that game for a few weeks...the Browns have had some terrible player luck.

    But ya, options 1 and 2, virtually impossible lol...unless the Jags get a wild hair up their ***, knowing they already have the #1 pick clinched...divisional games have their own identity.

    Hell, the Steelers just ended an ugly skid...would they want to throw a wrench at it by sitting starters?
     
  37. KeyFin

    KeyFin Well-Known Member

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    That would be pretty funny- the Jags come out and win like 44-10, only to prove that they were Losing for Lawrence but really had an okay team. Their incentive has to be sky-high to win that contest now that they're locked with the #1 pick.

    Also, I double checked the playoff machine- if the Titans lose again next week, they take the #7 seed if we lose as well. So Tennessee winning/losing doesn't help us any.
     
  38. cbrad

    cbrad .

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    What the Jags and Jets are really showing is that it's near impossible to get an NFL head coach and the players to deliberately tank. Maybe the owner wants it, and the GM can help make that happen by purging the roster, but the HC and the players don't tank. That was true for Suck for Luck, Tank for Tua, and Lose for Lawrence. In all cases teams won games they shouldn't have if they really wanted to ensure the #1 pick.

    So the Jags' incentives to win are probably similar before and after locking in the #1 pick.
     
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  39. Finatik

    Finatik Season Ticket Holder Staff Member Club Member

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    Players are also fighting for their jobs in a lot of cases. They could care less about draft position when your frighting for a roster spot or putting something on tape for another team.
     
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  40. TheHighExhaulted

    TheHighExhaulted Well-Known Member

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    Pittsburgh announces that Mason Rudolph will start against Cleveland.

    Hope Buffalo follows suit.
     

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