NFL playoff picture: What does Dolphins-Browns mean for AFC standings
The Dolphins beat the Browns in Cleveland on Sunday. We break down what the game means for the NFL playoff picture.
Game result: It wasn’t always pretty, but the Tyler Huntley and the Dolphins got the job done against the Browns on Sunday afternoon, winning 20-3. The Dolphins have once again made it through another week avoiding playoff elimination, and with the losses by the Broncos and Colts this week, they have that bit much more hope going into Week 18.
The Miami Dolphins have been on the cusp of elimination for the past few weeks, but they’re still technically in the playoff race, at least going into Sunday’s slate of games and following Week 17 matchups on both Thursday and Saturday. A big win over the 49ers in their last outing gave them a boost, but they still have an uphill battle toward making the postseason for the third consecutive year.
Miami’s playoff bid starts with a win over the Cleveland Browns on Sunday. That game is set for 4:05 p.m. in Cleveland, and the Dolphins are favored by three points despite quarterback Tua Tagovailoa being listed as doubtful with a hip injury, per FanDuel Sportsbook.
Dolphins playoff picture
Miami could have been eliminated from the playoffs before Sunday’s slate of games had both the Los Angeles Chargers and Denver Broncos won their games on Saturday, but the latter fell to the Cincinnati Bengals, keeping the Dolphins in contention. Miami isn’t off the hook yet though, and they are still facing potential elimination if they lose either of their final two games, including Sunday’s tilt against the Browns.
In short, the Dolphins are officially eliminated from playoff contention with:
- Miami loss/tie
Tiebreaker implications
The Broncos, Bengals, and Colts are all within striking distance of the Dolphins and are vying for the wild card spots. Indianapolis holds the head-to-head tiebreak over Miami thanks to their Week 7 victory, while the Broncos and Bengals have comparable conference records, making Miami’s strength of schedule and victory potentially important factors, as they are lower than those three teams’ going into Sunday.