X

Have feedback / suggestions? Let us know!

NFL Miami Dolphins

Miami Dolphins’ Road To the Playoffs Must Start With Win Over New York Jets

By @CouchGuyRants

Miami Dolphins, Joe Philbin

Getty Images

This weekend the Miami Dolphins got early Christmas presents from the Pittsburgh Steelers, Cleveland Browns, Baltimore Ravens and Kansas City Chiefs when the four contenders lost on Sunday. A win tonight against the New York Jets would put the Dolphins in the final Wild Card spot, and the road to the playoffs would go through Miami.

While a road win on Monday Night Football is far from guaranteed, the Dolphins have to be feeling great about the chances of defeating a Jets team that is as downtrodden as any in the league. Geno Smith and Michael Vick have been horrendous, and head coach Rex Ryan has known all season that he would be fired after the year. Put those pieces together and it spells out a recipe for disaster.

If the Dolphins can get past the Jets, the playoff race will call Miami home with four weeks remaining. Sure, Miami has to travel to Foxborough to take on the New England Patriots, but the remainder of the team’s games are at home and the Dolphins will be favored against the Ravens, Minnesota Vikings and Jets. If Miami can take care of business and navigate those games, the Dolphins will be looking at a minimum of 10 wins and a virtual lock for the final playoff spot in the hotly-contested AFC.

Outside help is always welcome, but for the Dolphins, the answer to making the playoffs is simple: Win. Last year Miami was in a similar situation, needing only to win against either the Buffalo Bills or Jets. The Dolphins did neither, and the memories of those games echo through the collective minds of players, coaches and fans who all desperately want to get back to the playoffs and erase last year’s brutal collapse.

If the Dolphins are going to take that next step and get this team to where it should be, it will start with a win tonight. If not, it will be another disappointing season, and the Dolphins can start planning fishing trips.

Share Tweet
Trending Now on