As Miami Dolphins fans head joyfully back to their cars, the satisfaction of seeing their team thwart the New England Patriots’ last-ditch comeback attempt rings sweet. The buzz isn’t just about the victory—it’s about what the playoff standings are shaping up to be. While the Dolphins are not quite in control of their playoff destiny for 2024, their stock is definitely rising, creating ripples the rest of the league would do well to notice.
Clocking in with a confident win over New England, the Dolphins once again breached the 30-point mark, securing a triumph by two scores. This Week 12 success nudges Miami closer to clinching that coveted seventh seed in the AFC playoff landscape. Here’s a snapshot of the current standings:
- Kansas City Chiefs (10-1)
- Buffalo Bills (9-2)
- Pittsburgh Steelers (8-3)
- Houston Texans (7-5)
- Los Angeles Chargers (7-3)
- Baltimore Ravens (7-4)
- Denver Broncos (6-5)
Chasing the Playoff Pack:
- Miami Dolphins (5-6)
- Indianapolis Colts (5-7)
- Cincinnati Bengals (4-7)
The Dolphins have ascended to the eighth seed following the Colts’ slip-up against the Detroit Lions in Week 12. Even though the Colts hold the head-to-head advantage over Miami, their yet-to-come bye week could play into Miami’s favor down the line.
Despite this leap, the seventh seed remains just out of reach this week. The Broncos are currently sitting at six wins, keeping them a game ahead of Miami regardless of how their showdown with the Las Vegas Raiders pans out. A Broncos loss, however, would certainly tighten Miami’s pursuit, especially since both the Broncos and Dolphins have bye weeks yet to hit the calendar.
Meanwhile, at the fifth and sixth seeds are the Chargers and Ravens, respectively. With seven wins each, their upcoming clash on Monday Night Football is bound to shake up the mid-tier standings.
Intriguingly, though Miami hasn’t needed to keep tabs on the AFC South too closely, the Tennessee Titans’ victory over the Texans on Sunday knocked Houston to 7-5. This development means that if the Texans and Colts lock horns in a tie, the Texans might find themselves scrapping for a wildcard entry. While not directly impacting the Dolphins currently, this scenario is one to keep an eye on as we move deeper into the season.
As the playoff race heats up, Miami fans have plenty of reasons to feel hopeful. The Dolphins are a team that others need to start keeping track of—a surging entity in a complex playoff equation, ready to capitalize on any missteps above their current standing.
