The Miami Dolphins need to see at least two of five AFC contenders fall apart down the stretch if they hope to reach the playoffs. But after four of those teams won in the 1 p.m. ET slate, the Dolphins’ path to the postseason is closing quick.
The Jacksonville Jaguars, Buffalo Bills, and Los Angeles Chargers all earned their 10th win and the Houston Texans improved to 9-5. Even if the Dolphins manage to win out, they can only get to 10-7 and would lose tiebreakers with Jacksonville and LA.
That means the Dolphins will officially be eliminated from the playoffs if they lose to the Pittsburgh Steelers on Monday night.
Miami’s narrow path to the postseason now looks like this:
Dolphins playoff scenario
PLUS at least two of the following three:
- Bills lose out (at Browns, vs. Eagles, vs. Jets)
- Texans lose out (vs. Raiders, at Chargers, vs. Colts)
- Colts lose at least three of last four (at Seahawks, vs. 49ers, vs. Jaguars, at Texans)
