On Sunday, the Miami Dolphins bought their season again on observe. After an embarrassing defeat the week earlier than on Monday night time wherein they let a win slip via their fingers towards the Tennessee Titans, they stomped the New York Jets at dwelling, 30-0.
Even with MVP candidate Tyreek Hill sidelined with an ankle damage, the Dolphins put a hurting on that stout Jets protection. At halftime, they have been up, 24-0. Within the first half, Miami outgained New York 197 yards to 4. That’s proper. The Jets managed to achieve a complete of 4 yards in 24 minutes of sport motion. They gained 99 yards within the second half, however have been nonetheless not in a position to put factors on the board. Zach Wilson bought harm early, so it was the Trevor Siemian present for a lot of the afternoon.
Whereas the Jets have been clearly undermanned, they have been nonetheless enjoying towards a division rival. In addition they had an out of doors probability at making the playoffs following a win in Week 14 towards the Houston Texans.
No wins are small within the NFL. Groups sport plan all week ,17 instances per yr. Each a kind of video games holds huge significance. Additionally, responding after an embarrassing exhibiting the week prior is proof that the Dolphins are one of many higher groups within the league. Nonetheless, the Jets entered that sport with no viable beginning quarterback. It’s unlikely that Miami can have a postseason matchup towards a crew struggling that mightily at a very powerful place.
Many groups the Dolphins beat have that downside. It is without doubt one of the causes that Monday night time loss left such a pronounced scar. They’ve misplaced 4 video games this season to the Titans, Buffalo Payments, Philadelphia Eagles, and Kansas Metropolis Chiefs. The subsequent two video games on the Dolphins’ schedule are towards arguably the 2 greatest groups within the NFL — the Dallas Cowboys and Baltimore Ravens. They then end the season with a house showdown towards the Payments.
If the Dolphins wish to host not less than one playoff sport, they must do one thing they haven’t achieved all season: Beat the perfect groups within the league. The one potential playoff crew they’ve overwhelmed this season was their 70-20 mauling of the Denver Broncos. At the moment, the Broncos have been 0-3 and thought of one of many worst groups within the NFL. They’ve since turned their season round.
For the subsequent three weeks, the Dolphins will likely be enjoying soccer towards groups that aren’t solely postseason caliber, but in addition trying to solidify their positioning. The Ravens try to clinch the No. 1 seed within the AFC and the Cowboys will likely be battling for an NFC East title. The Payments would possibly want that Week 18 win to make sure that they even get into the playoffs. If the Dolphins lose to each the Cowboys and Ravens, that sport towards Buffalo will doubtless be for the AFC East title.
Good for the Dolphins that they responded after their Monday night time meltdown. They performed towards a division opponent and wanted that win to offer them 10 on the yr. Whereas they haven’t mathematically clinched a playoff spot, 10 wins needs to be ok to get them in even when they lose these subsequent three video games.
But when they do end the common season with three defeats to those good groups, they may have each cause to play the “no person believes in us,” card within the playoffs. If the Dolphins don’t win not less than certainly one of these video games, nobody outdoors of that locker room and their family members will consider they’ve an opportunity at a deep playoff run.
