The Miami Dolphins ’2020 playoff odds look much more favorable this Sunday afternoon after an impressive round of decisions during Sunday’s NFL Week 16 roster. Miami kicked off what is perhaps their most beneficial individual week of the season with a miraculous win over the Las Vegas Raiders by a score of 26-25 on Saturday night, bringing the team record to 10th. -5 when there was a match left.
But the Dolphins ’playoff odds still depended on beating Buffalo during their Week 17 clash; or at least they were until the 13:00 games ended. Because the Cleveland Browns, who entered Week 16 with a 10-4 record and faced the New York Jets 1-13, lost 23-16. And the Indianapolis Colts, who also came in the weekend with a 10-4, fell to the Pittsburgh Steelers for a 28-24 final, with a 17-point lead in the second half of the process.
This leaves the Dolphins, as they currently are, as the No. 5 seed in the AFC, who is no longer on the sidelines of the playoffs entering the final week of the season.
The Dolphins will now have four lanes to reach the postseason in Week 17:
Defeat the Buffalo Bills to go 11-5
A loss for the Cleveland Browns to the Pittsburgh Steelers
A Baltimore Ravens loss to Cincinnati Bengals
A loss to the Indianapolis Colts against the Jacksonville Jaguars
Miami, knowing they can win and be there, certainly helps the cause. But the Browns will face a Pittsburgh Steelers team that will battle the Buffalo Bills for AFC No. 2 – there will be plenty to play for both Buffalo and Cleveland next weekend for the Bills and Steelers. So consider it a game. And while Miami narrowly lost to the Bills in Week 2 without CB Byron Jones in the fight, the Browns lost 38-7 to the Steelers earlier this season. The odds suddenly feel much more in favor of the Dolphins.
Oh okay. And as if those extra events weren’t enough for the Dolphins, the Houston Texans lost to the Cincinnati Bengals this afternoon, pushing Miami’s first 2021 NFL Draft selection to the top 5 general teams courtesy of Laremy’s trade Tunsil The Texans will face the Tennessee Titans in Week 17, who are fighting for the playoff rankings and the AFC Southern Division title. A loss of jeans next weekend would block the Dolphins to the best picks next April.
It’s a nice bow to make the turn of events at Week 16 Dolphins.